Sony NEX-5R vs Sony a1

Lets take a more detailed look at the Sony NEX-5R versus Sony a1, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Pro Mirrorless and they are both manufactured by Sony. There exists a sizeable gap between the resolutions of the NEX-5R (16MP) and a1 (50MP) and the NEX-5R (APS-C) and a1 (Full frame) have different sensor sizes.

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The NEX-5R was announced 9 years earlier than the a1 and that is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Sony NEX-5R being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony a1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight to a complete comparison, here is a simple summary of how the NEX-5R grades against the a1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Sony Alpha NEX-5R and Sony Alpha a1. The whole galleries are viewable at Sony NEX-5R Gallery and Sony a1 Gallery.

When you are aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you should factor its weight and volume. The Sony NEX-5R comes with outside measurements of 111mm x 59mm x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") with a weight of 276 grams (0.61 lbs) and the Sony a1 has sizing of 129mm x 97mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 737 grams (1.62 lbs).

Examine the Sony NEX-5R versus Sony a1 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have during that time. Here is a front view scale comparison of the NEX-5R against the a1.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the NEX-5R and a1 is 89 and 61 respectively.

Normally, it's tough to visualize the contrast between sensor measurements just by reviewing specs. The graphic here will give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the NEX-5R and a1.

All in all, the 2 cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The NEX-5R having a tinier sensor is going to make shooting bokeh more difficult and the Sony a1 will offer greater detail with its extra 34MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images way more aggressively. The older NEX-5R is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.