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Sony NEX-5N vs Sony A99

Portability
89
Imaging
56
Features
69
Overall
61
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
 
Sony SLT-A99 front
Portability
57
Imaging
69
Features
88
Overall
76

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony A99 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
  • Introduced October 2011
  • Older Model is Sony NEX-5
  • Later Model is Sony NEX-5R
Sony A99
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 812g - 147 x 111 x 78mm
  • Revealed December 2012
  • Replaced the Sony A900
  • Successor is Sony A99 II
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Sony NEX-5N vs Sony A99 Overview

Let's look a bit more closely at the Sony NEX-5N versus Sony A99, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced DSLR and they are both produced by Sony. There exists a big gap between the image resolutions of the NEX-5N (16MP) and A99 (24MP) and the NEX-5N (APS-C) and A99 (Full frame) have different sensor sizing.

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The NEX-5N was manufactured 14 months prior to the A99 which makes them a generation away from one another. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A99 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go right into a in depth comparison, here is a simple summation of how the NEX-5N matches up against the A99 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Sony A99

 NEX-5N A99 
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A99 over the Sony NEX-5N

 A99 NEX-5N 
RevealedDecember 2012October 2011Newer by 14 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1229k920kSharper screen (+309k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Sony NEX-5N and Sony A99

 NEX-5N A99 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony A99 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to travel with your camera often, you're going to have to consider its weight and proportions. The Sony NEX-5N enjoys physical measurements of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) whilst the Sony A99 has measurements of 147mm x 111mm x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1") and a weight of 812 grams (1.79 lbs).

See the Sony NEX-5N versus Sony A99 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you choose at the time. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the NEX-5N vs the A99.

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony A99 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the NEX-5N and A99 is 89 and 57 respectively.

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony A99 top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony A99 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's difficult to visualize the difference between sensor dimensions purely by reading through technical specs. The image here will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the NEX-5N and A99.

As you can tell, both of these cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The NEX-5N due to its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field more challenging and the Sony A99 will give you greater detail due to its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots way more aggressively. The more aged NEX-5N is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony A99 sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony A99 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony A99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony NEX-5N Portrait photography information
Sony A99 Portrait photography information
73
focusing manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection focus
supports RAW formats
81
manual focus
megapixel count good (24MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
supports face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony NEX-5N Street photography advice
Sony A99 Street photography advice
80
screen tilts
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
supports focus via touch
very good ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
75
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
environment proof
above average ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony NEX-5N
Sports photography with Sony A99
58
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
good battery pack (460 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
lacks phase detect auto focus
78
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
supports tracking autofocus
environment proof
sensor has phase detect AF
terrible battery pack (500 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-5N Travel photography info
Sony A99 Travel photography info
70
good battery pack (460 CIPA)
supports focus via touch
MP count good (16MP)
lack of Timelapse function
does not contain selfie friendly display
60
environment proof
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
selfie friendly display
lack of Timelapse recording
terrible battery pack (500 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-5N Landscape photography info
Sony A99 Landscape photography info
71
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
very good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
good battery pack (460 shots)
lack of image stabilization
lack of Timelapse function
74
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
above average ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
environment proof
two card slots
terrible battery pack (500 shots)
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony NEX-5N Vlogging details
Sony A99 Vlogging details
33
screen is touchscreen
has face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not contain selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
lack of external microphone port
76
selfie friendly display
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes external microphone socket
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Sony NEX-5N vs Sony A99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-5N and Sony A99
 Sony Alpha NEX-5NSony SLT-A99
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha NEX-5N Sony SLT-A99
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2011-10-03 2012-12-12
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor measurements 23.4 x 15.6mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 365.0mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4912 x 3264 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 25600 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 25 19
Cross type focus points - 11
Lens
Lens support Sony E Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 121 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 920 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter rate 10.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m no built-in flash
Flash options 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
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160s 1/250s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone 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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 269g (0.59 lb) 812g (1.79 lb)
Physical dimensions 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") 147 x 111 x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 77 89
DXO Color Depth rating 23.6 25.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.7 14.0
DXO Low light rating 1079 1555
Other
Battery life 460 shots 500 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NPFW50 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD, SDHC and SDXC
Card slots One Dual
Pricing at release $550 $1,998