Sony A550 vs Sony NEX-5N
63 Imaging
54 Features
65 Overall
58
89 Imaging
56 Features
69 Overall
61
Sony A550 vs Sony NEX-5N Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 14MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Tilting Display
- ISO 200 - 12800
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- No Video
- Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
- 632g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
- Revealed December 2009
- Previous Model is Sony A100
(Full Review)
- 16MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Tilting Screen
- ISO 100 - 25600
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Sony E Mount
- 269g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
- Launched October 2011
- Old Model is Sony NEX-5
- Later Model is Sony NEX-5R
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On this page, we will be looking at the Sony A550 vs Sony NEX-5N, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are designed by Sony. The resolution of the A550 (14MP) and the NEX-5N (16MP) is pretty comparable and both cameras offer the same sensor dimensions (APS-C).
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music videoThe A550 was announced 22 months prior to the NEX-5N which makes them a generation away from one another. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.
Before going right into a complete comparison, here is a short view of how the A550 grades versus the NEX-5N in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.
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Here is a preview of the gallery images for Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 and Sony Alpha NEX-5N. The whole galleries are available at Sony A550 Gallery and Sony NEX-5N Gallery.
Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Sony NEX-5N
| A550 | NEX-5N | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen resolution | 922k |  | 920k | Crisper screen (+2k dot) |
Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Sony A550
| NEX-5N | A550 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launched | October 2011 |  | December 2009 | More modern by 22 months |
| Touch screen |  | Quickly navigate |
Common features in the Sony A550 and Sony NEX-5N
| A550 | NEX-5N | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focus manually |  | More accurate focus | ||
| Screen type | Tilting |  | Tilting | Tilting screen |
| Screen dimensions | 3" |  | 3" | Equal screen sizing |
| Selfie screen |  | Neither provides selfie screen |
Sony A550 vs Sony NEX-5N Physical Comparison
When you are looking to carry around your camera, you have to take into account its weight and size. The Sony A550 provides outer dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs) and the Sony NEX-5N has specifications of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).
Check out the Sony A550 vs Sony NEX-5N in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are using at that time. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the A550 and the NEX-5N.
Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A550 and NEX-5N is 63 and 89 respectively.
Sony A550 vs Sony NEX-5N Sensor Comparison
Typically, it is hard to picture the contrast in sensor sizes only by seeing technical specs. The picture here will give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the A550 and NEX-5N.
As you can tell, both of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different resolution. You should expect the Sony NEX-5N to produce more detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The more aged A550 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.
Sony A550 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and ViewFinder
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Sony A550 vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications
| Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 | Sony Alpha NEX-5N | |
|---|---|---|
| General Information | ||
| Brand | Sony | Sony |
| Model | Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 | Sony Alpha NEX-5N |
| Class | Entry-Level DSLR | Entry-Level Mirrorless |
| Revealed | 2009-12-09 | 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 | 23.4 x 15.6mm | 23.4 x 15.6mm |
| Sensor area | 365.0mm² | 365.0mm² |
| Sensor resolution | 14MP | 16MP |
| Anti aliasing filter | ||
| Aspect ratio | 3:2 and 16:9 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
| Full resolution | 4592 x 3056 | 4912 x 3264 |
| Max native ISO | 12800 | 25600 |
| Lowest native ISO | 200 | 100 |
| RAW support | ||
| Autofocusing | ||
| Manual focus | ||
| AF touch | ||
| Continuous AF | ||
| AF single | ||
| AF tracking | ||
| Selective AF | ||
| Center weighted AF | ||
| AF multi area | ||
| AF live view | ||
| Face detect AF | ||
| Contract detect AF | ||
| Phase detect AF | ||
| Number of focus points | 9 | 25 |
| Lens | ||
| Lens mount | Sony/Minolta Alpha | Sony E |
| Amount of lenses | 143 | 121 |
| Focal length multiplier | 1.5 | 1.5 |
| Screen | ||
| Range of display | Tilting | Tilting |
| Display diagonal | 3 inch | 3 inch |
| Display resolution | 922k dot | 920k 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 percent | - |
| Viewfinder magnification | 0.53x | - |
| Features | ||
| Slowest shutter speed | 30s | 30s |
| Maximum shutter speed | 1/4000s | 1/4000s |
| Continuous shooting speed | 7.0fps | 10.0fps |
| Shutter priority | ||
| Aperture priority | ||
| Manually set exposure | ||
| Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
| Set WB | ||
| Image stabilization | ||
| Integrated 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 | ||
| AE bracketing | ||
| White balance bracketing | ||
| Maximum flash sync | 1/160s | 1/160s |
| Exposure | ||
| Multisegment | ||
| Average | ||
| Spot | ||
| Partial | ||
| AF area | ||
| Center weighted | ||
| Video features | ||
| Supported video resolutions | - | 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
| Max 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 | ||
| Environmental seal | ||
| Water proof | ||
| Dust proof | ||
| Shock proof | ||
| Crush proof | ||
| Freeze proof | ||
| Weight | 632g (1.39 lb) | 269g (0.59 lb) |
| 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 | 66 | 77 |
| DXO Color Depth score | 21.9 | 23.6 |
| DXO Dynamic range score | 11.8 | 12.7 |
| DXO Low light score | 807 | 1079 |
| Other | ||
| Battery life | 480 shots | 460 shots |
| Battery format | 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 | ||
| Storage media | SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo | SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo |
| Storage slots | 1 | 1 |
| Retail cost | $749 | $550 |