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Sony A380 vs Sony NEX-5N

Portability
68
Imaging
53
Features
54
Overall
53
Sony Alpha DSLR-A380 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
Portability
89
Imaging
56
Features
69
Overall
61

Sony A380 vs Sony NEX-5N Key Specs

Sony A380
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 519g - 128 x 97 x 71mm
  • Introduced August 2009
  • Older Model is Sony A350
  • Refreshed by Sony A390
Sony NEX-5N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Revealed October 2011
  • Replaced the Sony NEX-5
  • Successor is Sony NEX-5R
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Sony A380 vs Sony NEX-5N Overview

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.

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Reasons to pick Sony A380 over the Sony NEX-5N

 A380 NEX-5N 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Sony A380

 NEX-5N A380 
RevealedOctober 2011August 2009Fresher by 25 months
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kSharper display (+690k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Sony A380 and Sony NEX-5N

 A380 NEX-5N 
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Sony A380 vs Sony NEX-5N Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Sony A380 vs Sony NEX-5N size comparison

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

Sony A380 vs Sony NEX-5N top view buttons comparison

Sony A380 vs Sony NEX-5N Sensor Comparison

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.

Sony A380 vs Sony NEX-5N sensor size comparison

Sony A380 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A380 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A380 Portrait photography factors
Sony NEX-5N Portrait photography factors
71
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
73
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers face detect focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony A380 as a Street photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Street photography camera
76
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
80
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
supports touch to focus
good ISO range (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sony A380 Sports photography features
Sony NEX-5N Sports photography features
59
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
not so great battery pack (500 CIPA)
58
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
good battery (460 shots)
does not have image stabilization
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A380 Travel photography features
Sony NEX-5N Travel photography features
53
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
missing Timelapse recording
not so great battery pack (500 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
70
good battery (460 CIPA)
supports touch to focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
missing Timelapse recording
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Sony A380 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Landscape photography camera
61
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
small screen (2.7")
not so great battery pack (500 per charge)
missing Timelapse recording
71
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
good battery (460 CIPA)
does not have image stabilization
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A380 Vlogging advice
Sony NEX-5N Vlogging advice
9
can't shoot video
33
touchscreen capability
offers face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
missing microphone jack
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Sony A380 vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A380 and Sony NEX-5N
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A380Sony Alpha NEX-5N
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A380 Sony Alpha NEX-5N
Type Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2009-08-24 2011-10-03
Body design Compact SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.6 x 15.8mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 372.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4592 x 3056 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 3200 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens support Sony/Minolta Alpha Sony E
Total lenses 143 121
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech - Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.49x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 519 grams (1.14 lb) 269 grams (0.59 lb)
Physical dimensions 128 x 97 x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 67 77
DXO Color Depth rating 22.6 23.6
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.8 12.7
DXO Low light rating 614 1079
Other
Battery life 500 pictures 460 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FH50 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $899 $550