Sony NEX-5N vs Sony RX100 VI

Here, we are contrasting the Sony NEX-5N versus Sony RX100 VI, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Large Sensor Compact and they are both sold by Sony. The image resolution of the NEX-5N (16MP) and the RX100 VI (20MP) is fairly similar but the NEX-5N (APS-C) and RX100 VI (1") have different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The NEX-5N was launched 7 years earlier than the RX100 VI and that is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX100 VI being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before going right into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple view of how the NEX-5N matches up against the RX100 VI in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Sony Alpha NEX-5N and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VI. The complete galleries are provided at Sony NEX-5N Gallery and Sony RX100 VI Gallery.

If you're looking to carry your camera often, you should think about its weight and volume. The Sony NEX-5N offers outer 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 VI has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 43mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 301 grams (0.66 lbs).

Check the Sony NEX-5N versus Sony RX100 VI in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you use at that time. The following is a front view measurement comparison of the NEX-5N against the RX100 VI.

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the NEX-5N and RX100 VI is 89 and 88 respectively.

In many cases, it can be hard to visualize the gap between sensor sizing merely by reviewing specs. The visual below may give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the NEX-5N and RX100 VI.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The NEX-5N featuring a larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Sony RX100 VI will offer extra detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos way more aggressively. The older NEX-5N is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.