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Sony A900 vs Sony NEX-5N

Portability
54
Imaging
66
Features
62
Overall
64
Sony Alpha DSLR-A900 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
Portability
89
Imaging
56
Features
69
Overall
61

Sony A900 vs Sony NEX-5N Key Specs

Sony A900
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Released October 2008
  • Later Model is Sony A99
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
  • Introduced October 2011
  • Older Model is Sony NEX-5
  • Replacement is Sony NEX-5R
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Sony A900 vs Sony NEX-5N Overview

Below, we will be analyzing the Sony A900 versus Sony NEX-5N, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and they are both manufactured by Sony. There exists a substantial gap between the sensor resolutions of the A900 (25MP) and NEX-5N (16MP) and the A900 (Full frame) and NEX-5N (APS-C) possess totally different sensor dimensions.

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The A900 was introduced 3 years before the NEX-5N and that is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Sony A900 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting in to a complete comparison, below is a quick summation of how the A900 grades against the NEX-5N when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony A900 over the Sony NEX-5N

 A900 NEX-5N 
Screen resolution922k920kCrisper screen (+2k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Sony A900

 NEX-5N A900 
IntroducedOctober 2011October 2008Fresher by 35 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Sony A900 and Sony NEX-5N

 A900 NEX-5N 
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Sony A900 vs Sony NEX-5N Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry your camera, you'll have to factor its weight and proportions. The Sony A900 has external dimensions of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") along with a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5N has measurements of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") along with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Check the Sony A900 versus Sony NEX-5N in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you use at that moment. Underneath is the front view sizing comparison of the A900 against the NEX-5N.

Sony A900 vs Sony NEX-5N size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A900 and NEX-5N is 54 and 89 respectively.

Sony A900 vs Sony NEX-5N top view buttons comparison

Sony A900 vs Sony NEX-5N Sensor Comparison

Normally, its hard to visualise the difference between sensor sizing purely by reading through specs. The photograph below might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the A900 and NEX-5N.

All in all, the two cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The A900 having a bigger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF easier and the Sony A900 will give you more detail using its extra 9MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs much more aggressively. The older A900 is going to be behind in sensor technology.

Sony A900 vs Sony NEX-5N sensor size comparison

Sony A900 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A900 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony A900
Portrait photography with Sony NEX-5N
71
focusing manually
amazing resolution (25 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
no liveview feature
73
manual focus
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony A900 Street photography info
Sony NEX-5N Street photography info
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
fixed screen
80
screen tilts
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
features focus via touch
great high ISO (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sony A900 Sports photography factors
Sony NEX-5N Sports photography factors
70
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
amazing resolution (25MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
environment sealing
has phase detect AF
no liveview feature
low fps (5.0 frames/s)
58
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
great battery pack (460 CIPA)
no image stabilization
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony A900
Travel photography with Sony NEX-5N
54
environment sealing
amazing resolution (25MP)
no Timelapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
70
great battery pack (460 CIPA)
features focus via touch
decent MP (16 megapixels)
no Timelapse recording
does not have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A900 Landscape photography highlights
Sony NEX-5N Landscape photography highlights
72
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
amazing resolution (25 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
two card slots
no liveview feature
no Timelapse mode
71
manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
great high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
great battery pack (460 shots)
no image stabilization
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A900 Vlogging advice
Sony NEX-5N Vlogging advice
9
no video shooting
33
built-in touchscreen
has face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
no external microphone support
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Sony A900 vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A900 and Sony NEX-5N
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A900Sony Alpha NEX-5N
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A900 Sony Alpha NEX-5N
Class Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2008-10-22 2011-10-03
Physical type Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor measurements 35.9 x 24mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 861.6mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 25 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 6048 x 4032 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 6400 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens support Sony/Minolta Alpha Sony E
Amount of lenses 143 121
Crop factor 1 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 922 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech TFT Xtra Fine color LCD Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 5.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m
Flash options 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
Max flash synchronize 1/250s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 895 grams (1.97 pounds) 269 grams (0.59 pounds)
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 rating 79 77
DXO Color Depth rating 23.7 23.6
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 12.7
DXO Low light rating 1431 1079
Other
Battery life 880 photographs 460 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID 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), Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, UDMA Mode 5, Supports FAT12 / FAT16 / FAT32 SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Two Single
Cost at release $2,736 $550