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Sony NEX-5 vs Sony WX50

Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
58
Overall
55
Sony Alpha NEX-5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX50 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
36
Overall
37

Sony NEX-5 vs Sony WX50 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
  • Refreshed by Sony NEX-5N
Sony WX50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.6-6.3) lens
  • 117g - 92 x 52 x 19mm
  • Released January 2012
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Sony NEX-5 vs Sony WX50 Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Sony NEX-5 and Sony WX50, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both are designed by Sony. The resolution of the NEX-5 (14MP) and the WX50 (16MP) is very similar but the NEX-5 (APS-C) and WX50 (1/2.3") have different sensor sizes.

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The NEX-5 was introduced 20 months prior to the WX50 making them a generation apart from one another. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony WX50 being a Compact camera.

Before we go into a full comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the NEX-5 grades against the WX50 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5 over the Sony WX50

 NEX-5 WX50 
Manually focus More precise focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k461kCrisper display (+459k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony WX50 over the Sony NEX-5

 WX50 NEX-5 
ReleasedJanuary 2012June 2010Fresher by 20 months

Common features in the Sony NEX-5 and Sony WX50

 NEX-5 WX50 
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch display Neither has Touch display

Sony NEX-5 vs Sony WX50 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry your camera regularly, you have to think about its weight and volume. The Sony NEX-5 has outer dimensions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") and a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs) whilst the Sony WX50 has sizing of 92mm x 52mm x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7") along with a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Check out the Sony NEX-5 and Sony WX50 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are using during that time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the NEX-5 versus the WX50.

Sony NEX-5 vs Sony WX50 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the NEX-5 and WX50 is 89 and 96 respectively.

Sony NEX-5 vs Sony WX50 top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-5 vs Sony WX50 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very hard to imagine the gap between sensor sizing just by reviewing technical specs. The graphic here will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the NEX-5 and WX50.

As you can tell, both the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The NEX-5 having a larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field easier and the Sony WX50 will offer you greater detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images way more aggressively. The older NEX-5 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Sony NEX-5 vs Sony WX50 sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-5 vs Sony WX50 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-5 vs Sony WX50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony NEX-5 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony WX50 as a Portrait photography camera
72
manual focus
good MP (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
34
good megapixels (16MP)
supports face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Sony NEX-5 Street photography features
Sony WX50 Street photography features
76
has a tilting screen
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (117g)
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sony NEX-5 Sports photography info
Sony WX50 Sports photography info
52
good MP (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
does not have image stabilization
no phase detect auto focus
44
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-5 as a Travel photography camera
Sony WX50 as a Travel photography camera
59
good MP (14 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse function
display is not selfie friendly
69
lighter than competition in class (117 grams)
good megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
does not have Timelapse function
does not posses selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.6)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-5 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony WX50 as a Landscape photography camera
68
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
good MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse function
38
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.6)
screen is small (2.7")
no manual control
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony NEX-5 Vlogging highlights
Sony WX50 Vlogging highlights
28
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
lack of external mic jack
35
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (117g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.6)
does not posses selfie friendly display
does not have microphone support
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Sony NEX-5 vs Sony WX50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-5 and Sony WX50
 Sony Alpha NEX-5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX50
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha NEX-5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX50
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2010-06-07 2012-01-30
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.4 x 15.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 365.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4592 x 3056 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 12800 12800
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 25 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type Sony E fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-125mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.6-6.3
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Available lenses 121 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 920 thousand dots 461 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech - Clearfoto TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 4s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter rate 7.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 5.30 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 287g (0.63 pounds) 117g (0.26 pounds)
Physical dimensions 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") 92 x 52 x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 69 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.2 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.2 not tested
DXO Low light rating 796 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 photos 240 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NPFW50 NP-BN
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $599 $250