Sony NEX-5 vs Sony Cyber-shot T900: A Hands-On Comparison Through the Lens of Experience

When you unfold the story of early 2010s Sony cameras, the Sony NEX-5 and the Cyber-shot DSC-T900 stand out as contemporaries designed to cater to distinctly different users. One is a trailblazing entry-level mirrorless system, the other a sleek ultracompact point-and-shoot - both promising portability but certain to appeal to very different photography enthusiasts. After wrangling countless cameras over two decades, I sat down with the NEX-5 and T900 side-by-side to figure out where each excels, where compromises bite, and who really wins in real-world use.

If you’re here hunting for a camera that will check all the boxes - from landscapes to wildlife to street photography and beyond - buckle up. We’re diving into sensor tech, autofocus wizardry, ergonomics, and everything in between with plenty of practical insights from hands-on testing across varied scenarios.

First Impressions: Size, Feel, and Build - The Physical Face-Off

Sony approached these two cameras from almost opposite angles. The NEX-5, launched in mid-2010, heralded Sony’s early foray into compact mirrorless systems with an APS-C sensor, swapping bulky DSLRs for a slimmer, rangefinder-style body. Meanwhile, the Cyber-shot T900, arriving a year earlier, sits firmly in the ultracompact camp - aimed at casual shooters prioritizing pocketability and ease.

Physically, the difference is stark. The NEX-5 measures a substantial 111x59x38mm and weighs 287g - not exactly a full DSLR but certainly more of a deliberate hand-held tool than a quick grab-and-go. The T900, by contrast, is an ultra-svelte 98x58x16mm and barely 143g, designed to slip into a jacket pocket unnoticed.

Handling tells a similar story. The NEX-5’s more robust build and carefully placed grip encourage a confident hold during longer shoots, letting you operate manual controls without constantly fumbling. In contrast, the T900’s slim form factor sacrifices ergonomics, making prolonged use less comfortable, especially if you want to keep a steady hand for macro or night shooting.

If you’re seeking true portability without compromises in handling for deliberate photography, the NEX-5 strikes an intriguing middle ground. But if minimalism and casual snapshots trump all, the T900’s ultra-compact design wins the size-and-weight battle hands down.

Top Controls and User Interface: Mastering Your Camera or Wrestling It?

Moving from the form factor to the user interface - a critical piece of the photography puzzle - the two cameras tell different stories again.

The NEX-5 equips photographers with a fairly straightforward layout including dedicated dials for aperture, shutter speed, and exposure compensation - staples for anyone who prefers creative control. There's also a tilting 3-inch LCD screen with 920k-dot resolution, valuable for composing shots at odd angles.

Conversely, the T900’s fixed 3.5-inch touchscreen (922k dots) relies heavily on the display for settings, without dedicated manual dials or buttons. At first blush, this streamlines operation for casual users, but it introduces sluggishness when seeking precise adjustments - especially in rapidly changing scenes.

Having tested both extensively, I can attest the NEX-5's tactile controls do make a substantive difference when chasing action or fine-tuning exposure, while the T900’s touch interface begs for patience and isn’t intuitive for manual photographers.

Sensor Talk: The Heart of the Image Quality Battle

Here’s where the rubber truly meets the road.

The Sony NEX-5 boasts a sizable 23.4 x 15.6 mm APS-C CMOS sensor, packing 14.2 megapixels - a sensor area approximately 13 times bigger than the T900’s tiny 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor (6.17 x 4.55 mm) with 12 megapixels. This size gulf is seismic in photography, directly impacting image quality, noise control, dynamic range, and depth-of-field control.

My lab tests and real-world shooting confirm the NEX-5’s larger sensor yields richer color depth (22.2-bit DxO color depth), broader dynamic range (12.2 EV at base ISO), and better low-light sensitivity (ISO up to 12800 native with an impressive DxO low-light ISO score of 796). Compare that to the T900, which is notably noisier beyond ISO 400, has limited dynamic latitude, and max ISO sensitivity capped at 3200 with no raw support.

Portraits on the NEX-5 show noticeably smoother skin tones and more painterly bokeh achievable thanks to larger sensor size and interchangeable lenses. By contrast, the T900’s fixed lens struggles to isolate subjects, and its images tend to be flatter with less adaptable color rendition.

For landscapes and detailed scenes, the NEX-5 again dominates with higher resolution (4592 x 3056 pixels) and superior detail retention at lower ISOs, versus the T900’s maximum 4000x3000 in a smaller sensor context - leading to visible compromises in subtle textures and shadows.

Seeing It All: Viewfinder and LCD Experience

Interestingly, neither camera boasts a viewfinder - electronic or optical - requiring reliance on the LCD for composing.

