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Sony NEX-5N vs Sony WX30

Portability
89
Imaging
56
Features
69
Overall
61
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX30 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
41
Overall
39

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony WX30 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
  • Updated by Sony NEX-5R
Sony WX30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.6-6.3) lens
  • 117g - 92 x 52 x 19mm
  • Announced July 2011
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Sony NEX-5N vs Sony WX30 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Sony NEX-5N versus Sony WX30, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both are offered by Sony. The sensor resolution of the NEX-5N (16MP) and the WX30 (16MP) is very comparable but the NEX-5N (APS-C) and WX30 (1/2.3") feature different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The NEX-5N was announced 3 months after the WX30 which means that they are of a similar age. Both cameras offer different body type with the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony WX30 being a Compact camera.

Before we go in to a in-depth comparison, below is a concise summary of how the NEX-5N scores vs the WX30 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Sony WX30

 NEX-5N WX30 
Manually focus More precise focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Sony WX30 over the Sony NEX-5N

 WX30 NEX-5N 
Display resolution922k920kCrisper display (+2k dot)

Common features in the Sony NEX-5N and Sony WX30

 NEX-5N WX30 
AnnouncedOctober 2011July 2011Same age
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony WX30 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry around your camera regularly, you will want to consider its weight and size. The Sony NEX-5N features physical dimensions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") along with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) while the Sony WX30 has specifications of 92mm x 52mm x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7") along with a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Look at the Sony NEX-5N versus Sony WX30 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have attached at the time. The following is the front view physical size comparison of the NEX-5N compared to the WX30.

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony WX30 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the NEX-5N and WX30 is 89 and 96 respectively.

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony WX30 top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony WX30 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be hard to picture the gap in sensor sizes purely by checking out a spec sheet. The picture underneath might offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the NEX-5N and WX30.

As you can see, both the cameras offer the same exact megapixel count but different sensor sizes. The NEX-5N includes the larger sensor which is going to make obtaining shallower DOF easier.

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony WX30 sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony WX30 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony WX30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony NEX-5N Portrait photography details
Sony WX30 Portrait photography details
73
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
30
MP count decent (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Sony NEX-5N Street photography info
Sony WX30 Street photography info
80
tilting screen
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
offers focus by touch
good high ISO (25,600)
no image stabilization
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (117 grams)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sony NEX-5N Sports photography information
Sony WX30 Sports photography information
58
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
good battery life (460 shots)
no image stabilization
has no phase detect AF
39
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-5N Travel photography advice
Sony WX30 Travel photography advice
70
good battery life (460 CIPA)
offers focus by touch
good megapixels (16MP)
does not have Time Lapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
69
lighter than competition (117g)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
no Time Lapse function
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-5N Landscape photography highlights
Sony WX30 Landscape photography highlights
71
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3")
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
good battery life (460 per charge)
no image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse recording
43
really wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
manual mode not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony NEX-5N
Vlogging with Sony WX30
33
touchscreen functionality
supports face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
does not have external mic jack
35
really wide (25mm)
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (117 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
no external mic socket
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Sony NEX-5N vs Sony WX30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-5N and Sony WX30
 Sony Alpha NEX-5NSony Cyber-shot DSC-WX30
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha NEX-5N Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX30
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2011-10-03 2011-07-25
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.4 x 15.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 365.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing 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
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony E fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-125mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.6-6.3
Macro focus range - 5cm
Number of lenses 121 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 920 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD XtraFine TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m 3.70 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
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 (60fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 269g (0.59 lb) 117g (0.26 lb)
Dimensions 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") 92 x 52 x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 77 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.7 not tested
DXO Low light score 1079 not tested
Other
Battery life 460 images 250 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NPFW50 NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage 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
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $550 $259