Sony NEX-5R vs Sony S980

The following is a complete assessment of the Sony NEX-5R and Sony S980, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both are produced by Sony. There exists a big gap between the sensor resolutions of the NEX-5R (16MP) and S980 (12MP) and the NEX-5R (APS-C) and S980 (1/2.3") have different sensor sizes.

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The NEX-5R was brought out 3 years after the S980 which is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Sony NEX-5R being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony S980 being a Compact camera.

Before delving right into a in depth comparison, here is a short summary of how the NEX-5R grades versus the S980 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Sony Alpha NEX-5R and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980. The entire galleries are available at Sony NEX-5R Gallery and Sony S980 Gallery.

For those who are planning to travel with your camera, you have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Sony NEX-5R has exterior dimensions of 111mm x 59mm x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") and a weight of 276 grams (0.61 lbs) whilst the Sony S980 has proportions of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Check the Sony NEX-5R and Sony S980 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you select at that moment. Underneath is a front view measurements comparison of the NEX-5R compared to the S980.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the NEX-5R and S980 is 89 and 94 respectively.

Sometimes, it is very hard to visualize the gap between sensor dimensions just by looking at specifications. The picture below should give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the NEX-5R and S980.

To sum up, each of the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The NEX-5R featuring a larger sensor is going to make getting bokeh easier and the Sony NEX-5R will give you greater detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The more recent NEX-5R should have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.