Sony NEX-5 vs Sony a1

Below, we will be contrasting the Sony NEX-5 vs Sony a1, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Pro Mirrorless and they are both created by Sony. There is a large difference among the sensor resolutions of the NEX-5 (14MP) and a1 (50MP) and the NEX-5 (APS-C) and a1 (Full frame) enjoy totally different sensor size.

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The NEX-5 was brought out 11 years earlier than the a1 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony a1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving through a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief summary of how the NEX-5 grades vs the a1 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a preview of the gallery photos for Sony Alpha NEX-5 & Sony Alpha a1. The entire galleries are available at Sony NEX-5 Gallery & Sony a1 Gallery.

For anyone who is planning to lug around your camera, you will need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Sony NEX-5 has got exterior measurements of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") and a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs) while the Sony a1 has dimensions of 129mm x 97mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 737 grams (1.62 lbs).

Contrast the Sony NEX-5 vs Sony a1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you select during that time. Below is the front view scale comparison of the NEX-5 versus the a1.

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the NEX-5 and a1 is 89 and 61 respectively.

In many cases, its hard to see the gap in sensor measurements only by viewing a spec sheet. The photograph underneath might provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the NEX-5 and a1.

As you can see, both cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The NEX-5 due to its smaller sensor will make getting bokeh more challenging and the Sony a1 will result in more detail having its extra 36 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The older NEX-5 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.