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Sony A9 vs Sony NEX-5R

Portability
65
Imaging
74
Features
93
Overall
81
Sony Alpha A9 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5R front
Portability
89
Imaging
57
Features
76
Overall
64

Sony A9 vs Sony NEX-5R Key Specs

Sony A9
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Bump to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 673g - 127 x 96 x 63mm
  • Launched April 2017
  • Successor is Sony A9 II
Sony NEX-5R
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 276g - 111 x 59 x 39mm
  • Introduced August 2012
  • Succeeded the Sony NEX-5N
  • Updated by Sony NEX-5T
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Sony A9 vs Sony NEX-5R Overview

Lets look more closely at the Sony A9 and Sony NEX-5R, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are created by Sony. There exists a noticeable gap among the resolutions of the A9 (24MP) and NEX-5R (16MP) and the A9 (Full frame) and NEX-5R (APS-C) posses totally different sensor sizes.

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The A9 was introduced 4 years after the NEX-5R which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Sony A9 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony NEX-5R being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving right into a thorough comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the A9 grades against the NEX-5R in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony A9 over the Sony NEX-5R

 A9 NEX-5R 
IntroducedApril 2017August 2012Newer by 57 months
Display resolution1440k920kCrisper display (+520k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5R over the Sony A9

 NEX-5R A9 

Common features in the Sony A9 and Sony NEX-5R

 A9 NEX-5R 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Sony A9 vs Sony NEX-5R Physical Comparison

If you are going to travel with your camera, you'll have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Sony A9 has got outside measurements of 127mm x 96mm x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5") having a weight of 673 grams (1.48 lbs) and the Sony NEX-5R has measurements of 111mm x 59mm x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 276 grams (0.61 lbs).

Take a look at the Sony A9 and Sony NEX-5R in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Below is a front view size comparison of the A9 vs the NEX-5R.

Sony A9 vs Sony NEX-5R size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A9 and NEX-5R is 65 and 89 respectively.

Sony A9 vs Sony NEX-5R top view buttons comparison

Sony A9 vs Sony NEX-5R Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is tough to see the contrast in sensor dimensions purely by viewing specs. The image underneath may give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the A9 and NEX-5R.

All in all, each of the cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The A9 using its larger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF simpler and the Sony A9 will result in extra detail using its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop pics more aggressively. The more modern A9 is going to have a benefit in sensor technology.

Sony A9 vs Sony NEX-5R sensor size comparison

Sony A9 vs Sony NEX-5R Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A9 vs Sony NEX-5R Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony A9
Portrait photography with Sony NEX-5R
84
has manual focus
decent MP (24MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
comes with face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
74
has manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Sony A9 Street photography info
Sony NEX-5R Street photography info
79
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
comes with focus via touch
weather proof
great high ISO (51,200)
80
tilting screen
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
has focus by touch
good ISO range (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony A9
Sports photography with Sony NEX-5R
87
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
silent shutter (1/32,000s)
fast continuous shooting (20.0 fps)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
comes with tracking focus
weather proof
good battery (650 shots)
comes with phase detect autofocus
68
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
has phase detect autofocus
does not have image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Sony A9 Travel photography factors
Sony NEX-5R Travel photography factors
74
good battery (650 shots)
weather proof
connects via bluetooth
comes with focus via touch
decent MP (24MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
73
has focus by touch
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A9 Landscape photography info
Sony NEX-5R Landscape photography info
86
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
great high ISO (51,200)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
good battery (650 per charge)
2 card slots
75
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
good sized screen (3")
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A9 Vlogging features
Sony NEX-5R Vlogging features
37
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detect autofocus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
does have mic support
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
31
touch screen
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have mic jack
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Sony A9 vs Sony NEX-5R Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A9 and Sony NEX-5R
 Sony Alpha A9Sony Alpha NEX-5R
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha A9 Sony Alpha NEX-5R
Class Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2017-04-19 2012-08-29
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip BIONZ X Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor dimensions 35.6 x 23.8mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 847.3mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 6000 x 4000 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 51200 25600
Max enhanced ISO 204800 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Minimum enhanced ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 693 99
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony E Sony E
Total lenses 121 121
Crop factor 1 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,440 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology - Tilt Up 180� Down 50� TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 3,686 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.78x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Max quiet shutter speed 1/32000s -
Continuous shutter speed 20.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash modes Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 673 grams (1.48 lb) 276 grams (0.61 lb)
Physical dimensions 127 x 96 x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5") 111 x 59 x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 92 78
DXO Color Depth score 24.9 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 13.3 13.1
DXO Low light score 3517 910
Other
Battery life 650 images 330 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FZ100 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 secs + continuous) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Storage media Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible) SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 2 Single
Cost at release $4,498 $750