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Sony NEX-5N vs Sony RX100

Portability
89
Imaging
57
Features
69
Overall
61
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 front
Portability
91
Imaging
50
Features
68
Overall
57

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony RX100 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
  • Released October 2011
  • Old Model is Sony NEX-5
  • Successor is Sony NEX-5R
Sony RX100
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-100mm (F1.8-4.9) lens
  • 240g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Released August 2012
  • Successor is Sony RX100 II
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Sony NEX-5N vs Sony RX100 Overview

Below is a comprehensive assessment of the Sony NEX-5N and Sony RX100, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Large Sensor Compact and they are both offered by Sony. The resolution of the NEX-5N (16MP) and the RX100 (20MP) is pretty comparable but the NEX-5N (APS-C) and RX100 (1") enjoy different sensor size.

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The NEX-5N was announced 11 months prior to the RX100 so they are both of a similar age. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before diving in to a thorough comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the NEX-5N scores vs the RX100 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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

 NEX-5N RX100 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Touch screen Quickly navigate

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

 RX100 NEX-5N 
ReleasedAugust 2012October 2011More recent by 11 months
Screen resolution1229k920kCrisper screen (+309k dot)

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

 NEX-5N RX100 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony RX100 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to lug around your camera frequently, you will want to factor in its weight and volume. The Sony NEX-5N provides exterior dimensions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") and a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) and the Sony RX100 has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") with a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

Contrast the Sony NEX-5N and Sony RX100 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you choose at that time. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the NEX-5N versus the RX100.

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony RX100 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the NEX-5N and RX100 is 89 and 91 respectively.

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

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony RX100 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is hard to visualize the contrast in sensor measurements merely by seeing technical specs. The photograph underneath will give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the NEX-5N and RX100.

As you can tell, both the cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The NEX-5N having a bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field less difficult and the Sony RX100 will show extra detail with its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots far more aggressively. The older NEX-5N will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony RX100 sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony RX100 Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Sony NEX-5N Portrait photography advice
Sony RX100 Portrait photography advice
74
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
64
you can focus manually
flash sync is higher than normal (1/2,000 seconds)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
sensor size is decent (1")
has face detect focusing
supports RAW files
can't use external flash
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Sony NEX-5N Street photography info
Sony RX100 Street photography info
80
screen tilts
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
has focus via touch
great high ISO (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
79
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is decent (1")
supports RAW files
lighter than others (240g)
above average high ISO (25,600)
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony NEX-5N
Sports photography with Sony RX100
58
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
great battery life (460 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
does not have phase detect AF
65
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
sensor size is decent (1")
has tracking focus
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-5N as a Travel photography camera
Sony RX100 as a Travel photography camera
71
great battery life (460 per charge)
has focus via touch
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
does not have Timelapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
79
lighter than others (240g)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-5N Landscape photography factors
Sony RX100 Landscape photography factors
71
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3")
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
great high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
great battery life (460 shots)
lack of image stabilization
does not have Timelapse recording
74
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
decent sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (1")
above average high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony NEX-5N Vlogging information
Sony RX100 Vlogging information
33
touchscreen
features face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
does not have microphone support
38
reasonably wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others (240 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have mic socket
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Sony NEX-5N vs Sony RX100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-5N and Sony RX100
 Sony Alpha NEX-5NSony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha NEX-5N Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Released 2011-10-03 2012-08-28
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1"
Sensor dimensions 23.4 x 15.6mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 365.0mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4912 x 3264 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 25600 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 25 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony E fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-100mm (3.6x)
Maximum aperture - f/1.8-4.9
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Total lenses 121 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 2.7
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 920k dots 1,229k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD WhiteMagic TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 secs 1/2000 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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 269 gr (0.59 pounds) 240 gr (0.53 pounds)
Dimensions 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 77 66
DXO Color Depth score 23.6 22.6
DXO Dynamic range score 12.7 12.4
DXO Low light score 1079 390
Other
Battery life 460 photos 330 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NPFW50 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
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
Pricing at release $550 $448