Samsung NX5 vs Sony a5100

On this page, we are reviewing the Samsung NX5 vs Sony a5100, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by manufacturers Samsung and Sony. There exists a considerable gap among the sensor resolutions of the NX5 (15MP) and a5100 (24MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor measurements (APS-C).

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The NX5 was announced 5 years earlier than the a5100 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Samsung NX5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony a5100 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going right into a full comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the NX5 scores vs the a5100 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Samsung NX5 & Sony Alpha a5100. The whole galleries are available at Samsung NX5 Gallery & Sony a5100 Gallery.

If you're intending to lug around your camera regularly, you have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Samsung NX5 comes with outer dimensions of 123mm x 87mm x 40mm (4.8" x 3.4" x 1.6") and a weight of 499 grams (1.10 lbs) and the Sony a5100 has proportions of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") and a weight of 283 grams (0.62 lbs).

Check the Samsung NX5 vs Sony a5100 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are working with during that time. Here is a front view measurements comparison of the NX5 versus the a5100.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the NX5 and a5100 is 80 and 89 respectively.

Sometimes, it is very hard to visualize the difference in sensor measurements just by checking out a spec sheet. The graphic underneath should give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the NX5 and a5100.

Clearly, both of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different megapixels. You can expect to see the Sony a5100 to provide greater detail with its extra 9MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images a bit more aggressively. The older NX5 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.