Sony A7R vs Sony NEX-5

Below is a complete analysis of the Sony A7R versus Sony NEX-5, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are offered by Sony. There is a crucial difference between the resolutions of the A7R (36MP) and NEX-5 (14MP) and the A7R (Full frame) and NEX-5 (APS-C) boast different sensor size.

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The A7R was launched 3 years later than the NEX-5 and that is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Sony A7R being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting right into a full comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the A7R grades versus the NEX-5 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Sony Alpha A7R and Sony Alpha NEX-5. The complete galleries are provided at Sony A7R Gallery and Sony NEX-5 Gallery.

For those who are looking to lug around your camera frequently, you'll have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Sony A7R comes with external measurements of 127mm x 94mm x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9") with a weight of 465 grams (1.03 lbs) whilst 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).

Check the Sony A7R versus Sony NEX-5 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have attached during that time. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the A7R compared to the NEX-5.

Using size and weight, the portability score of the A7R and NEX-5 is 78 and 89 respectively.

Oftentimes, it can be hard to picture the difference between sensor measurements simply by reading a spec sheet. The visual below may give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the A7R and NEX-5.

Clearly, both cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The A7R featuring a bigger sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF simpler and the Sony A7R will offer you more detail utilizing its extra 22 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots way more aggressively. The younger A7R should have a benefit in sensor technology.