Samsung ST30 vs Sony NEX-5

On this page, we will be reviewing the Samsung ST30 and Sony NEX-5, one being a Ultracompact and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Samsung and Sony. There exists a huge gap among the resolutions of the ST30 (10MP) and NEX-5 (14MP) and the ST30 (1/3") and NEX-5 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor dimensions.

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The ST30 was manufactured 8 months later than the NEX-5 so they are both of a similar generation. Both cameras have different body design with the Samsung ST30 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting into a in depth comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the ST30 scores versus the NEX-5 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Samsung ST30 and Sony Alpha NEX-5. The entire galleries are provided at Samsung ST30 Gallery and Sony NEX-5 Gallery.

In case you're going to lug around your camera, you will want to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Samsung ST30 enjoys exterior dimensions of 82mm x 52mm x 17mm (3.2" x 2.0" x 0.7") and a weight of 87 grams (0.19 lbs) and the Sony NEX-5 has dimensions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") with a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Check out the Samsung ST30 and Sony NEX-5 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Here is a front view dimensions comparison of the ST30 versus the NEX-5.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the ST30 and NEX-5 is 98 and 89 respectively.

Normally, it is difficult to visualise the gap in sensor measurements purely by seeing specs. The photograph here might give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the ST30 and NEX-5.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The ST30 featuring a smaller sensor will make getting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Sony NEX-5 will provide greater detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs more aggressively. The more modern ST30 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.