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Sony A500 vs Sony NEX-5N

Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
Portability
89
Imaging
57
Features
69
Overall
61

Sony A500 vs Sony NEX-5N Key Specs

Sony A500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 630g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Announced August 2009
  • Replacement is Sony A560
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
  • Released October 2011
  • Previous Model is Sony NEX-5
  • Refreshed by Sony NEX-5R
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Sony A500 vs Sony NEX-5N Overview

On this page, we are contrasting the Sony A500 vs Sony NEX-5N, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are manufactured by Sony. There exists a huge gap among the sensor resolutions of the A500 (12MP) and NEX-5N (16MP) but both cameras have the same sensor sizes (APS-C).

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The A500 was introduced 3 years before the NEX-5N which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the A500 scores versus the NEX-5N for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Sony NEX-5N

 A500 NEX-5N 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Sony A500

 NEX-5N A500 
ReleasedOctober 2011August 2009Newer by 25 months
Display resolution920k230kCrisper display (+690k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Sony A500 and Sony NEX-5N

 A500 NEX-5N 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Sony A500 vs Sony NEX-5N Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you should factor in its weight and volume. The Sony A500 enjoys physical dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") with a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5N has sizing of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Compare the Sony A500 vs Sony NEX-5N in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are using at that moment. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the A500 compared to the NEX-5N.

Sony A500 vs Sony NEX-5N size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A500 and NEX-5N is 63 and 89 respectively.

Sony A500 vs Sony NEX-5N top view buttons comparison

Sony A500 vs Sony NEX-5N Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its difficult to picture the contrast in sensor dimensions merely by checking out technical specs. The pic below may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the A500 and NEX-5N.

As you have seen, each of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different megapixels. You should anticipate the Sony NEX-5N to provide greater detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics more aggressively. The more aged A500 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Sony A500 vs Sony NEX-5N sensor size comparison

Sony A500 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A500 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony A500
Portrait photography with Sony NEX-5N
63
focusing manually
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
74
you can focus manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A500 Street photography factors
Sony NEX-5N Street photography factors
74
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
80
screen tilts
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
includes focus via touch
very good high ISO (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sony A500 Sports photography details
Sony NEX-5N Sports photography details
51
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
low frames per second (5.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
bad battery power (520 shots)
58
MP count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
better than average battery (460 CIPA)
no image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A500 Travel photography highlights
Sony NEX-5N Travel photography highlights
43
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse mode
bad battery power (520 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
71
better than average battery (460 per charge)
includes focus via touch
MP count good (16 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony A500
Landscape photography with Sony NEX-5N
60
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
bad battery power (520 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse mode
71
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
very good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
better than average battery (460 CIPA)
no image stabilization
doesn't have Timelapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Sony A500 as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Vlogging camera
9
no video recording
33
has touchscreen
offers face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
doesn't have external microphone port
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Sony A500 vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A500 and Sony NEX-5N
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500Sony Alpha NEX-5N
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 Sony Alpha NEX-5N
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2009-08-27 2011-10-03
Body design Compact SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4272 x 2848 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 12800 25600
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony/Minolta Alpha Sony E
Amount of lenses 143 121
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Range of display Tilting Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech - Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160s 1/160s
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)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 630g (1.39 lbs) 269g (0.59 lbs)
Physical dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 64 77
DXO Color Depth score 21.8 23.6
DXO Dynamic range score 11.6 12.7
DXO Low light score 772 1079
Other
Battery life 520 photos 460 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FM500H NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $638 $550