Sony A500 vs Sony NEX-5N

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.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 and Sony Alpha NEX-5N. The whole galleries are provided at Sony A500 Gallery and Sony NEX-5N Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.