Sony NEX-5 vs Sony H20

Lets look more closely at the Sony NEX-5 vs Sony H20, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both are sold by Sony. There is a big difference between the image resolutions of the NEX-5 (14MP) and H20 (10MP) and the NEX-5 (APS-C) and H20 (1/2.3") provide different sensor measurements.

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The NEX-5 was unveiled 13 months after the H20 making them a generation away from each other. Both cameras have different body design with the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony H20 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a full comparison, here is a quick view of how the NEX-5 grades versus the H20 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Sony Alpha NEX-5 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20. The full galleries are provided at Sony NEX-5 Gallery and Sony H20 Gallery.

If you're planning to carry around your camera, you're going to have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Sony NEX-5 provides outer dimensions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") having a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs) while the Sony H20 has proportions of 107mm x 69mm x 47mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.9") accompanied by a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs).

Examine the Sony NEX-5 vs Sony H20 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you select at that time. Here is a front view dimensions comparison of the NEX-5 against the H20.

Using size and weight, the portability score of the NEX-5 and H20 is 89 and 87 respectively.

Usually, it is tough to visualize the contrast between sensor sizes merely by checking specs. The pic below should offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the NEX-5 and H20.

All in all, the two cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The NEX-5 using its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF easier and the Sony NEX-5 will give you greater detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop photos more aggressively. The more recent NEX-5 provides a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.