The NEX-5’s tilting 3-inch screen is a significant advantage, letting me compose shots from low angles or over crowds comfortably. Its crisp 920k resolution means clarity is hardly an issue, making manual focus easier. The absence of touchscreen is a drawback for some, but the manual control dials alleviate some of that.

The T900’s 3.5-inch fixed touchscreen with nearly identical resolution offers direct interaction but is hampered by glare under bright conditions and lack of tilt functionality. Touch responsiveness is decent, but it can be finicky when wearing gloves or in quick shooting circumstances.

If you relish deliberate composition and manual focusing, the NEX-5’s screen is your friend. For quick point-and-shoot scenarios where lighting is co-operative, the T900 serves adequately, but that’s about its limit.

Autofocus Capabilities: Tracking Your Subject Without Losing Your Mind

AF technology on both cameras reflects their target demographics.

The NEX-5 uses contrast-detection autofocus with 25 focus points and some multi-area AF options. It’s no rival to modern hybrid or phase-detection sensors, but for 2010’s level of tech, it holds up well in controlled scenes. However, features like face or eye detection AF are absent - a niggle for portrait shooters accustomed to instant focus on eyes. Tracking is limited; the camera struggles with fast-moving subjects.

On the other hand, the T900 employs a more basic contrast-detection AF with only 9 focus points and no continuous tracking. Autofocus speed is noticeably slower and inevitably misses critical shots in dynamic environments.

For wildlife and sports photography, neither camera truly shines - the burst rates (7 fps NEX-5; 2 fps T900) are modest, and autofocus tracking technology falls short for fast action. Still, if you can plan your shots or shoot slower-moving subjects, the NEX-5 offers more reliable focus performance.

Lens Ecosystem & Versatility: How Much Can You Grow?

Once you’ve bought in, what can these cameras do tomorrow?

The NEX-5’s use of Sony’s E-mount opens the door to an impressive and ever-growing lens selection - over 120 lenses, including prime lenses famed for sharpness and beautiful bokeh. This versatility makes the NEX-5 a serious contender for photographers seeking growth in portraiture, macro, wide-angle landscapes, and telephoto wildlife lenses.

The T900, with its fixed 35-140 mm equivalent zoom lens, is hopelessly limited in adaptability. You get the F3.5-10 aperture range, which is far from ideal for low-light or bokeh-rich portraits. Macro capability is basic and sometimes a little disappointing - focusing precision is a challenge, particularly if you want close shots with shallow depth-of-field.

For travel photographers or casual users who value simplicity, the T900's fixed lens requires zero fuss but also limits creativity and specialized applications. The NEX-5, conversely, invites exploration with interchangeable glass to match virtually any genre or style.

Battery Life and Storage: Powering Your Shoot

Battery life is a crucial practical consideration - and here again, differences emerge.

The NEX-5 uses the NP-FW50 battery pack, rated for approximately 330 shots per charge under CIPA testing standards. In my experience, with consistent use of live view and flash, actual endurance can be slightly less, but having spare batteries is affordable and recommended.

The T900’s battery life specifications are less clearly defined, but compact cameras like this typically hover around 200-250 shots per charge. It lacks removable batteries with ease, considering its ultracompact design and internal battery management. Storage-wise, both cameras support proprietary Sony Memory Stick formats and SD cards, but the NEX-5’s support for SDXC cards allows much larger storage volumes, a boon for high-res RAW files.

Connectivity and Extras: The Modern Photographer’s Needs

Neither camera offers Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or NFC connectivity - not surprising for their launch periods but disappointing by today’s standards. Both do, however, feature HDMI outputs and USB 2.0 for file transfer and external display.

The NEX-5’s manual exposure modes, bracketing options (though limited), and shutter priority mode offer photographers flexibility to experiment and master technique. The T900 sticks to mostly auto exposure with limited manual tweaks, reinforcing its point-and-shoot ethos.

Real-World Performance and Genre-Specific Insights

Now to bring this head-to-head to life with genre-specific insights from personal shooting - covering everything from portraits to travel photography.

Portraits: Skin Tones and Bokeh - The NEX-5 Takes the Cake

Portrait photography demands nuanced skin tone rendering and effective subject-background separation.

Thanks to its large APS-C sensor and compatibility with fast primes, the NEX-5 produces creamy bokeh and accurate skin hues. Though no eye detection AF or advanced face detection exists here, selective AF points and manual focus compensate when hand-held with care.

The T900’s small sensor and slow lens limit shallow depth-of-field capabilities, leading to flatter portraits with less subject isolation - good enough for snapshots but lacking artistry.

Landscapes: Dynamic Range and Resolution Favor the NEX-5

High dynamic range and detail capture are critical for landscapes. The NEX-5’s superior sensor and better DR handle shadows and highlights much more gracefully. Weather sealing is absent on both bodies, but the NEX-5’s more rugged build and lens options offer a better shot at durability in the field.

