Sony A7R vs Sony NEX-5N

Following is a thorough analysis of the Sony A7R versus Sony NEX-5N, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and they are both created by Sony. There exists a considerable gap among the resolutions of the A7R (36MP) and NEX-5N (16MP) and the A7R (Full frame) and NEX-5N (APS-C) boast totally different sensor sizes.

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The A7R was released 2 years after the NEX-5N which is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Sony A7R being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go into a more detailed comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the A7R scores vs the NEX-5N when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Sony Alpha A7R & Sony Alpha NEX-5N. The complete galleries are viewable at Sony A7R Gallery & Sony NEX-5N Gallery.

For those who are aiming to carry around your camera often, you will need to consider its weight and measurements. The Sony A7R comes with external dimensions of 127mm x 94mm x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9") with a weight of 465 grams (1.03 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5N has proportions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Contrast the Sony A7R versus Sony NEX-5N in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the A7R vs the NEX-5N.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A7R and NEX-5N is 78 and 89 respectively.

Typically, it's tough to see the contrast in sensor sizes only by looking through technical specs. The image below may give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the A7R and NEX-5N.

As you can tell, the two cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The A7R due to its bigger sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field less difficult and the Sony A7R will result in greater detail as a result of its extra 20MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots way more aggressively. The fresher A7R is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.