Sony A3000 vs Sony NEX-5
69 Imaging
62 Features
54 Overall
58


89 Imaging
54 Features
58 Overall
55
Sony A3000 vs Sony NEX-5 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 20MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Fixed Display
- ISO 100 - 16000
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Sony E Mount
- 411g - 128 x 91 x 85mm
- Revealed August 2013
- Successor is Sony a3500
(Full Review)
- 14MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Tilting Screen
- ISO 200 - 12800
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Sony E Mount
- 287g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
- Introduced June 2010
- Newer Model is Sony NEX-5N

Sony A3000 vs Sony NEX-5 Overview
Below is a in-depth assessment of the Sony A3000 versus Sony NEX-5, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras and both are produced by Sony. There exists a huge gap between the sensor resolutions of the A3000 (20MP) and NEX-5 (14MP) but both cameras posses the identical sensor measurements (APS-C).

The A3000 was revealed 3 years later than the NEX-5 and that is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Sony A3000 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.
Before we go right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief summary of how the A3000 scores against the NEX-5 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Sony A3000 vs Sony NEX-5 Gallery
The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Sony Alpha A3000 and Sony Alpha NEX-5. The full galleries are available at Sony A3000 Gallery and Sony NEX-5 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Sony A3000 over the Sony NEX-5
A3000 | NEX-5 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Introduced | August 2013 | ![]() | June 2010 | More recent by 40 months |
Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5 over the Sony A3000
NEX-5 | A3000 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Screen type | Tilting | ![]() | Fixed | Tilting screen |
Screen resolution | 920k | ![]() | 230k | Crisper screen (+690k dot) |
Common features in the Sony A3000 and Sony NEX-5
A3000 | NEX-5 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manual focus | ![]() | Very precise focus | ||
Screen size | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Same screen measurements |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Neither contains selfie screen | ||
Touch screen | ![]() | Neither contains Touch screen |
Sony A3000 vs Sony NEX-5 Physical Comparison
For those who are aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you'll need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Sony A3000 has got physical measurements of 128mm x 91mm x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") and a weight of 411 grams (0.91 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5 has dimensions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") along with a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).
See the Sony A3000 versus Sony NEX-5 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are working with at that moment. Below is a front view measurements comparison of the A3000 vs the NEX-5.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A3000 and NEX-5 is 69 and 89 respectively.

Sony A3000 vs Sony NEX-5 Sensor Comparison
Sometimes, it's tough to visualise the difference between sensor measurements merely by reading technical specs. The photograph here will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the A3000 and NEX-5.
As you have seen, both the cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit not the same MP. You should count on the Sony A3000 to deliver more detail because of its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The more recent A3000 is going to have an advantage in sensor technology.

Sony A3000 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Sony A3000 vs Sony NEX-5 Specifications
Sony Alpha A3000 | Sony Alpha NEX-5 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Company | Sony | Sony |
Model type | Sony Alpha A3000 | Sony Alpha NEX-5 |
Category | Entry-Level Mirrorless | Entry-Level Mirrorless |
Revealed | 2013-08-27 | 2010-06-07 |
Physical type | SLR-style mirrorless | Rangefinder-style mirrorless |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor | BIONZ image | Bionz |
Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
Sensor size | APS-C | APS-C |
Sensor dimensions | 23.5 x 15.6mm | 23.4 x 15.6mm |
Sensor surface area | 366.6mm² | 365.0mm² |
Sensor resolution | 20MP | 14MP |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 3:2 and 16:9 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
Highest Possible resolution | 5456 x 3632 | 4592 x 3056 |
Maximum native ISO | 16000 | 12800 |
Min native ISO | 100 | 200 |
RAW data | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Touch to focus | ||
Continuous AF | ||
Single AF | ||
AF tracking | ||
AF selectice | ||
Center weighted AF | ||
AF multi area | ||
Live view AF | ||
Face detect focusing | ||
Contract detect focusing | ||
Phase detect focusing | ||
Total focus points | 25 | 25 |
Lens | ||
Lens mount type | Sony E | Sony E |
Available lenses | 121 | 121 |
Focal length multiplier | 1.5 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Display type | Fixed Type | Tilting |
Display sizing | 3" | 3" |
Display resolution | 230 thousand dots | 920 thousand dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch friendly | ||
Display technology | TFT LCD | - |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | Electronic | None |
Viewfinder coverage | 100% | - |
Viewfinder magnification | 0.47x | - |
Features | ||
Minimum shutter speed | 30s | 30s |
Fastest shutter speed | 1/4000s | 1/4000s |
Continuous shutter rate | 3.0fps | 7.0fps |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manually set exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Custom WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash distance | 6.00 m (at ISO200 / 4m at ISO100) | 12.00 m |
Flash options | Flash off, Auto flash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync. | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in |
External flash | ||
AE bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Fastest flash synchronize | 1/160s | 1/160s |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment metering | ||
Average metering | ||
Spot metering | ||
Partial metering | ||
AF area metering | ||
Center weighted metering | ||
Video features | ||
Video resolutions | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
Maximum video resolution | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 |
Video data format | AVCHD, H.264, MP4 | AVCHD |
Mic support | ||
Headphone support | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | None | None |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | None |
Physical | ||
Environmental sealing | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 411 gr (0.91 pounds) | 287 gr (0.63 pounds) |
Physical dimensions | 128 x 91 x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") | 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall rating | 78 | 69 |
DXO Color Depth rating | 23.7 | 22.2 |
DXO Dynamic range rating | 12.8 | 12.2 |
DXO Low light rating | 1068 | 796 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 470 photos | 330 photos |
Type of battery | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | NP-FW50 | NPFW50 |
Self timer | Yes (2-sec. or 10-sec. delay) | Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) |
Time lapse recording | ||
Type of storage | - | SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo |
Card slots | Single | Single |
Retail pricing | $398 | $599 |