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Sony NEX-5R vs Sony a5100

Portability
89
Imaging
57
Features
76
Overall
64
Sony Alpha NEX-5R front
 
Sony Alpha a5100 front
Portability
89
Imaging
66
Features
74
Overall
69

Sony NEX-5R vs Sony a5100 Key Specs

Sony NEX-5R
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 276g - 111 x 59 x 39mm
  • Introduced August 2012
  • Superseded the Sony NEX-5N
  • Newer Model is Sony NEX-5T
Sony a5100
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 283g - 110 x 63 x 36mm
  • Introduced August 2014
  • Replaced the Sony a5000
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Sony NEX-5R vs Sony a5100 Overview

The following is a extended review of the Sony NEX-5R vs Sony a5100, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras and both of them are produced by Sony. There is a substantial difference between the resolutions of the NEX-5R (16MP) and a5100 (24MP) but both cameras boast the identical sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The NEX-5R was manufactured 23 months before the a5100 making them a generation away from each other. Both of these cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before going into a more detailed comparison, here is a brief summary of how the NEX-5R matches up versus the a5100 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5R over the Sony a5100

 NEX-5R a5100 

Reasons to pick Sony a5100 over the Sony NEX-5R

 a5100 NEX-5R 
IntroducedAugust 2014August 2012Newer by 23 months
Display resolution922k920kCrisper display (+2k dot)

Common features in the Sony NEX-5R and Sony a5100

 NEX-5R a5100 
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Sony NEX-5R vs Sony a5100 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to travel with your camera, you will have to take into account its weight and volume. The Sony NEX-5R offers exterior 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 a5100 has sizing of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") with a weight of 283 grams (0.62 lbs).

Look at the Sony NEX-5R vs Sony a5100 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the NEX-5R versus the a5100.

Sony NEX-5R vs Sony a5100 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the NEX-5R and a5100 is 89 and 89 respectively.

Sony NEX-5R vs Sony a5100 top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-5R vs Sony a5100 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its difficult to visualise the gap between sensor dimensions purely by going over a spec sheet. The image here will help give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the NEX-5R and a5100.

Clearly, both of the cameras feature the identical sensor size but not the same megapixels. You can expect to see the Sony a5100 to offer you more detail due to its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will let you crop images way more aggressively. The more aged NEX-5R is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Sony NEX-5R vs Sony a5100 sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-5R vs Sony a5100 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-5R vs Sony a5100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony NEX-5R Portrait photography information
Sony a5100 Portrait photography information
74
focusing manually
MP count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
72
you can focus manually
decent MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
cannot use external flash
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Sony NEX-5R as a Street photography camera
Sony a5100 as a Street photography camera
80
screen tilts up and down
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
boasts touch to focus
great ISO range (25,600)
no image stabilization
82
tilting screen
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
features focus by touch
good ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony NEX-5R
Sports photography with Sony a5100
68
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking focus
sensor has phase detect autofocus
no image stabilization
68
decent MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
better than average battery power (400 CIPA)
supports phase detect autofocus
low frames per second (6.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-5R as a Travel photography camera
Sony a5100 as a Travel photography camera
73
boasts touch to focus
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
80
better than average battery power (400 shots)
features focus by touch
decent MP (24 megapixels)
built-in flash
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-5R Landscape photography advice
Sony a5100 Landscape photography advice
75
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
great ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
no image stabilization
79
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
decent MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
better than average battery power (400 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony NEX-5R as a Vlogging camera
Sony a5100 as a Vlogging camera
31
screen is touchscreen
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
missing microphone support
34
touch screen
offers face detection autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
no external microphone jack
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Sony NEX-5R vs Sony a5100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-5R and Sony a5100
 Sony Alpha NEX-5RSony Alpha a5100
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha NEX-5R Sony Alpha a5100
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2012-08-29 2014-08-17
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz Bionz X
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 16 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4912 x 3264 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 25600 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 99 179
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony E Sony E
Amount of lenses 121 121
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Tilting
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 920 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech Tilt Up 180� Down 50� TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 10.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 4.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in Flash off, auto, fill-flaw, slow sync, redeye reduction
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (120p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
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 276g (0.61 lbs) 283g (0.62 lbs)
Physical dimensions 111 x 59 x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") 110 x 63 x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 78 80
DXO Color Depth score 23.7 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score 13.1 12.7
DXO Low light score 910 1347
Other
Battery life 330 images 400 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NPFW50 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous (3-5 shot))
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app With downloadable app
Storage media SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $750 $448