Sony A560 vs Sony NEX-5N

The following is a comprehensive assessment of the Sony A560 versus Sony NEX-5N, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both are offered by Sony. The resolution of the A560 (14MP) and the NEX-5N (16MP) is pretty well matched and both cameras have the same sensor sizes (APS-C).

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The A560 was released 13 months prior to the NEX-5N which makes them a generation away from one another. The two cameras have different body design with the Sony A560 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going into a complete comparison, here is a short highlight of how the A560 scores vs the NEX-5N when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

The following is a preview of the gallery images for Sony Alpha DSLR-A560 and Sony Alpha NEX-5N. The complete galleries are provided at Sony A560 Gallery and Sony NEX-5N Gallery.

If you're aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Sony A560 provides exterior dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") with a weight of 599 grams (1.32 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).

Compare the Sony A560 versus Sony NEX-5N in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you select at the time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the A560 and the NEX-5N.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A560 and NEX-5N is 64 and 89 respectively.

Typically, it is tough to imagine the gap between sensor dimensions merely by looking at specs. The image underneath will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the A560 and NEX-5N.

As you can plainly see, both cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different MP. You should expect the Sony NEX-5N to give you extra detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures more aggressively. The more aged A560 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.