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Sony NEX-5R vs Sony RX100 VII

Portability
89
Imaging
57
Features
76
Overall
64
Sony Alpha NEX-5R front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII front
Portability
88
Imaging
54
Features
78
Overall
63

Sony NEX-5R vs Sony RX100 VII 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
  • Revealed August 2012
  • Earlier Model is Sony NEX-5N
  • Refreshed by Sony NEX-5T
Sony RX100 VII
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-200mm (F2.8-4.5) lens
  • 302g - 102 x 58 x 43mm
  • Revealed July 2019
  • Earlier Model is Sony RX100 VI
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Sony NEX-5R vs Sony RX100 VII Overview

Let's look more closely at the Sony NEX-5R vs Sony RX100 VII, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Large Sensor Compact and they are both produced by Sony. The image resolution of the NEX-5R (16MP) and the RX100 VII (20MP) is pretty well matched but the NEX-5R (APS-C) and RX100 VII (1") posses different sensor sizing.

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The NEX-5R was unveiled 8 years prior to the RX100 VII and that is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Sony NEX-5R being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX100 VII being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before delving into a complete comparison, here is a quick summary of how the NEX-5R grades vs the RX100 VII with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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

 NEX-5R RX100 VII 

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

 RX100 VII NEX-5R 
RevealedJuly 2019August 2012More recent by 84 months
Screen resolution921k920kCrisper screen (+1k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

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

 NEX-5R RX100 VII 
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Sony NEX-5R vs Sony RX100 VII Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to lug around your camera regularly, you are going to need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Sony NEX-5R comes with external measurements 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 VII has dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 43mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.7") having a weight of 302 grams (0.67 lbs).

Compare the Sony NEX-5R vs Sony RX100 VII in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have at that time. Underneath is a front view measurements comparison of the NEX-5R and the RX100 VII.

Sony NEX-5R vs Sony RX100 VII size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the NEX-5R and RX100 VII is 89 and 88 respectively.

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

Sony NEX-5R vs Sony RX100 VII Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very hard to imagine the gap between sensor measurements purely by reading through technical specs. The graphic below should give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the NEX-5R and RX100 VII.

As you have seen, both cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The NEX-5R having a bigger sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF easier and the Sony RX100 VII will give greater detail having an extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The older NEX-5R is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Sony NEX-5R Portrait photography info
Sony RX100 VII Portrait photography info
74
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
66
has manual focus
above average flash sync (1/2,000 seconds)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
offers face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
cannot use external flash
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Street Comparison

Sony NEX-5R Street photography details
Sony RX100 VII Street photography details
80
screen tilts up and down
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
provides touch to focus
good high ISO (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
85
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is nice (1")
exports RAW formats
supports focus via touch
lighter than competition (302 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sony NEX-5R Sports photography factors
Sony RX100 VII Sports photography factors
68
megapixel count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
comes with phase detect autofocus
does not have image stabilization
70
silent mode (1/32,000 seconds)
max frames per second high (20.0 frames per second)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
offers tracking focus
supports phase detect autofocus
bad battery power (260 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-5R as a Travel photography camera
Sony RX100 VII as a Travel photography camera
73
provides touch to focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
does not have selfie friendly display
77
lighter than competition (302g)
supports bluetooth
supports focus via touch
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
reasonably wide (24mm)
bad battery power (260 shots)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-5R as a Landscape photography camera
Sony RX100 VII as a Landscape photography camera
75
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
megapixel count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
does not have image stabilization
65
has manual focus
reasonably wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
exports RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
bad battery power (260 CIPA)
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Sony NEX-5R Vlogging information
Sony RX100 VII Vlogging information
31
touch screen
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
missing external microphone jack
81
reasonably wide (24mm)
selfie friendly display
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect autofocus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
comes with microphone support
lighter than competition (302 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Sony NEX-5R vs Sony RX100 VII Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-5R and Sony RX100 VII
 Sony Alpha NEX-5RSony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha NEX-5R Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Revealed 2012-08-29 2019-07-25
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 measurements 23.4 x 15.6mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 365.0mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4912 x 3264 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW format
Minimum boosted ISO - 64
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 99 -
Lens
Lens mount type Sony E fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-200mm (8.3x)
Largest aperture - f/2.8-4.5
Macro focusing distance - 8cm
Total lenses 121 -
Crop factor 1.5 2.7
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 920k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech Tilt Up 180� Down 50� TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,360k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.59x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Highest silent shutter speed - 1/32000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 10.0fps 20.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 5.90 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in -
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 secs 1/2000 secs
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
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) NP-BX1 lithium-ion battery & USB charger
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 276 grams (0.61 lbs) 302 grams (0.67 lbs)
Physical dimensions 111 x 59 x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") 102 x 58 x 43mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 78 63
DXO Color Depth rating 23.7 21.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.1 12.4
DXO Low light rating 910 418
Other
Battery life 330 photographs 260 photographs
Type of battery 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
Type of storage SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $750 $1,298