Sony A3000 vs Sony NEX-5R

On this page, we will be matching up the Sony A3000 vs Sony NEX-5R, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras and both are created by Sony. There exists a substantial gap among the image resolutions of the A3000 (20MP) and NEX-5R (16MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor dimensions (APS-C).

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

The A3000 was introduced 13 months after the NEX-5R which makes them a generation away from one another. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Sony A3000 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony NEX-5R being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go right into a detailed comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the A3000 grades against the NEX-5R when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Sony Alpha A3000 & Sony Alpha NEX-5R. The whole galleries are provided at Sony A3000 Gallery & Sony NEX-5R Gallery.

In case you're aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you will need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Sony A3000 comes with outside dimensions of 128mm x 91mm x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") with a weight of 411 grams (0.91 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5R has proportions of 111mm x 59mm x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") along with a weight of 276 grams (0.61 lbs).

Contrast the Sony A3000 vs Sony NEX-5R in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have attached at that moment. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the A3000 versus the NEX-5R.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A3000 and NEX-5R is 69 and 89 respectively.

Sometimes, it is very difficult to see the contrast in sensor sizes just by checking out technical specs. The picture underneath will help offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the A3000 and NEX-5R.

As you can tell, both of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same megapixels. You can expect the Sony A3000 to produce greater detail using its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The newer A3000 will have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.