Sony NEX-5N vs Sony W560

Let's look much closer at the Sony NEX-5N vs Sony W560, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Ultracompact and both are sold by Sony. The image resolution of the NEX-5N (16MP) and the W560 (14MP) is fairly well matched but the NEX-5N (APS-C) and W560 (1/2.3") use different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The NEX-5N was manufactured 9 months later than the W560 so they are both of a similar generation. Both cameras come with different body type with the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony W560 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple summary of how the NEX-5N matches up versus the W560 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-W560. The entire galleries are viewable at Sony NEX-5N Gallery and Sony W560 Gallery.

In case you're intending to carry your camera, you are going to need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Sony NEX-5N features outside measurements of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") and a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) while the Sony W560 has dimensions of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") with a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).

Examine the Sony NEX-5N vs Sony W560 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are working with at that time. Underneath is the front view sizing comparison of the NEX-5N vs the W560.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the NEX-5N and W560 is 89 and 96 respectively.

More often than not, it is difficult to visualize the gap between sensor sizing simply by checking specs. The graphic underneath will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the NEX-5N and W560.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The NEX-5N featuring a larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field easier and the Sony NEX-5N will resolve greater detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images much more aggressively. The younger NEX-5N should have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.