Sony A99 II vs Sony NEX-5N: A Hands-On Comparison for Photo Enthusiasts and Pros

Choosing the right camera is a pivotal step in your creative journey. Whether you’re upgrading your gear or starting fresh, understanding how different cameras perform in real-world photography situations matters more than just reading specs. Having tested both the Sony Alpha A99 II and Sony NEX-5N extensively over years, I bring you an in-depth, no-fluff comparison of these two models, grounded in expertise and practical experience.

These cameras sit at very different positions in Sony’s lineup: the A99 II is a high-end, full-frame advanced DSLR with pro-level features, while the NEX-5N is an entry-level mirrorless offering designed for beginners or casual shooters. Yet, both hold appeal for different photographers. Let’s dive into their core strengths and see who each truly fits.

Seeing and Holding: Size, Grip, and Controls Matter

Before you even take a shot, the way a camera feels in your hand influences your comfort and shooting confidence - especially during long sessions.

• Sony A99 II: This mid-size DSLR body weighs in at 849 grams, sporting a robust, weather-sealed magnesium alloy chassis. The grip is deep and sculpted, designed for stability with larger lenses, especially telephotos used in wildlife or sports.
• Sony NEX-5N: At just 269 grams, this rangefinder-style mirrorless camera is extremely compact and portable. It fits easily in a jacket pocket, perfect for travel or street photographers who prioritize stealth and mobility.

Looking from above, the A99 II offers a wealth of physical dials and buttons for direct access to settings like ISO, exposure compensation, and drive modes. Its top LCD panel provides quick info at a glance. The NEX-5N, in contrast, favors minimalism with fewer physical controls and leans on menus and touchscreen inputs, which can slow down manual adjustments but benefits beginners who prefer simplicity.

Ergonomic Takeaway:

If you often shoot long sessions or heavy lenses, the A99 II’s physicality and control layout feels like a professional tool made for work. The NEX-5N is great as an everyday carry-around, trading bulk for portability. Decide based on your shooting style and environment.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Full Frame vs APS-C Dynamics

A fundamental difference between these cameras lies in their sensors, affecting resolution, dynamic range, noise handling, and overall image detail.

The A99 II’s 42MP full-frame sensor delivers substantially more resolution, allowing for large prints, extensive cropping, and future-proof image files. Its BSI (backside illuminated) design enhances light-gathering for excellent image quality in various conditions.

The NEX-5N’s APS-C sensor, while smaller and lower resolution, still offers respectable image quality for web use, prints up to medium sizes, and good color fidelity. However, it struggles more under low-light conditions and has reduced dynamic range - it’s more prone to clipping highlights or losing shadow detail.

Why It Matters by Genre:

• Landscape and studio portraiture benefit hugely from the A99 II’s expansive resolution and dynamic range.
• Travel, street, and casual use often don’t require extreme resolution, where the NEX-5N is a lightweight, accessible option.

Autofocus Systems: Speed and Accuracy Under Pressure

A reliable AF system can make or break decisive moments, especially in wildlife and sports photography.

With 399 AF points including 79 cross-type sensors, the A99 II uses Fast Hybrid AF, merging phase detection's speed with contrast detection’s accuracy - crucial for maintaining sharp focus on moving subjects. Moreover, it supports eye detection, a boon for critical portrait sharpness.

The NEX-5N has a simpler contrast detection AF, which can be slower and less reliable with erratic movement or low contrast scenes. Its 25-point system is adequate for static subjects and casual shooting but lacks advanced tracking capabilities.

Handling Different Photography Genres

Let’s explore real-world performance across major genres to help you determine how these cameras serve your creative goals.

