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Sony A3000 vs Sony NEX-5N

Portability
69
Imaging
63
Features
54
Overall
59
Sony Alpha A3000 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
Portability
89
Imaging
57
Features
69
Overall
61

Sony A3000 vs Sony NEX-5N Key Specs

Sony A3000
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 411g - 128 x 91 x 85mm
  • Launched August 2013
  • Replacement is Sony a3500
Sony NEX-5N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Revealed October 2011
  • Old Model is Sony NEX-5
  • Successor is Sony NEX-5R
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Sony A3000 vs Sony NEX-5N Overview

Lets take a more detailed look at the Sony A3000 vs Sony NEX-5N, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras and both are offered by Sony. There is a large difference between the sensor resolutions of the A3000 (20MP) and NEX-5N (16MP) but both cameras offer the identical sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The A3000 was announced 24 months after the NEX-5N which makes them a generation away from each other. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Sony A3000 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight to a detailed comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the A3000 matches up versus the NEX-5N for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony A3000 over the Sony NEX-5N

 A3000 NEX-5N 
RevealedAugust 2013October 2011More modern by 24 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Sony A3000

 NEX-5N A3000 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k230kCrisper screen (+690k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Sony A3000 and Sony NEX-5N

 A3000 NEX-5N 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Sony A3000 vs Sony NEX-5N Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry around your camera, you need to factor its weight and proportions. The Sony A3000 has physical dimensions of 128mm x 91mm x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 411 grams (0.91 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5N has measurements of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Examine the Sony A3000 vs Sony NEX-5N in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you select at the time. Below is a front view scale comparison of the A3000 and the NEX-5N.

Sony A3000 vs Sony NEX-5N size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the A3000 and NEX-5N is 69 and 89 respectively.

Sony A3000 vs Sony NEX-5N top view buttons comparison

Sony A3000 vs Sony NEX-5N Sensor Comparison

Generally, its tough to visualize the difference between sensor sizes only by looking at technical specs. The pic here will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the A3000 and NEX-5N.

As you have seen, both cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit different MP. You can count on the Sony A3000 to give you extra detail with its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The younger A3000 provides a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Sony A3000 vs Sony NEX-5N sensor size comparison

Sony A3000 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A3000 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony A3000
Portrait photography with Sony NEX-5N
77
you can focus manually
good megapixels (20MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect focusing
exports RAW files
74
has manual focus
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features face detection focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony A3000
Street photography with Sony NEX-5N
57
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
heavier than competitors (411 grams)
80
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
includes touch to focus
great ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sony A3000 as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Sports photography camera
60
good megapixels (20MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
great battery power (470 per charge)
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
lack of phase detect AF
58
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
good battery power (460 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony A3000 as a Travel photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Travel photography camera
60
great battery power (470 shots)
good megapixels (20MP)
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse function
heavier than competitors (411g)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
71
good battery power (460 per charge)
includes touch to focus
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse mode
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Sony A3000 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Landscape photography camera
70
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
good megapixels (20MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
great battery power (470 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse function
71
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
great ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
good battery power (460 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A3000 Vlogging advice
Sony NEX-5N Vlogging advice
26
includes face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
does not have mic jack
heavier than competitors (411 grams)
33
built-in touchscreen
features face detection focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
lack of external microphone support
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Sony A3000 vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A3000 and Sony NEX-5N
 Sony Alpha A3000Sony Alpha NEX-5N
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha A3000 Sony Alpha NEX-5N
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2013-08-27 2011-10-03
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by BIONZ image Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 366.6mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 5456 x 3632 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 16000 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 25 25
Lens
Lens mount Sony E Sony E
Number of lenses 121 121
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech TFT LCD Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.47x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 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
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD, H.264, MP4 AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 411 grams (0.91 lb) 269 grams (0.59 lb)
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 All around score 78 77
DXO Color Depth score 23.7 23.6
DXO Dynamic range score 12.8 12.7
DXO Low light score 1068 1079
Other
Battery life 470 photos 460 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FW50 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2-sec. or 10-sec. delay) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Storage type - SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $398 $550