• APS-C 369.7mm2
  • 16.1 megapixels
  •  
  • 1/2.3 inch 28.1mm2
  • 14.5 megapixels
  • 7.30mm (35mm eq.)

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Differences

Sony NEX-5N advantages over Ricoh Theta S

  • Rear display
    Yes vs No
    Review photos on the back of the camera
  • Larger sensor
    APS-C vs 1/2.3 inch
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • RAW file ability
    Yes vs No
    Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 430 vs 260 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Manual focus
    Yes vs No
    AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • Hot shoe
    Hot shoe vs None
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Shoots 60p video
    Yes vs No
    A faster framerate can give you more editing options
  • Bulb shutter
    Bulb vs No bulb
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
  • Higher extended ISO
    25600 vs 1600 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Ricoh Theta S advantages over Sony NEX-5N

  • Less expensive
    $350 vs $700 (MSRP)
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • Thinner
    22 mm vs 38 mm
    Thinner
  • Newer
    8 years vs 13 years old
    Newer cameras often support more advanced features
  • Longer exposure
    60 vs 30 sec
    Long exposures for night shots
  • Faster shutter
    1/6400 vs 1/4000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • In-camera panoramas
    Both provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video

Common Weaknesses

  • Focus peaking
    Neither provide
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Neither provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Neither provide
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Touchscreen
    Neither provide
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Internal flash
    Neither provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Top deck display
    Neither provide
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • Integrated ND filter
    Neither provide
    Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
  • External Mic Jack
    Neither provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Dual card slots
    Neither provide
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Slow-motion videos
    Neither provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

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Buy the Sony NEX-5N

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Buy the Ricoh Theta S
Ricoh Theta S (Black)

Review Excerpt

  • Fast autofocus and prefocused shutter lag; Quieter shutter sound; Captures 10 frames per second; Supports AVCHD 2.0.

  • Limited first-party lens selection; Slow and confusing on-screen user interface; top-mounted, proprietary accessories are quite pricey.

  • Read our Sony NEX-5N Review

  • 360-degree spherical panoramas at the click of a button; Puts you back in the moment like no other camera; Good ergonomics and control layout; Great still image quality, and can shoot videos too; Upload panoramas to Google Street View

  • Very reliant on your smartphone or tablet; Battery and storage can't be replaced or upgraded; Handheld shots suffer from Gigantic Hand Syndrome; Hard to get yourself out of the shot; Video image quality is only modest; Interval timer has a long shot delay

  • Read our Ricoh Theta S Express Review

The Competition

Compared to Sony NEX-3

Sony NEX-5N
Sony NEX-3
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Higher effective ISO
  • Longer stills battery life
  • $600
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Fast startup

Compare Sony NEX-5N vs Sony NEX-3

Ricoh Theta S
Sony NEX-3
  • $290
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
  • $600
  • APS-C
  • Rear display
  • Larger sensor

Compare Ricoh Theta S vs Sony NEX-3

Compared to Sony NEX-C3

Sony NEX-5N
Sony NEX-C3
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Shoots 24p video
  • Shoots 1080p video
  • $559
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Fast startup

Compare Sony NEX-5N vs Sony NEX-C3

Ricoh Theta S
Sony NEX-C3
  • $290
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
  • $559
  • APS-C
  • Rear display
  • Larger sensor

Compare Ricoh Theta S vs Sony NEX-C3

Compared to Samsung NX200

Sony NEX-5N
Samsung NX200
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Less expensive
  • $600
  • APS-C
  • More pixels
  • Bigger JPEG buffer

Compare Sony NEX-5N vs Samsung NX200

Ricoh Theta S
Samsung NX200
  • $290
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $600
  • APS-C
  • Rear display
  • Larger sensor

Compare Ricoh Theta S vs Samsung NX200

Compared to Canon EOS M

Sony NEX-5N
Canon EOS M
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor
  • $600
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Touchscreen

Compare Sony NEX-5N vs Canon EOS M

Ricoh Theta S
Canon EOS M
  • $290
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $600
  • APS-C
  • Rear display
  • Larger sensor

Compare Ricoh Theta S vs Canon EOS M

Compared to Sony NEX-5R

Sony NEX-5N
Sony NEX-5R
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Higher effective ISO
  • Longer stills battery life
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Touchscreen

Compare Sony NEX-5N vs Sony NEX-5R

Ricoh Theta S
Sony NEX-5R
  • $290
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Thinner
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Rear display
  • Focus peaking

Compare Ricoh Theta S vs Sony NEX-5R

Compare Other Cameras?