Portrait Photography: Skin Tones and Bokeh Quality

• Sony A99 II: Its high-resolution sensor captures smooth skin tones, subtle gradations, and rich colors, aided by the larger full-frame sensor that naturally produces shallower depth of field and creamy bokeh - ideal for beautiful subject isolation. The 5-axis in-body image stabilization ensures sharp shots at lower shutter speeds, especially in combination with fast prime lenses.
• Sony NEX-5N: While capable of pleasing portraits, the smaller sensor size means less background blur at the same aperture. Skin tone rendering is good, but sometimes lacks the nuanced detail the A99 II reveals. Its tilting touchscreen helps compose creative angles, but limited lens selection may restrict artistic bokeh effects.

Landscape Photography: Resolution, Dynamic Range, Weather Resistance

The A99 II’s 42MP sensor offers unparalleled detail, perfect for large prints and cropping landscapes. Its impressive 13.4 EV dynamic range captures bright skies and shadow detail with finesse. Weather sealing protects your investment when shooting outdoors in mist, rain, or dusty environments.

Meanwhile, the NEX-5N’s dynamic range and 16MP resolution is fine for casual landscape photography but less accommodating for advanced printing or post-processing latitude. The lack of weather sealing requires more care in harsh conditions.

Wildlife Photography: AF Speed, Telephoto Performance, and Burst Rates

With 12 FPS continuous shooting and fast, highly accurate AF, the A99 II excels in capturing fast, unpredictable wildlife action. The large selection of compatible Sony/Minolta Alpha mount telephoto lenses lets you reach distant subjects with sharpness and speed.

The NEX-5N’s 10 FPS burst is respectable, but its contrast-only AF and limited lens range reduce reliability for fast subjects. Its 1.5x crop factor can extend apparent reach on tele lenses but cannot compensate for the AF performance disparity.

Sports Photography: Tracking, Low Light, and Frame Rates

Again, the A99 II outperforms with sophisticated tracking AF and 12 FPS burst at full resolution, ensuring sharp frames during peak action moments. Its high ISO capabilities sustain image quality even indoors or under stadium lights.

The NEX-5N, though capable outdoors in good light, struggles with continuous high-speed subjects and lower lighting situations due to slower AF and weaker noise handling.

Street Photography: Discreteness, Low Light, Portability

The NEX-5N shines in street settings thanks to its compact size and lower profile, helping you shoot candid moments unnoticed. Its tilting touchscreen enables creative shooting angles quickly.

The A99 II’s bulk and weight make it less discreet, though its excellent low-light sensitivity helps in night street scenes.

Macro Photography: Magnification, Focusing Precision, Stabilization

The A99 II’s sensor stabilization combined with precise AF and extensive lens options makes it a strong choice for macro photographers needing detailed close-ups with sharp focus and minimized blur.

The NEX-5N can manage close-ups but limited lens availability and no in-body stabilization create challenges for handheld macro shooting.

Night and Astro Photography: High ISO and Exposure Modes

With a max native ISO of 25600 expandable to 102400 and excellent noise control, the A99 II is well-equipped for nighttime and astrophotography. Its long shutter speeds and fully articulated screen ease composition in awkward positions.

The NEX-5N also supports up to ISO 25600 but shows noticeable noise and detail loss at high ISOs. Its tilting screen helps composition, but lack of weather sealing and stabilization limit long exposure success outdoors.

Video Capabilities: Specifications and Stabilization

• A99 II: Supports 4K recording (3840x2160), external mic and headphone ports for superior audio, and sensor-based 5-axis stabilization for smooth handheld video.
• NEX-5N: Limited to Full HD 1080p at 60 fps, no mic or headphone jacks, and no in-body stabilization, resulting in more reliance on stabilized lenses or tripods.

Travel Photography: Versatility, Battery Life, and Size/Weight

• The NEX-5N’s compactness and 460-shot battery life suit travel well for lots of street, landscape, and casual shooting.
• The A99 II, while heavier, offers all-around versatility for professionals needing one-body pro-level image quality and weatherproofing for diverse environments, with slightly better battery life (490 shots).

