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Sony NEX-5R vs Sony RX100 IV

Portability
89
Imaging
57
Features
76
Overall
64
Sony Alpha NEX-5R front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV front
Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
79
Overall
62

Sony NEX-5R vs Sony RX100 IV 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
  • Succeeded the Sony NEX-5N
  • Renewed by Sony NEX-5T
Sony RX100 IV
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 298g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Launched June 2015
  • Superseded the Sony RX100 III
  • Successor is Sony RX100 V
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Sony NEX-5R vs Sony RX100 IV Overview

Following is a extensive comparison of the Sony NEX-5R versus Sony RX100 IV, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Large Sensor Compact and both of them are designed by Sony. The sensor resolution of the NEX-5R (16MP) and the RX100 IV (20MP) is very close but the NEX-5R (APS-C) and RX100 IV (1") have different sensor measurements.

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The NEX-5R was brought out 3 years earlier than the RX100 IV which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Sony NEX-5R being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX100 IV being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before getting right into a thorough comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the NEX-5R matches up versus the RX100 IV for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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

 NEX-5R RX100 IV 
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

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

 RX100 IV NEX-5R 
LaunchedJune 2015August 2012More modern by 33 months
Display resolution1229k920kCrisper display (+309k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

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

 NEX-5R RX100 IV 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display size3"3"Same display measurements

Sony NEX-5R vs Sony RX100 IV Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry around your camera, you are going to need to consider its weight and proportions. The Sony NEX-5R offers outside dimensions of 111mm x 59mm x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") having a weight of 276 grams (0.61 lbs) whilst the Sony RX100 IV has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") with a weight of 298 grams (0.66 lbs).

Look at the Sony NEX-5R versus Sony RX100 IV in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are working with at the time. Below is a front view size comparison of the NEX-5R compared to the RX100 IV.

Sony NEX-5R vs Sony RX100 IV size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the NEX-5R and RX100 IV is 89 and 89 respectively.

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

Sony NEX-5R vs Sony RX100 IV Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is tough to imagine the difference in sensor sizes merely by researching a spec sheet. The image below will give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the NEX-5R and RX100 IV.

Clearly, both of those cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The NEX-5R due to its larger sensor is going to make shooting bokeh easier and the Sony RX100 IV will render greater detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop pics way more aggressively. The more aged NEX-5R will be behind in sensor technology.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony NEX-5R
Portrait photography with Sony RX100 IV
74
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
65
focusing manually
above average flash sync (1/2,000 seconds)
MP count decent (20MP)
good sensor size (1")
provides face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
external flash not possible
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Street Comparison

Sony NEX-5R Street photography features
Sony RX100 IV Street photography features
80
has a tilting screen
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
provides touch focus
very good ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
85
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good sensor size (1")
delivers RAW formats
lighter than average (298 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sony NEX-5R Sports photography highlights
Sony RX100 IV Sports photography highlights
68
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
comes with phase detect AF
lack of image stabilization
68
silent shooting (1/32,000s)
fast continuous shooting (16.0 frames per second)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
provides tracking focus
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony NEX-5R
Travel photography with Sony RX100 IV
73
provides touch focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
does not have selfie friendly display
86
lighter than average (298 grams)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
pretty wide (24mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-5R as a Landscape photography camera
Sony RX100 IV as a Landscape photography camera
75
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
very good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
74
focusing manually
pretty wide (24mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20MP)
good sensor size (1")
delivers RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony NEX-5R Vlogging features
Sony RX100 IV Vlogging features
31
built-in touchscreen
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
no external microphone port
81
pretty wide (24mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
selfie friendly screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect autofocus
video res high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
lighter than average (298 grams)
no mic support
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Sony NEX-5R vs Sony RX100 IV Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-5R and Sony RX100 IV
 Sony Alpha NEX-5RSony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha NEX-5R Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Introduced 2012-08-29 2015-06-10
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-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 alias 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
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW data
Minimum enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 99 25
Lens
Lens support Sony E fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-70mm (2.9x)
Max aperture - f/1.8-2.8
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Total lenses 121 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 2.7
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 920k dots 1,229k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology Tilt Up 180� Down 50� TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.59x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Fastest silent shutter speed - 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames/s 16.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in -
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 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) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/24p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p/24p/120p), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 276g (0.61 lb) 298g (0.66 lb)
Physical dimensions 111 x 59 x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 78 70
DXO Color Depth rating 23.7 22.9
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.1 12.6
DXO Low light rating 910 562
Other
Battery life 330 shots 280 shots
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NPFW50 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) Yes
Time lapse feature With downloadable app With downloadable app
Storage type SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Launch price $750 $898