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Sony NEX-5N vs Sony RX10 III

Portability
89
Imaging
56
Features
69
Overall
61
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III front
Portability
53
Imaging
52
Features
77
Overall
62

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony RX10 III 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
  • Announced October 2011
  • Replaced the Sony NEX-5
  • Renewed by Sony NEX-5R
Sony RX10 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-600mm (F2.4-4.0) lens
  • 1051g - 133 x 94 x 127mm
  • Launched March 2016
  • Earlier Model is Sony RX10 II
  • Renewed by Sony RX10 IV
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Sony NEX-5N vs Sony RX10 III Overview

Below is a comprehensive analysis of the Sony NEX-5N versus Sony RX10 III, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Large Sensor Superzoom and they are both sold by Sony. The sensor resolution of the NEX-5N (16MP) and the RX10 III (20MP) is pretty close but the NEX-5N (APS-C) and RX10 III (1") come with different sensor size.

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The NEX-5N was announced 5 years earlier than the RX10 III and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX10 III being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before we go straight into a full comparison, below is a brief summary of how the NEX-5N grades vs the RX10 III in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Sony RX10 III

 NEX-5N RX10 III 
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony RX10 III over the Sony NEX-5N

 RX10 III NEX-5N 
LaunchedMarch 2016October 2011More recent by 54 months
Screen resolution1229k920kCrisper screen (+309k dot)

Common features in the Sony NEX-5N and Sony RX10 III

 NEX-5N RX10 III 
Manual focus More precise focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony RX10 III Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to lug around your camera frequently, you need to consider its weight and measurements. The Sony NEX-5N offers outer measurements of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) whilst the Sony RX10 III has proportions of 133mm x 94mm x 127mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 5.0") and a weight of 1051 grams (2.32 lbs).

Check out the Sony NEX-5N versus Sony RX10 III in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are employing during that time. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the NEX-5N compared to the RX10 III.

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony RX10 III size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the NEX-5N and RX10 III is 89 and 53 respectively.

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony RX10 III top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony RX10 III Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very tough to picture the difference in sensor measurements only by looking through technical specs. The photograph underneath may offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the NEX-5N and RX10 III.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The NEX-5N using its bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF less difficult and the Sony RX10 III will render greater detail with its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop shots far more aggressively. The older NEX-5N will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony RX10 III sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony RX10 III Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony RX10 III Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony NEX-5N Portrait photography factors
Sony RX10 III Portrait photography factors
73
manual focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection focusing
saves RAW files
71
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
offers face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony NEX-5N
Street photography with Sony RX10 III
80
screen tilts
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
has focus via touch
great high ISO (25,600)
no image stabilization
64
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is good (1")
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
more heavy than others in class (1,051 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sony NEX-5N Sports photography highlights
Sony RX10 III Sports photography highlights
58
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
better than average battery (460 shots)
no image stabilization
lack of phase detect AF
70
long zoom range (24-600mm 25.0 x zoom)
silent shooting (1/32,000s)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
offers tracking focus
weather proofing
better than average battery pack (420 CIPA)
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-5N Travel photography advice
Sony RX10 III Travel photography advice
70
better than average battery (460 per charge)
has focus via touch
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
no Timelapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
55
better than average battery pack (420 per charge)
weather proofing
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (24mm)
long reach (600mm)
does not have Timelapse function
more heavy than others in class (1,051g)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-5N Landscape photography information
Sony RX10 III Landscape photography information
71
manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
decent megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
great high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
better than average battery (460 shots)
no image stabilization
no Timelapse mode
63
you can focus manually
really wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
better than average battery pack (420 per charge)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.4)
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony NEX-5N as a Vlogging camera
Sony RX10 III as a Vlogging camera
33
touch screen
features face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
no external microphone support
28
really wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focusing
great video quality (3840 x 2160 resolution)
comes with microphone socket
sluggish max aperture (f2.4)
screen is not selfie friendly
more heavy than others in class (1,051g)
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Sony NEX-5N vs Sony RX10 III Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-5N and Sony RX10 III
 Sony Alpha NEX-5NSony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha NEX-5N Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Large Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2011-10-03 2016-03-29
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor 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 surface area 365.0mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4912 x 3264 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 125
RAW photos
Min enhanced ISO - 64
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 25 25
Lens
Lens mount type Sony E fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-600mm (25.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.4-4.0
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Available lenses 121 -
Crop factor 1.5 2.7
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 920k dots 1,229k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Max silent shutter speed - 1/32000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames/s 14.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 10.80 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in Auto, fill-flash, slow sync, rear sync, off
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
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) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p) ,1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video data format AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 269 gr (0.59 pounds) 1051 gr (2.32 pounds)
Dimensions 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") 133 x 94 x 127mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 5.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 77 70
DXO Color Depth rating 23.6 23.1
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.7 12.6
DXO Low light rating 1079 472
Other
Battery life 460 shots 420 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NPFW50 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous)
Time lapse shooting
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 One One
Price at release $550 $1,398