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Sony NEX-5 vs Sony RX100 III

Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
58
Overall
55
Sony Alpha NEX-5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III front
Portability
89
Imaging
51
Features
77
Overall
61

Sony NEX-5 vs Sony RX100 III 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 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 290g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Released May 2014
  • Earlier Model is Sony RX100 II
  • Refreshed by Sony RX100 IV
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Sony NEX-5 vs Sony RX100 III Overview

Below is a thorough analysis of the Sony NEX-5 and Sony RX100 III, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Large Sensor Compact and they are both sold by Sony. There is a considerable difference among the resolutions of the NEX-5 (14MP) and RX100 III (20MP) and the NEX-5 (APS-C) and RX100 III (1") offer totally different sensor measurements.

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The NEX-5 was revealed 4 years before the RX100 III and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX100 III being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before we go into a complete comparison, here is a quick overview of how the NEX-5 scores vs the RX100 III when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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

 NEX-5 RX100 III 

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

 RX100 III NEX-5 
ReleasedMay 2014June 2010More recent by 47 months
Screen resolution1229k920kClearer screen (+309k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

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

 NEX-5 RX100 III 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements
Touch screen Neither features Touch screen

Sony NEX-5 vs Sony RX100 III Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you will have to think about its weight and size. The Sony NEX-5 enjoys outside measurements of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") having a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs) whilst the Sony RX100 III has specifications of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") having a weight of 290 grams (0.64 lbs).

Check the Sony NEX-5 and Sony RX100 III in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you choose at the time. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the NEX-5 vs the RX100 III.

Sony NEX-5 vs Sony RX100 III size comparison

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

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

Sony NEX-5 vs Sony RX100 III Sensor Comparison

Often, it's tough to envision the difference in sensor measurements simply by seeing specifications. The graphic underneath might provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the NEX-5 and RX100 III.

Plainly, both of those cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The NEX-5 using its bigger sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field simpler and the Sony RX100 III will show more detail because of its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The older NEX-5 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Sony NEX-5 vs Sony RX100 III sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-5 vs Sony RX100 III Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Sony NEX-5 Portrait photography details
Sony RX100 III Portrait photography details
72
focusing manually
decent megapixels (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
64
focusing manually
high flash sync (1/2,000 seconds)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
supports face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
cannot use external flash
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Street Comparison

Sony NEX-5 Street photography features
Sony RX100 III Street photography features
76
has a tilting screen
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
85
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
nice sensor size (1")
delivers RAW files
lighter than average (290 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sony NEX-5 Sports photography highlights
Sony RX100 III Sports photography highlights
52
decent megapixels (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
does not have image stabilization
does not have phase detect auto focus
65
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
supports tracking autofocus
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-5 Travel photography factors
Sony RX100 III Travel photography factors
59
decent megapixels (14MP)
no Timelapse recording
does not contain selfie friendly screen
85
lighter than average (290g)
good megapixels (20MP)
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
fairly wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-5 Landscape photography advice
Sony RX100 III Landscape photography advice
68
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
no Timelapse recording
73
focusing manually
fairly wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
delivers RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony NEX-5 as a Vlogging camera
Sony RX100 III as a Vlogging camera
28
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
no external microphone port
80
fairly wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
screen is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average (290 grams)
doesn't have external microphone socket
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Sony NEX-5 vs Sony RX100 III Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-5 and Sony RX100 III
 Sony Alpha NEX-5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha NEX-5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Launched 2010-06-07 2014-05-15
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-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 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4592 x 3056 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 12800 12800
Min native ISO 200 125
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 25 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony E fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-70mm (2.9x)
Maximal aperture - f/1.8-2.8
Macro focus range - 5cm
Amount of lenses 121 -
Crop factor 1.5 2.7
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 920k dots 1,229k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.59x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 7.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in -
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest 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 (60p/60i/24p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p/24p/120p), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 287 grams (0.63 pounds) 290 grams (0.64 pounds)
Physical dimensions 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 69 67
DXO Color Depth score 22.2 22.4
DXO Dynamic range score 12.2 12.3
DXO Low light score 796 495
Other
Battery life 330 shots 320 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NPFW50 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec, self-portrait, continuous)
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $599 $748