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Sony A850 vs Sony NEX-5N

Portability
54
Imaging
68
Features
60
Overall
64
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
Portability
89
Imaging
56
Features
69
Overall
61

Sony A850 vs Sony NEX-5N Key Specs

Sony A850
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Bump to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Released April 2010
Sony NEX-5N
(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
  • Newer Model is Sony NEX-5R
Photography Glossary

Sony A850 vs Sony NEX-5N Overview

Following is a extended review of the Sony A850 vs Sony NEX-5N, one is a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both are manufactured by Sony. There is a crucial difference among the sensor resolutions of the A850 (25MP) and NEX-5N (16MP) and the A850 (Full frame) and NEX-5N (APS-C) boast totally different sensor sizes.

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The A850 was revealed 17 months before the NEX-5N which makes them a generation away from each other. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting into a more detailed comparison, here is a brief overview of how the A850 scores against the NEX-5N with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony A850 over the Sony NEX-5N

 A850 NEX-5N 
Screen resolution922k920kCrisper screen (+2k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Sony A850

 NEX-5N A850 
LaunchedOctober 2011April 2010More modern by 17 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Sony A850 and Sony NEX-5N

 A850 NEX-5N 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen dimensions
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Sony A850 vs Sony NEX-5N Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry around your camera, you will want to factor in its weight and measurements. The Sony A850 has external measurements of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") along with a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs) and the Sony NEX-5N has proportions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Analyze the Sony A850 vs Sony NEX-5N in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you use at that time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the A850 versus the NEX-5N.

Sony A850 vs Sony NEX-5N size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the A850 and NEX-5N is 54 and 89 respectively.

Sony A850 vs Sony NEX-5N top view buttons comparison

Sony A850 vs Sony NEX-5N Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's hard to see the gap in sensor sizes merely by researching technical specs. The image here should offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the A850 and NEX-5N.

As you have seen, each of the cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The A850 with its bigger sensor will make getting shallower depth of field easier and the Sony A850 will provide you with extra detail because of its extra 9MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The more aged A850 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Sony A850 vs Sony NEX-5N sensor size comparison

Sony A850 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A850 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A850 Portrait photography information
Sony NEX-5N Portrait photography information
72
has manual focus
MP count excellent (25 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
doesn't have liveview
73
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A850 Street photography details
Sony NEX-5N Street photography details
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
no moving screen
80
has a tilting screen
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
includes touch focus
above average high ISO (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sony A850 as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Sports photography camera
71
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count excellent (25 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
environment sealing
has phase detect autofocus
doesn't have liveview
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames per second)
58
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
better than average battery life (460 CIPA)
no image stabilization
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony A850 as a Travel photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Travel photography camera
55
environment sealing
MP count excellent (25MP)
missing Time Lapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
70
better than average battery life (460 shots)
includes touch focus
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse function
does not posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A850 Landscape photography info
Sony NEX-5N Landscape photography info
73
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count excellent (25 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
has double storage slots
doesn't have liveview
missing Time Lapse mode
71
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
above average high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (460 CIPA)
no image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A850 Vlogging highlights
Sony NEX-5N Vlogging highlights
9
can't record video
33
touch screen
has face detect focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not posses selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
does not have mic socket
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Sony A850 vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A850 and Sony NEX-5N
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850Sony Alpha NEX-5N
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 Sony Alpha NEX-5N
Type Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2010-04-15 2011-10-03
Physical type Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor dimensions 35.9 x 24mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 861.6mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 25MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 6048 x 4032 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 3200 25600
Max enhanced ISO 6400 -
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mount Sony/Minolta Alpha Sony E
Total lenses 143 121
Focal length multiplier 1 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 922k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology TFT Xtra Fine color LCD Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 98 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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 data format - AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 895 gr (1.97 lb) 269 gr (0.59 lb)
Physical dimensions 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 79 77
DXO Color Depth score 23.8 23.6
DXO Dynamic range score 12.2 12.7
DXO Low light score 1415 1079
Other
Battery life 880 photos 460 photos
Battery type 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 type Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Dual 1
Price at release $0 $550