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Nikon Z7 vs Sony NEX-5N

Portability
62
Imaging
78
Features
89
Overall
82
Nikon Z7 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
Portability
89
Imaging
56
Features
69
Overall
61

Nikon Z7 vs Sony NEX-5N Key Specs

Nikon Z7
(Full Review)
  • 46MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Display
  • ISO 64 - 25600 (Raise to 102400)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon Z Mount
  • 675g - 134 x 101 x 68mm
  • Released August 2018
  • Refreshed by Nikon Z7 II
Sony NEX-5N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Introduced October 2011
  • Previous Model is Sony NEX-5
  • Later Model is Sony NEX-5R
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Nikon Z7 vs Sony NEX-5N Overview

Let's examine more in depth at the Nikon Z7 and Sony NEX-5N, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Nikon and Sony. There is a large difference among the sensor resolutions of the Z7 (46MP) and NEX-5N (16MP) and the Z7 (Full frame) and NEX-5N (APS-C) possess totally different sensor sizes.

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The Z7 was manufactured 6 years after the NEX-5N which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Nikon Z7 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving through a detailed comparison, below is a brief summary of how the Z7 scores versus the NEX-5N for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon Z7 over the Sony NEX-5N

 Z7 NEX-5N 
IntroducedAugust 2018October 2011Newer by 84 months
Display dimension3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution2100k920kCrisper display (+1180k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Nikon Z7

 NEX-5N Z7 

Common features in the Nikon Z7 and Sony NEX-5N

 Z7 NEX-5N 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch display Easily navigate

Nikon Z7 vs Sony NEX-5N Physical Comparison

When you are planning to travel with your camera often, you're going to have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Nikon Z7 features outer dimensions of 134mm x 101mm x 68mm (5.3" x 4.0" x 2.7") having a weight of 675 grams (1.49 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5N has proportions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Contrast the Nikon Z7 and Sony NEX-5N in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have chosen at the time. Here is the front view over all size comparison of the Z7 versus the NEX-5N.

Nikon Z7 vs Sony NEX-5N size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the Z7 and NEX-5N is 62 and 89 respectively.

Nikon Z7 vs Sony NEX-5N top view buttons comparison

Nikon Z7 vs Sony NEX-5N Sensor Comparison

Often, it is difficult to envision the contrast in sensor dimensions purely by viewing technical specs. The image here might give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the Z7 and NEX-5N.

As you can tell, each of these cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The Z7 because of its larger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field simpler and the Nikon Z7 will provide you with greater detail due to its extra 30MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images much more aggressively. The more modern Z7 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Nikon Z7 vs Sony NEX-5N sensor size comparison

Nikon Z7 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon Z7 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon Z7 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Portrait photography camera
86
has manual focus
fantastic megapixels (46MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
has face detection focus
delivers RAW files
73
has manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon Z7 Street photography highlights
Sony NEX-5N Street photography highlights
79
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
includes touch to focus
weather proofing
above average high ISO (25,600)
80
has a tilting screen
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
has touch focus
good ISO range (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Nikon Z7 as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Sports photography camera
82
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
fantastic megapixels (46MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
has tracking autofocus
weather proofing
has phase detect auto focus
bad battery life (330 shots)
58
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
better than average battery power (460 CIPA)
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon Z7 Travel photography information
Sony NEX-5N Travel photography information
67
weather proofing
has bluetooth
includes touch to focus
fantastic megapixels (46MP)
bad battery life (330 shots)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
70
better than average battery power (460 shots)
has touch focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse mode
doesn't have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon Z7 Landscape photography details
Sony NEX-5N Landscape photography details
82
has manual focus
change lenses (Nikon Z mount)
nice screen size (3.2 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
fantastic megapixels (46 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
doesnt have low pass filter
above average high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
weather proofing
bad battery life (330 per charge)
71
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
better than average battery power (460 CIPA)
does not have image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon Z7 Vlogging highlights
Sony NEX-5N Vlogging highlights
36
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detection focus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
has external mic socket
does not have a selfie friendly screen
33
screen is touchscreen
offers face detect autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
does not have mic jack
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Nikon Z7 vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon Z7 and Sony NEX-5N
 Nikon Z7Sony Alpha NEX-5N
General Information
Brand Name Nikon Sony
Model Nikon Z7 Sony Alpha NEX-5N
Class Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2018-08-23 2011-10-03
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Expeed 6 Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor dimensions 35.9 x 23.9mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 858.0mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 46 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 8256 x 5504 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 25600 25600
Highest boosted ISO 102400 -
Lowest native ISO 64 100
RAW pictures
Lowest boosted ISO 32 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 493 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Nikon Z Sony E
Total lenses 15 121
Crop factor 1 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display diagonal 3.2 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 2,100 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology - Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 3,690 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.8x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 9.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 12.00 m
Flash settings Front-curtain sync, slow sync, rear-curtain sync, red-eye reduction, red-eye reduction with slow sync, slow rear-curtain sync, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/200 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 144 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB Yes USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 675 grams (1.49 lbs) 269 grams (0.59 lbs)
Dimensions 134 x 101 x 68mm (5.3" x 4.0" x 2.7") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 99 77
DXO Color Depth score 26.3 23.6
DXO Dynamic range score 14.6 12.7
DXO Low light score 2668 1079
Other
Battery life 330 pictures 460 pictures
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Storage media XQD card SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $2,797 $550