Sony A380 vs Sony NEX-5N

Here, we are evaluating the Sony A380 and Sony NEX-5N, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are manufactured by Sony. The sensor resolution of the A380 (14MP) and the NEX-5N (16MP) is very similar and both cameras boast the identical sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The A380 was unveiled 3 years earlier than the NEX-5N and that is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Sony A380 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving straight to a full comparison, here is a simple summation of how the A380 matches up versus the NEX-5N when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Sony Alpha DSLR-A380 & Sony Alpha NEX-5N. The full galleries are available at Sony A380 Gallery & Sony NEX-5N Gallery.

For anybody who is intending to carry your camera regularly, you should take into account its weight and dimensions. The Sony A380 has got exterior measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 519 grams (1.14 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-5N has dimensions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") along with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Contrast the Sony A380 and Sony NEX-5N in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are using at that moment. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the A380 vs the NEX-5N.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the A380 and NEX-5N is 68 and 89 respectively.

Usually, it can be difficult to imagine the gap between sensor sizing simply by reviewing specs. The graphic below will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the A380 and NEX-5N.

All in all, both cameras feature the identical sensor size but different MP. You can expect to see the Sony NEX-5N to deliver greater detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop photos way more aggressively. The older A380 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.