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Sony NEX-5R vs Sony A6500

Portability
89
Imaging
57
Features
76
Overall
64
Sony Alpha NEX-5R front
 
Sony Alpha a6500 front
Portability
81
Imaging
67
Features
85
Overall
74

Sony NEX-5R vs Sony A6500 Key Specs

Sony NEX-5R
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 276g - 111 x 59 x 39mm
  • Revealed August 2012
  • Older Model is Sony NEX-5N
  • Replacement is Sony NEX-5T
Sony A6500
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Increase to 51200)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 453g - 120 x 67 x 53mm
  • Released October 2016
  • Older Model is Sony A6300
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Sony NEX-5R vs Sony A6500 Overview

Here is a extensive analysis of the Sony NEX-5R versus Sony A6500, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless and both of them are built by Sony. There is a substantial difference among the resolutions of the NEX-5R (16MP) and A6500 (24MP) but they feature the same exact sensor size (APS-C).

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The NEX-5R was launched 5 years before the A6500 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before diving through a in depth comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the NEX-5R scores versus the A6500 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5R over the Sony A6500

 NEX-5R A6500 

Reasons to pick Sony A6500 over the Sony NEX-5R

 A6500 NEX-5R 
ReleasedOctober 2016August 2012Fresher by 49 months
Screen resolution922k920kCrisper screen (+2k dot)

Common features in the Sony NEX-5R and Sony A6500

 NEX-5R A6500 
Manual focus Very precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Sony NEX-5R vs Sony A6500 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry your camera regularly, you are going to need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Sony NEX-5R offers exterior measurements of 111mm x 59mm x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 276 grams (0.61 lbs) while the Sony A6500 has proportions of 120mm x 67mm x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1") along with a weight of 453 grams (1.00 lbs).

Contrast the Sony NEX-5R versus Sony A6500 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have attached at that time. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the NEX-5R and the A6500.

Sony NEX-5R vs Sony A6500 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the NEX-5R and A6500 is 89 and 81 respectively.

Sony NEX-5R vs Sony A6500 top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-5R vs Sony A6500 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its hard to imagine the contrast in sensor sizing just by researching technical specs. The photograph below will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the NEX-5R and A6500.

As you can tell, each of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different megapixels. You can expect the Sony A6500 to render more detail utilizing its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots a little more aggressively. The older NEX-5R will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Sony NEX-5R vs Sony A6500 sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-5R vs Sony A6500 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-5R vs Sony A6500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony NEX-5R as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A6500 as a Portrait photography camera
74
focusing manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
80
has manual focus
megapixel count good (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony NEX-5R Street photography highlights
Sony A6500 Street photography highlights
80
has a tilting screen
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
includes touch focus
great high ISO (25,600)
no image stabilization
85
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
has focus by touch
environment sealing
very good ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sony NEX-5R Sports photography information
Sony A6500 Sports photography information
68
good megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
has phase detect autofocus
no image stabilization
77
quiet shutter (1/32,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
environment sealing
has phase detect autofocus
low battery life (350 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-5R Travel photography advice
Sony A6500 Travel photography advice
73
includes touch focus
good megapixels (16MP)
does not offer selfie friendly display
74
environment sealing
has bluetooth
has focus by touch
megapixel count good (24MP)
has built in flash
low battery life (350 per charge)
does not have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-5R Landscape photography info
Sony A6500 Landscape photography info
75
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
good megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
great high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
no image stabilization
79
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
very good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
low battery life (350 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony NEX-5R as a Vlogging camera
Sony A6500 as a Vlogging camera
31
touchscreen functionality
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not offer selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
no external mic support
39
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detection autofocus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
has external microphone port
does not have selfie friendly display
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Sony NEX-5R vs Sony A6500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-5R and Sony A6500
 Sony Alpha NEX-5RSony Alpha a6500
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha NEX-5R Sony Alpha a6500
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Revealed 2012-08-29 2016-10-06
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 area 365.0mm² 366.6mm²
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
Maximum enhanced ISO - 51200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 99 425
Lens
Lens support Sony E Sony E
Amount of lenses 121 121
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 920 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech Tilt Up 180� Down 50� TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Fastest quiet shutter speed - 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 10.0fps 11.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction (On/Off selectable), Hi-speed sync, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest 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) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 276 grams (0.61 lbs) 453 grams (1.00 lbs)
Dimensions 111 x 59 x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") 120 x 67 x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 78 85
DXO Color Depth rating 23.7 24.5
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.1 13.7
DXO Low light rating 910 1405
Other
Battery life 330 images 350 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NPFW50 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) Yes
Time lapse feature With downloadable app With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC + Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Retail price $750 $1,298