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Sony NEX-5N vs Sony A57

Portability
89
Imaging
56
Features
69
Overall
61
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
 
Sony SLT-A57 front
Portability
64
Imaging
57
Features
85
Overall
68

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony A57 Key Specs

Sony NEX-5N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Launched October 2011
  • Superseded the Sony NEX-5
  • Newer Model is Sony NEX-5R
Sony A57
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 618g - 132 x 98 x 81mm
  • Announced September 2012
  • Earlier Model is Sony A55
  • Refreshed by Sony A58
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Sony NEX-5N vs Sony A57 Overview

Its time to look a bit more in depth at the Sony NEX-5N versus Sony A57, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR and they are both designed by Sony. The sensor resolution of the NEX-5N (16MP) and the A57 (16MP) is pretty close and they enjoy the same exact sensor size (APS-C).

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The NEX-5N was manufactured 11 months prior to the A57 and they are both of a similar generation. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A57 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving in to a in depth comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the NEX-5N matches up vs the A57 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Sony A57

 NEX-5N A57 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A57 over the Sony NEX-5N

 A57 NEX-5N 
AnnouncedSeptember 2012October 2011More recent by 11 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen resolution921k920kClearer screen (+1k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Sony NEX-5N and Sony A57

 NEX-5N A57 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony A57 Physical Comparison

When you are going to lug around your camera regularly, you need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Sony NEX-5N has 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) and the Sony A57 has dimensions of 132mm x 98mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2") having a weight of 618 grams (1.36 lbs).

Compare the Sony NEX-5N versus Sony A57 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are employing at that moment. Below is the front view size comparison of the NEX-5N against the A57.

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony A57 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the NEX-5N and A57 is 89 and 64 respectively.

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony A57 top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony A57 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is hard to picture the difference in sensor measurements merely by viewing specs. The visual here should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the NEX-5N and A57.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing and the identical MP and you should expect comparable quality of files however you really should factor the release date of the cameras into account. The older NEX-5N will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony A57 sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony A57 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony A57 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony NEX-5N as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A57 as a Portrait photography camera
73
focusing manually
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
74
has manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes face detection focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony NEX-5N Street photography features
Sony A57 Street photography features
80
tilting screen
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
offers focus by touch
good ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
75
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony NEX-5N as a Sports photography camera
Sony A57 as a Sports photography camera
58
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
good battery life (460 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
does not have phase detect auto focus
78
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
has phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-5N Travel photography info
Sony A57 Travel photography info
70
good battery life (460 CIPA)
offers focus by touch
good megapixels (16MP)
does not have Time Lapse recording
does not have selfie friendly display
67
good MP (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
missing Timelapse function
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Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-5N as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A57 as a Landscape photography camera
71
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
good battery life (460 shots)
lack of image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse recording
72
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony NEX-5N Vlogging info
Sony A57 Vlogging info
33
built-in touchscreen
has face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
does not have external mic jack
77
selfie friendly screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has external microphone port
Photography Glossary

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony A57 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-5N and Sony A57
 Sony Alpha NEX-5NSony SLT-A57
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha NEX-5N Sony SLT-A57
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2011-10-03 2012-09-13
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.4 x 15.6mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 365.0mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4912 x 3264 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 25600 16000
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 25 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony E Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 121 143
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 920 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD Xtra Fine TFT drive with TruBlack technology
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 10.0fps 12.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 269 grams (0.59 lb) 618 grams (1.36 lb)
Dimensions 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") 132 x 98 x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 77 75
DXO Color Depth score 23.6 23.4
DXO Dynamic range score 12.7 13.0
DXO Low light score 1079 785
Other
Battery life 460 shots 550 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NPFW50 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Retail pricing $550 $1,000