Sony NEX-5T vs Sony a5100

Lets take a closer look at the Sony NEX-5T and Sony a5100, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras and they are both designed by Sony. There exists a big gap between the image resolutions of the NEX-5T (16MP) and a5100 (24MP) but they come with the exact same sensor dimensions (APS-C).

Photography Glossary

The NEX-5T was announced 11 months before the a5100 and they are of a similar generation. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before delving through a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the NEX-5T grades vs the a5100 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Sony Alpha NEX-5T and Sony Alpha a5100. The whole galleries are provided at Sony NEX-5T Gallery and Sony a5100 Gallery.

If you are aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor in its weight and volume. The Sony NEX-5T offers 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 a5100 has sizing of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 283 grams (0.62 lbs).

Compare the Sony NEX-5T and Sony a5100 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you use at that moment. The following is the front view measurements comparison of the NEX-5T compared to the a5100.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the NEX-5T and a5100 is 89 and 89 respectively.

Typically, it is very tough to visualize the contrast between sensor dimensions just by going over a spec sheet. The image below should provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the NEX-5T and a5100.

Clearly, each of the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but different MP. You should expect to see the Sony a5100 to offer you more detail with its extra 8MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop images somewhat more aggressively. The more aged NEX-5T is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.