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Sony NEX-5N vs Sony W690

Portability
89
Imaging
56
Features
69
Overall
61
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690 front
Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony W690 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
  • Introduced October 2011
  • Replaced the Sony NEX-5
  • Later Model is Sony NEX-5R
Sony W690
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 142g - 94 x 56 x 22mm
  • Released February 2012
Photography Glossary

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony W690 Overview

The following is a detailed review of the Sony NEX-5N versus Sony W690, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both produced by Sony. The sensor resolution of the NEX-5N (16MP) and the W690 (16MP) is very well matched but the NEX-5N (APS-C) and W690 (1/2.3") offer different sensor size.

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The NEX-5N was brought out 4 months earlier than the W690 and they are of a similar age. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony W690 being a Compact camera.

Before we go into a in-depth comparison, here is a short summation of how the NEX-5N matches up against the W690 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Sony W690

 NEX-5N W690 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k230kClearer display (+690k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony W690 over the Sony NEX-5N

 W690 NEX-5N 

Common features in the Sony NEX-5N and Sony W690

 NEX-5N W690 
ReleasedOctober 2011February 2012Similar age
Display size3"3"Same display size
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony W690 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to travel with your camera often, you have to factor in its weight and volume. The Sony NEX-5N has physical dimensions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) and the Sony W690 has sizing of 94mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs).

Contrast the Sony NEX-5N versus Sony W690 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have at that time. The following is a front view proportions comparison of the NEX-5N compared to the W690.

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony W690 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the NEX-5N and W690 is 89 and 95 respectively.

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony W690 top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony W690 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very tough to visualize the gap between sensor dimensions merely by reading through specifications. The picture underneath will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the NEX-5N and W690.

To sum up, both of the cameras come with the identical megapixel count but different sensor dimensions. The NEX-5N comes with the larger sensor which should make obtaining bokeh easier.

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony W690 sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony W690 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony W690 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony NEX-5N Portrait photography highlights
Sony W690 Portrait photography highlights
73
has manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
34
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
features face detect focusing
manual focus not available
no manual mode
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony NEX-5N Street photography details
Sony W690 Street photography details
80
tilting screen
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
has focus by touch
very good high ISO (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
57
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony NEX-5N Sports photography features
Sony W690 Sports photography features
58
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
great battery power (460 shots)
does not have image stabilization
lack of phase detect autofocus
40
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
features tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony NEX-5N
Travel photography with Sony W690
70
great battery power (460 shots)
has focus by touch
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse mode
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
68
decent megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
great reach (250mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-5N Landscape photography advice
Sony W690 Landscape photography advice
71
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
very good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
great battery power (460 per charge)
does not have image stabilization
lack of Timelapse mode
43
rather wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
no manual mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony NEX-5N as a Vlogging camera
Sony W690 as a Vlogging camera
33
touchscreen functionality
features face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
lack of external microphone port
31
rather wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focusing
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing mic jack
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Sony NEX-5N vs Sony W690 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-5N and Sony W690
 Sony Alpha NEX-5NSony Cyber-shot DSC-W690
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha NEX-5N Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2011-10-03 2012-02-28
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.4 x 15.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 365.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4912 x 3264 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 25600 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
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 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support Sony E fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Total lenses 121 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 920k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD ClearPhoto TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 10.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 3.30 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format AVCHD MPEG-4
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 269g (0.59 pounds) 142g (0.31 pounds)
Physical dimensions 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") 94 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 77 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.7 not tested
DXO Low light rating 1079 not tested
Other
Battery life 460 pictures 220 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NPFW50 NP-BN
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at launch $550 $297