Nikon Z30 vs Sony NEX-5

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Nikon Z30 and Sony NEX-5, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by brands Nikon and Sony. There is a sizeable difference between the resolutions of the Z30 (21MP) and NEX-5 (14MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor measurements (APS-C).

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The Z30 was released 12 years later than the NEX-5 and that is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Nikon Z30 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight to a thorough comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the Z30 grades versus the NEX-5 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

The following is a preview of the gallery images for Nikon Z30 and Sony Alpha NEX-5. The complete galleries are viewable at Nikon Z30 Gallery and Sony NEX-5 Gallery.

For those who are planning to lug around your camera regularly, you will need to consider its weight and measurements. The Nikon Z30 has physical measurements of 128mm x 74mm x 60mm (5.0" x 2.9" x 2.4") with a weight of 405 grams (0.89 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-5 has proportions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") along with a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Compare the Nikon Z30 and Sony NEX-5 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Below is a front view measurements comparison of the Z30 and the NEX-5.

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the Z30 and NEX-5 is 79 and 89 respectively.

Oftentimes, its difficult to visualise the gap between sensor measurements just by reading technical specs. The graphic underneath will give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the Z30 and NEX-5.

As you have seen, both of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same MP. You should expect the Nikon Z30 to offer extra detail as a result of its extra 7 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The younger Z30 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor tech.