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Sony NEX-5 vs Sony RX100

Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
58
Overall
55
Sony Alpha NEX-5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 front
Portability
91
Imaging
50
Features
68
Overall
57

Sony NEX-5 vs Sony RX100 Key Specs

Sony NEX-5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 287g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Launched June 2010
  • Renewed by Sony NEX-5N
Sony RX100
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-100mm (F1.8-4.9) lens
  • 240g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Launched August 2012
  • Newer Model is Sony RX100 II
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Sony NEX-5 vs Sony RX100 Overview

Below is a detailed assessment of the Sony NEX-5 vs Sony RX100, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Large Sensor Compact and they are both created by Sony. There exists a significant gap between the image resolutions of the NEX-5 (14MP) and RX100 (20MP) and the NEX-5 (APS-C) and RX100 (1") enjoy different sensor sizing.

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The NEX-5 was unveiled 3 years before the RX100 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before delving straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple summation of how the NEX-5 grades versus the RX100 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5 over the Sony RX100

 NEX-5 RX100 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 over the Sony NEX-5

 RX100 NEX-5 
LaunchedAugust 2012June 2010More recent by 27 months
Display resolution1229k920kCrisper display (+309k dot)

Common features in the Sony NEX-5 and Sony RX100

 NEX-5 RX100 
Manual focus Very precise focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Sony NEX-5 vs Sony RX100 Physical Comparison

When you are going to lug around your camera frequently, you'll have to take into account its weight and volume. The Sony NEX-5 has got physical dimensions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") with a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs) while the Sony RX100 has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") having a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

Check the Sony NEX-5 vs Sony RX100 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are employing during that time. Below is the front view scale comparison of the NEX-5 compared to the RX100.

Sony NEX-5 vs Sony RX100 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the NEX-5 and RX100 is 89 and 91 respectively.

Sony NEX-5 vs Sony RX100 top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-5 vs Sony RX100 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very difficult to picture the difference between sensor measurements merely by reading through a spec sheet. The graphic here will help provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the NEX-5 and RX100.

As you can see, each of the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The NEX-5 using its larger sensor is going to make getting bokeh easier and the Sony RX100 will resolve greater detail having an extra 6MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images a little more aggressively. The older NEX-5 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Sony NEX-5 vs Sony RX100 sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-5 vs Sony RX100 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-5 vs Sony RX100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony NEX-5 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony RX100 as a Portrait photography camera
72
manual focus
good MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
64
you can focus manually
great flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
provides face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
can't use external flash
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony NEX-5
Street photography with Sony RX100
76
tilting screen
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
79
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor size (1")
saves RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (240g)
very good high ISO (25,600)
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Sony NEX-5 as a Sports photography camera
Sony RX100 as a Sports photography camera
52
good MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
lack of image stabilization
lack of phase detect auto focus
65
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
provides tracking focus
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-5 Travel photography details
Sony RX100 Travel photography details
59
good MP (14 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
79
lighter than competition in class (240 grams)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-5 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony RX100 as a Landscape photography camera
68
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
good MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse recording
74
you can focus manually
fairly wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
very good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony NEX-5
Vlogging with Sony RX100
28
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
does not have mic support
38
fairly wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (240g)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
no microphone port
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Sony NEX-5 vs Sony RX100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-5 and Sony RX100
 Sony Alpha NEX-5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha NEX-5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Launched 2010-06-07 2012-08-28
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1"
Sensor measurements 23.4 x 15.6mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 365.0mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4592 x 3056 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 12800 25600
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 25 25
Lens
Lens support Sony E fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-100mm (3.6x)
Maximum aperture - f/1.8-4.9
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Available lenses 121 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 2.7
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 920 thousand dot 1,229 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech - WhiteMagic TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 7.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160 secs 1/2000 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 287 gr (0.63 lb) 240 gr (0.53 lb)
Dimensions 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 69 66
DXO Color Depth rating 22.2 22.6
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.2 12.4
DXO Low light rating 796 390
Other
Battery life 330 photos 330 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NPFW50 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $599 $448