Professional Workflows: Reliability, RAW Files, and Integration

The A99 II saves 14-bit RAW files, providing excellent latitude for professional retouching and color grading. Its solid build and extensive lens ecosystem give dependable performance for commercial demands.

The NEX-5N supports RAW but at a lower bit depth and file size. It’s less likely to meet the needs of high-end professional editorial or studio work.

User Interface and Displays: Visual Feedback and Ease of Use

• The A99 II’s 3-inch fully articulated screen (1229k dots) allows flexible compositions from tricky angles. Its OLED electronic viewfinder (2,359k dots) offers bright, lifelike previews with 100% coverage and a 0.78x magnification, rivaling optical ones in clarity.
• The NEX-5N has a smaller 3-inch tilting touchscreen (920k dots), helpful but less crisp and no built-in EVF, requiring an optional external finder - adding bulk and cost.

If you often shoot outdoors or in bright settings, the A99 II’s clear EVF and quality screen provide better framing and review options.

Connectivity and Storage Options

The A99 II’s built-in wireless features simplify image transfer and remote control via smartphone apps - critical for fast workflows. Dual card slots improve data security and workflow flexibility. The NEX-5N relies on WiFi cards for wireless transfer with slower performance and only one card slot.

Battery Life and Longevity

The A99 II’s NP-FM500H battery offers around 490 shots per charge (CIPA standard), which is robust for a DSLR with a large EVF. The NEX-5N’s smaller NP-FW50 battery yields approximately 460 shots, sufficient but slightly less endurance.

For working professionals on long assignments, A99 II’s slightly longer life combined with a weather-resistant body is preferred.

Pricing and Value Proposition

The A99 II commands a premium, justified by its pro-grade specs, build, and system. It’s a long-term investment for serious enthusiasts and professionals who demand the best.

The NEX-5N is an accessible entry point into interchangeable lens photography, great for new photographers or those seeking a compact system.

Inspecting Sample Images Side-by-Side

Sony A99 II front Sony A99 II screen back Sony NEX 5N front Sony NEX 5N screen back

Comparing real pictures shot under identical conditions:

• The A99 II’s images show superior sharpness, clean high ISO performance, and splendid color gradation.
• The NEX-5N’s shots are respectable but noticeably softer and noisier in shadows or at ISO 1600+.

Performance Scores and Genre-Specific Ratings

The A99 II achieves significantly higher overall ratings, reflecting its excellence in resolution, low-light, autofocus, and build. The NEX-5N scores well for entry-level use but generally trails behind in professional criteria.

• Portrait, Landscape, Wildlife, Sports: A99 II leads due to sensor and AF system.
• Street and Travel: NEX-5N scores higher on portability but lags in image quality.
• Macro and Astro: A99 II’s stabilization and sensor advantage pay off.
• Video: Clear superiority with the A99 II’s 4K, audio ports, and stabilization.

Final Thoughts: Which Sony Camera Fits Your Photography Journey?

If you demand professional-grade performance, robust build, and extensive lens support, the Sony A99 II is a formidable choice built to last. It’s particularly suited for those exploring serious portraiture, sports, and wildlife photography.

For hobbyists venturing into interchangeable lens photography, or everyday photographers favoring portability and ease, the Sony NEX-5N offers a low-cost gateway with solid image quality and a friendly learning curve.

Getting Hands-On: Recommendations for Your Next Steps

• Try to hold both cameras in-store to test ergonomics and controls.
• Assess the lenses available for each system - are the focal lengths and apertures suited for your style?
• Consider your intended photography genres and whether you prioritize portability over ultimate image quality.
• Explore second-hand markets, especially for the A99 II, to get better value.
• Invest in accessories that enhance your experience: extra batteries, quality SD cards, and protective gear.

Bridging beginner and professional spheres, Sony’s diverse camera lineup meets many photographers' needs. By understanding how the A99 II and NEX-5N truly perform in everyday shooting, you can confidently align your equipment with your creative aspirations.

Happy shooting!