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Sony NEX-5 vs Sony RX100 II

Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
58
Overall
55
Sony Alpha NEX-5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II front
Portability
89
Imaging
51
Features
74
Overall
60

Sony NEX-5 vs Sony RX100 II 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
  • Announced June 2010
  • Updated by Sony NEX-5N
Sony RX100 II
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-100mm (F1.8-4.9) lens
  • 281g - 102 x 58 x 38mm
  • Released June 2013
  • Older Model is Sony RX100
  • Later Model is Sony RX100 III
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Sony NEX-5 vs Sony RX100 II Overview

Here is a detailed assessment of the Sony NEX-5 and Sony RX100 II, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Large Sensor Compact and both are produced by Sony. There exists a sizeable gap among the resolutions of the NEX-5 (14MP) and RX100 II (20MP) and the NEX-5 (APS-C) and RX100 II (1") posses different sensor sizing.

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The NEX-5 was manufactured 4 years prior to the RX100 II and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX100 II being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before delving into a thorough comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the NEX-5 matches up against the RX100 II in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5 over the Sony RX100 II

 NEX-5 RX100 II 

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 II over the Sony NEX-5

 RX100 II NEX-5 
ReleasedJune 2013June 2010Fresher by 37 months
Screen resolution1229k920kCrisper screen (+309k dot)

Common features in the Sony NEX-5 and Sony RX100 II

 NEX-5 RX100 II 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Sony NEX-5 vs Sony RX100 II Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor its weight and volume. The Sony NEX-5 has outside measurements of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") with a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs) and the Sony RX100 II has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 38mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.5") along with a weight of 281 grams (0.62 lbs).

Contrast the Sony NEX-5 and Sony RX100 II in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you choose at that time. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the NEX-5 vs the RX100 II.

Sony NEX-5 vs Sony RX100 II size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the NEX-5 and RX100 II is 89 and 89 respectively.

Sony NEX-5 vs Sony RX100 II top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-5 vs Sony RX100 II Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very hard to picture the gap in sensor sizing purely by viewing technical specs. The visual underneath should give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the NEX-5 and RX100 II.

As you can tell, the two cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The NEX-5 because of its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF less difficult and the Sony RX100 II will result in extra detail due to its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs way more aggressively. The older NEX-5 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Sony NEX-5 vs Sony RX100 II sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-5 vs Sony RX100 II Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Sony NEX-5 Portrait photography info
Sony RX100 II Portrait photography info
72
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
70
manual focus
above average flash sync (1/2,000 seconds)
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
features face detection focus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony NEX-5 Street photography information
Sony RX100 II Street photography information
76
screen tilts up and down
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no image stabilization
85
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is nice (1")
exports RAW files
lighter than competition (281g)
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Sports Comparison

Sony NEX-5 as a Sports photography camera
Sony RX100 II as a Sports photography camera
52
megapixel count decent (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
no image stabilization
no phase detect auto focus
67
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
features tracking autofocus
better than average battery power (350 CIPA)
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-5 as a Travel photography camera
Sony RX100 II as a Travel photography camera
59
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
80
better than average battery power (350 shots)
lighter than competition (281 grams)
resolution is good (20MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony NEX-5
Landscape photography with Sony RX100 II
68
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no image stabilization
doesn't have Timelapse function
74
manual focus
relatively wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
exports RAW files
better than average battery power (350 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony NEX-5 as a Vlogging camera
Sony RX100 II as a Vlogging camera
28
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
doesn't have external microphone jack
37
relatively wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (281 grams)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
missing external microphone socket
Photography Glossary

Sony NEX-5 vs Sony RX100 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-5 and Sony RX100 II
 Sony Alpha NEX-5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha NEX-5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Announced 2010-06-07 2013-06-27
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1"
Sensor measurements 23.4 x 15.6mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 365.0mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing 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 12800
Max boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 200 160
RAW data
Min boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 25 25
Lens
Lens mount Sony E fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-100mm (3.6x)
Highest aperture - f/1.8-4.9
Macro focus range - 5cm
Number of lenses 121 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 2.7
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 920 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech - Xtra Fine WhiteMagic TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic (optional)
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 7.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m 15.00 m (ISO Auto (W))
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 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), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 287 gr (0.63 pounds) 281 gr (0.62 pounds)
Physical dimensions 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") 102 x 58 x 38mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 69 67
DXO Color Depth score 22.2 22.5
DXO Dynamic range score 12.2 12.4
DXO Low light score 796 483
Other
Battery life 330 photos 350 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NPFW50 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) Yes (10 sec. / 2 sec. / Self-portrait One-person/ Self-portrait Two-person/ Self timer Continuous (3 or 5 shots))
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
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $599 $598