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Sony NEX-5N vs Sony RX1

Portability
89
Imaging
56
Features
69
Overall
61
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 front
Portability
79
Imaging
70
Features
57
Overall
64

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony RX1 Key Specs

Sony NEX-5N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Launched October 2011
  • Earlier Model is Sony NEX-5
  • Refreshed by Sony NEX-5R
Sony RX1
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 35mm (F2.0-22.0) lens
  • 482g - 113 x 65 x 70mm
  • Revealed February 2013
Photography Glossary

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony RX1 Overview

Its time to take a deeper look at the Sony NEX-5N versus Sony RX1, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Large Sensor Compact and both are produced by Sony. There exists a significant gap among the sensor resolutions of the NEX-5N (16MP) and RX1 (24MP) and the NEX-5N (APS-C) and RX1 (Full frame) have totally different sensor sizes.

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The NEX-5N was revealed 16 months earlier than the RX1 making them a generation apart from one another. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX1 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before diving right into a detailed comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the NEX-5N scores vs the RX1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Sony RX1

 NEX-5N RX1 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony RX1 over the Sony NEX-5N

 RX1 NEX-5N 
RevealedFebruary 2013October 2011More recent by 16 months
Display resolution1229k920kSharper display (+309k dot)

Common features in the Sony NEX-5N and Sony RX1

 NEX-5N RX1 
Focus manually More accurate focus
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony RX1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you will need to consider its weight and measurements. The Sony NEX-5N has got external dimensions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") along with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) and the Sony RX1 has proportions of 113mm x 65mm x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") with a weight of 482 grams (1.06 lbs).

See the Sony NEX-5N versus Sony RX1 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have at that time. The following is a front view measurements comparison of the NEX-5N against the RX1.

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony RX1 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the NEX-5N and RX1 is 89 and 79 respectively.

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony RX1 top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony RX1 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very difficult to see the gap in sensor measurements only by looking through specifications. The graphic here may give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the NEX-5N and RX1.

To sum up, both the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The NEX-5N using its smaller sensor will make getting bokeh trickier and the Sony RX1 will render extra detail because of its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop photos way more aggressively. The older NEX-5N will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony RX1 sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony RX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony RX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony NEX-5N Portrait photography highlights
Sony RX1 Portrait photography highlights
73
focusing manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
82
manual focus
above average flash sync speed (1/4,000s)
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
offers face detection focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony NEX-5N as a Street photography camera
Sony RX1 as a Street photography camera
80
screen tilts
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
offers focus via touch
above average ISO range (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
66
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
good ISO range (25,600)
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
more heavy than average (482g)
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Sports Comparison

Sony NEX-5N Sports photography information
Sony RX1 Sports photography information
58
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
better than average battery pack (460 CIPA)
does not have image stabilization
lack of phase detect autofocus
53
megapixel count decent (24MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
offers tracking autofocus
can't change focal length (35mm)
max frames per second low (5.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
low battery pack (270 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-5N Travel photography info
Sony RX1 Travel photography info
70
better than average battery pack (460 per charge)
offers focus via touch
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
no Timelapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
62
megapixel count decent (24MP)
built-in flash
good max aperture (f2.0)
missing Timelapse mode
low battery pack (270 per charge)
more heavy than average (482 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-5N as a Landscape photography camera
Sony RX1 as a Landscape photography camera
71
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
above average ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
better than average battery pack (460 CIPA)
does not have image stabilization
no Timelapse mode
65
manual focus
good max aperture (f2.0)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
megapixel count decent (24MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
can't change focal length (35mm)
does not have image stabilization
low battery pack (270 shots)
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony NEX-5N as a Vlogging camera
Sony RX1 as a Vlogging camera
33
touchscreen enabled
comes with face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
no external microphone socket
34
good max aperture (f2.0)
offers face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with external microphone jack
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
more heavy than average (482 grams)
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Sony NEX-5N vs Sony RX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-5N and Sony RX1
 Sony Alpha NEX-5NSony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha NEX-5N Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Launched 2011-10-03 2013-02-19
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor measurements 23.4 x 15.6mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 365.0mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4912 x 3264 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 25600 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 25 25
Lens
Lens mount type Sony E fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 35mm (1x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.0-22.0
Amount of lenses 121 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 920k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD Xtra FineTFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic and Optical (optional)
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames per sec 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 6.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 25, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected 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 269 grams (0.59 lb) 482 grams (1.06 lb)
Physical dimensions 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") 113 x 65 x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 77 93
DXO Color Depth rating 23.6 25.1
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.7 14.3
DXO Low light rating 1079 2534
Other
Battery life 460 photos 270 photos
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NPFW50 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
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 One One
Price at release $550 $2,798