Sony A350 vs Sony NEX-5R

Let's take a more detailed look at the Sony A350 and Sony NEX-5R, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are offered by Sony. The image resolution of the A350 (14MP) and the NEX-5R (16MP) is fairly comparable and both cameras have the identical sensor measurements (APS-C).

Photography Glossary

The A350 was announced 5 years earlier than the NEX-5R and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Sony A350 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony NEX-5R being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go into a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise overview of how the A350 grades versus the NEX-5R with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Sony Alpha DSLR-A350 and Sony Alpha NEX-5R. The whole galleries are available at Sony A350 Gallery and Sony NEX-5R Gallery.

In case you're going to carry your camera often, you'll have to consider its weight and measurements. The Sony A350 features outside measurements of 131mm x 99mm x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") having a weight of 674 grams (1.49 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-5R has proportions of 111mm x 59mm x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") and a weight of 276 grams (0.61 lbs).

Examine the Sony A350 and Sony NEX-5R in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have attached during that time. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the A350 versus the NEX-5R.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the A350 and NEX-5R is 62 and 89 respectively.

Oftentimes, its tough to see the contrast in sensor sizing only by going through a spec sheet. The photograph below will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the A350 and NEX-5R.

Clearly, the two cameras feature the identical sensor size but not the same megapixels. You should anticipate the Sony NEX-5R to provide more detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop images way more aggressively. The older A350 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.