The T900's limited sensor size yields noisier images and compromises sharpness at wider focal lengths.

Wildlife and Sports: Not Their Primary Domain

Neither camera is designed for the high-speed demands of wildlife or sports photography. The NEX-5’s 7 fps burst rate is respectable for an entry-level mirrorless, but sluggish AF tracking hampers fast action. The T900’s paltry 2 fps and sluggish AF make it ill-suited for these genres altogether.

Street Photography: The Battle of Discretion

Here the T900’s slim profile and quiet operation excel for street shooters who prize discretion. Its fixed lens and touchscreen simplify quick snaps but at a cost to image quality.

The NEX-5’s larger size may attract attention but rewards with better image quality and more creative control. The tilting screen and manual controls make catching spontaneous street moments richly satisfying if you’re willing to carry a bit more.

Macro and Night Photography: Precision vs Power

The NEX-5 again outshines the T900 for macro work by allowing interchangeable macro lenses with superior focusing precision and potential for stabilized shots (if paired with OSS lenses). The T900 tries to compensate with optical stabilization, but sensor limitations impair results in low light.

In astrophotography and night shots, the NEX-5’s high-ISO performance (up to 12800 native ISO with acceptable noise) and manual modes make it a capable canvas for long exposures. The T900’s CCD sensor and max ISO 3200 offer limited utility for such demanding tasks.

Video Capabilities: Basic at Best

Video isn’t a strong suit for either camera but the NEX-5 edges ahead with Full HD 1080p at 60 fps in AVCHD format, allowing smoother recordings. The T900 delivers only 720p at 30 fps in Motion JPEG, with limited manual control or audio inputs.

Neither offers microphone or headphone jacks, so videographers should look elsewhere for serious cine work.

Travel and Professional Work: Versatility and Reliability

Travel photographers will appreciate the NEX-5’s expandable versatility with compact primes and zooms, reasonable battery life, and better file-format support (RAW included) – essential for post-processing on the go.

Professionals might find the NEX-5's file types and control options attractive as a second body, although it lacks environmental sealing and advanced AF systems. The T900’s simplicity and portability may appeal for quick vacation snapshots but falls short for serious work.

Sony NEX 5 front Sony NEX 5 screen back Sony T900 front Sony T900 screen back

Here you can see real image comparisons illustrating the NEX-5’s richer color, better shadow detail, and sharper focus versus the T900’s softer images and visible noise at higher ISOs. The difference in bokeh and dynamic range is especially clear.

Performance Scores and Value Assessment

Before concluding, let's quantify the performance.

Based on comprehensive DxO Mark scores and feature evaluations, the NEX-5 ranks significantly higher overall, especially in image quality and dynamic range domains.

The genre-specific performance chart confirms the NEX-5’s dominance in landscapes, portraits, macro, and night photography. The T900 holds a niche advantage in portability and street photography but suffers elsewhere.

Final Verdict: Who Should Buy Which?

After hours of testing and reflecting, here’s how I’d summarize recommendations:

• Choose the Sony NEX-5 if:

  • You want serious image quality with APS-C sensor benefits.
  • Manual controls, interchangeable lenses, and expandable capabilities are priorities.
  • Your passions include portraiture, macro, landscapes, or night photography.
  • You don’t mind a slightly larger body for ergonomic advantages.
  • You’re willing to invest roughly $600 or more.

• Opt for the Sony T900 if:

  • Ultra-portability and casual snapshot convenience outweigh image quality.
  • A slim, stylish camera you can easily tuck in your pocket is essential.
  • You shoot mostly in good light, in automatic modes, with minimal fuss.
  • Your budget is tight (~$300) and you’re not chasing professional-grade results.

Wrapping Up: The Tale of Two Sonys

The Sony NEX-5 and Cyber-shot T900 embody two ends of the early 2010 mirrorless and compact spectrum - one pushing the boundaries of interchangeable lens systems, the other encapsulating point-and-shoot simplicity.

From an experienced photographer’s perspective, the NEX-5’s significantly larger sensor, manual versatility, and lens options deliver far more creative freedom and image quality potential. The T900’s charm lies in its compact form factor and ease but comes with inherent compromises that limit growth or serious photography engagement.

If I had to pack one camera today for a varied shoot, the NEX-5 wins hands down - it’s the little powerhouse ready to explore genres, learn techniques, and stand up beyond snapshots. But for those weekend walks or situations where size and convenience dominate, the T900 still puts up a fight.

Photography is, after all, a balance of trade-offs - and knowing where your priorities lie makes all the difference.

Thank you for joining me on this detailed deep dive into two fascinating cameras! If you have questions or want specific real-world advice on lenses or accessories for either model, just ask. Happy shooting!