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Sony NEX-5R vs Sony RX100 II

Portability
89
Imaging
57
Features
76
Overall
64
Sony Alpha NEX-5R front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II front
Portability
89
Imaging
51
Features
74
Overall
60

Sony NEX-5R vs Sony RX100 II 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
  • Announced August 2012
  • Superseded the Sony NEX-5N
  • Successor is Sony NEX-5T
Sony RX100 II
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 160 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-100mm (F1.8-4.9) lens
  • 281g - 102 x 58 x 38mm
  • Launched June 2013
  • Superseded the Sony RX100
  • Renewed by Sony RX100 III
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Sony NEX-5R vs Sony RX100 II Overview

Below is a extensive review of the Sony NEX-5R and Sony RX100 II, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Large Sensor Compact and both are designed by Sony. The image resolution of the NEX-5R (16MP) and the RX100 II (20MP) is fairly similar but the NEX-5R (APS-C) and RX100 II (1") enjoy different sensor measurements.

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The NEX-5R was unveiled 10 months prior to the RX100 II so they are both of a similar age. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Sony NEX-5R being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX100 II being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before diving through a more detailed comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the NEX-5R scores vs the RX100 II when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5R over the Sony RX100 II

 NEX-5R RX100 II 
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 II over the Sony NEX-5R

 RX100 II NEX-5R 
LaunchedJune 2013August 2012More recent by 10 months
Display resolution1229k920kSharper display (+309k dot)

Common features in the Sony NEX-5R and Sony RX100 II

 NEX-5R RX100 II 
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Sony NEX-5R vs Sony RX100 II Physical Comparison

For those who are going to lug around your camera, you will need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Sony NEX-5R comes with physical measurements of 111mm x 59mm x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") along with a weight of 276 grams (0.61 lbs) and the Sony RX100 II has proportions of 102mm x 58mm x 38mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 281 grams (0.62 lbs).

Check out the Sony NEX-5R and Sony RX100 II in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have chosen at the time. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the NEX-5R against the RX100 II.

Sony NEX-5R vs Sony RX100 II size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the NEX-5R and RX100 II is 89 and 89 respectively.

Sony NEX-5R vs Sony RX100 II top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-5R vs Sony RX100 II Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its difficult to imagine the contrast between sensor measurements just by reading a spec sheet. The graphic here might provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the NEX-5R and RX100 II.

As you can see, both of the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The NEX-5R with its larger sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF less difficult and the Sony RX100 II will offer you more detail having an extra 4MP. Greater resolution will let you crop photos a little more aggressively. The older NEX-5R is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Sony NEX-5R vs Sony RX100 II sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-5R vs Sony RX100 II Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-5R vs Sony RX100 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony NEX-5R
Portrait photography with Sony RX100 II
74
has manual focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
70
focusing manually
above average flash sync (1/2,000s)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
has face detect focus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony NEX-5R Street photography details
Sony RX100 II Street photography details
80
screen tilts
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
boasts focus via touch
great high ISO (25,600)
no image stabilization
85
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
nice sensor size (1")
supports RAW files
lighter than competitors in class (281g)
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Sports Comparison

Sony NEX-5R Sports photography information
Sony RX100 II Sports photography information
68
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
sensor has phase detect AF
no image stabilization
67
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20MP)
nice sensor size (1")
has tracking focus
great battery pack (350 shots)
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-5R Travel photography factors
Sony RX100 II Travel photography factors
73
boasts focus via touch
decent megapixels (16MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
80
great battery pack (350 CIPA)
lighter than competitors in class (281 grams)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-5R Landscape photography details
Sony RX100 II Landscape photography details
75
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
great high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
no image stabilization
74
focusing manually
reasonably wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
supports RAW files
great battery pack (350 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony NEX-5R Vlogging info
Sony RX100 II Vlogging info
31
touch screen
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
does not have mic support
37
reasonably wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors in class (281g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have mic jack
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Sony NEX-5R vs Sony RX100 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-5R and Sony RX100 II
 Sony Alpha NEX-5RSony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha NEX-5R Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Announced 2012-08-29 2013-06-27
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1"
Sensor dimensions 23.4 x 15.6mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 365.0mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4912 x 3264 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 160
RAW photos
Min enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 99 25
Lens
Lens mount Sony E fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-100mm (3.6x)
Largest aperture - f/1.8-4.9
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Total lenses 121 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 2.7
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Tilting
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 920k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology Tilt Up 180� Down 50� TFT LCD Xtra Fine WhiteMagic TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic (optional)
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 10.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 15.00 m (ISO Auto (W))
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160 seconds 1/2000 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 (60 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic 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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 276 grams (0.61 lbs) 281 grams (0.62 lbs)
Dimensions 111 x 59 x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") 102 x 58 x 38mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 78 67
DXO Color Depth score 23.7 22.5
DXO Dynamic range score 13.1 12.4
DXO Low light score 910 483
Other
Battery life 330 photographs 350 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NPFW50 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) Yes (10 sec. / 2 sec. / Self-portrait One-person/ Self-portrait Two-person/ Self timer Continuous (3 or 5 shots))
Time lapse feature With downloadable app With downloadable app
Storage media SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $750 $598