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Sony A300 vs Sony NEX-5

Portability
64
Imaging
50
Features
45
Overall
48
Sony Alpha DSLR-A300 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
58
Overall
55

Sony A300 vs Sony NEX-5 Key Specs

Sony A300
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 632g - 131 x 99 x 75mm
  • Revealed January 2008
  • Later Model is Sony A330
Sony NEX-5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 287g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Launched June 2010
  • Replacement is Sony NEX-5N
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Sony A300 vs Sony NEX-5 Overview

Here is a in-depth assessment of the Sony A300 and Sony NEX-5, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and they are both designed by Sony. There exists a considerable gap between the image resolutions of the A300 (10MP) and NEX-5 (14MP) but they feature the same exact sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The A300 was unveiled 3 years prior to the NEX-5 and that is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Sony A300 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving through a in-depth comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the A300 grades against the NEX-5 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony A300 over the Sony NEX-5

 A300 NEX-5 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5 over the Sony A300

 NEX-5 A300 
LaunchedJune 2010January 2008Fresher by 28 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kSharper display (+690k dot)

Common features in the Sony A300 and Sony NEX-5

 A300 NEX-5 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Sony A300 vs Sony NEX-5 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry your camera often, you should take into account its weight and measurements. The Sony A300 comes with external measurements of 131mm x 99mm x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") with a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5 has proportions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") along with a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Take a look at the Sony A300 and Sony NEX-5 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilising during that time. Underneath is the front view measurement comparison of the A300 versus the NEX-5.

Sony A300 vs Sony NEX-5 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A300 and NEX-5 is 64 and 89 respectively.

Sony A300 vs Sony NEX-5 top view buttons comparison

Sony A300 vs Sony NEX-5 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is difficult to see the difference between sensor sizing purely by reviewing technical specs. The visual underneath may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the A300 and NEX-5.

As you have seen, the two cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same MP. You can anticipate the Sony NEX-5 to offer you greater detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images far more aggressively. The older A300 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Sony A300 vs Sony NEX-5 sensor size comparison

Sony A300 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A300 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony A300
Portrait photography with Sony NEX-5
60
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
72
focusing manually
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony A300 Street photography features
Sony NEX-5 Street photography features
74
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
76
screen tilts
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sony A300 Sports photography factors
Sony NEX-5 Sports photography factors
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
slow frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (10MP)
52
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
no image stabilization
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A300 as a Travel photography camera
Sony NEX-5 as a Travel photography camera
45
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse recording
megapixel count low (10MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
59
good megapixels (14MP)
no Time Lapse mode
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A300 Landscape photography highlights
Sony NEX-5 Landscape photography highlights
57
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse recording
68
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
good megapixels (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no image stabilization
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A300 as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-5 as a Vlogging camera
9
lack of video recording
28
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
no mic support
OM System OM-1 Set to Enhance Autofocus

Sony A300 vs Sony NEX-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A300 and Sony NEX-5
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A300Sony Alpha NEX-5
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A300 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2008-01-30 2010-06-07
Physical type Compact SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.6 x 15.8mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 372.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3872 x 2592 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mount type Sony/Minolta Alpha Sony E
Total lenses 143 121
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Type of display Tilting Tilting
Display size 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.49x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain, wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 632 gr (1.39 lbs) 287 gr (0.63 lbs)
Dimensions 131 x 99 x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 64 69
DXO Color Depth rating 22.5 22.2
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.4 12.2
DXO Low light rating 538 796
Other
Battery life - 330 images
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Compact Flash SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $0 $599