Samsung HZ25W vs Sony NEX-5N

Here is a detailed comparison of the Samsung HZ25W and Sony NEX-5N, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Samsung and Sony. There is a large difference between the resolutions of the HZ25W (12MP) and NEX-5N (16MP) and the HZ25W (1/2.3") and NEX-5N (APS-C) use different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The HZ25W was manufactured 15 months earlier than the NEX-5N which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Samsung HZ25W being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving in to a thorough comparison, below is a brief summation of how the HZ25W scores against the NEX-5N when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Here is a preview of the gallery photos for Samsung HZ25W & Sony Alpha NEX-5N. The entire galleries are available at Samsung HZ25W Gallery & Sony NEX-5N Gallery.

If you're looking to carry your camera frequently, you will want to factor in its weight and volume. The Samsung HZ25W provides external measurements of 116mm x 83mm x 92mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.6") having a weight of 428 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5N has sizing of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Compare the Samsung HZ25W and Sony NEX-5N in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Here is the front view size comparison of the HZ25W and the NEX-5N.

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the HZ25W and NEX-5N is 70 and 89 respectively.

Generally, it can be hard to visualize the gap between sensor sizing purely by going over specs. The visual underneath may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the HZ25W and NEX-5N.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The HZ25W featuring a tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field harder and the Sony NEX-5N will offer extra detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots much more aggressively. The older HZ25W is going to be behind in sensor innovation.