Sony NEX-5
- 14MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Tilting Display
- ISO 200 - 12800
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Sony E Mount
- 287g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
- Released June 2010
- Successor is Sony NEX-5N
- Read full specs
- Alternatives
- Lenses
- Size Comparison
- FAQ
89 Imaging
54 Features
58 Overall
55
Sony NEX-5 overview
Sony NEX-5 is Sony's Entry-Level Mirrorless camera first revealed on June of 2010. The camera has got a 14MP, CMOS APS-C size sensor with a peak resolution of 4592 x 3056.
Sony launched the fresher Sony NEX-5N (Read Full Comparison) as a way to upgrade this camera.
The NEX-5 is placed #82 out of 117 in Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras and all around #374 out of 1465 for cameras in our database. You can check our Smart camera filter to find camera listings based on your personal criteria.
The following is a chart of multiple criteria used in the scoring system.
Sony NEX-5 family
The Sony NEX-5 is part of a family of digital cameras. You can see the complete list below.
Sony NEX-5 Gallery
You can look at the NEX-5 from different angles in the gallery below.
Sony NEX-5 Pros and Cons
Here is a list of benefits and drawbacks of the Sony NEX-5 based on criterias that are generally seen as useful in a camera.
Sony NEX-5 Sensor features
The Sony NEX-5 houses the Bionz processor. The dimension of the sensor on the Sony NEX-5 is 23.4mm x 15.6mm (APS-C). The 365 mm² sensor can resolve 4592 x 3056 pixels using aspect ratios of 3:2 and 16:9.
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firmsThe CMOS sensor boasts 14MP and provides a native ISO range of 200 to 12800. RAW format is saved so you have more margin for error.
The graphic below displays the NEX-5's sensor size when compared to other common sizes. The NEX-5 sensor comes with a crop factor of 1.5 and is presented in green.
Photography GlossaryTo get an idea of different aspect ratios, you should refer to the visual below.
Sony NEX-5 dimensions
Sony NEX-5 weighs around 0.63 pounds (287g / 10.12 oz) and features external proportions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5"). The weight of general Entry-Level Mirrorless camera is 329g and the Sony NEX-5 is lighter as compared to other competitors.
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music videoThe following is a pic of the Sony NEX-5 beside a soft drink to help you to have a feel for its size.
The top view below will show the button arrangement on the NEX-5.
Sony NEX-5 Lens features
The NEX-5 fits the Sony E mount and has 170 lenses available. Here is a few of the lenses we have in our database that will fit the NEX-5.
Sony NEX-5 Connectivity
The NEX-5 has the following connectivity:
- USB Yes
- HDMI Yes
Cameras that have NFC and Bluetooth connectivity are able to be controlled wirelessly by smartphones. You are able to send pictures and sometimes alter settings without the hassle of connecting straight with the camera.
Several apps also stream a Liveview and press the shutter when you aren't close to the camera. If the camera contains a HDMI out, it can easily be attached to an external screen. Virtually all cameras will allow you to charge the battery using the USB socket.
Sony NEX-5 Video features
The highest video quality on the Sony NEX-5 is 1920 x 1080 and it can record in AVCHD format. 1080p quality gives a great balance in quality vs file size but FULL HD won't leave you with much room to crop. The body doesn't include a mic and headphone jack so you have got absolutely no control over your sound. It is probably a better idea to take a look at another camera in case you require decent sound in your video clips.
Sony NEX-5 Weather Sealing
Sony NEX-5 doesn't have weather proofing so rainy conditions may ruin the camera.
Sony NEX-5 Display and Viewfinder
The Sony NEX-5 has got a 3 inch tilting screen having a resolution of 920 thousand dots.
Please be aware that the screen offers no touch support.
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD CardsThe ViewFinder specs regarding Sony NEX-5 are below:
- ViewFinder None
Viewfinders are rather handy in bright outdoor conditions which may make the camera display washed out and very difficult to view.
Sony NEX-5 Shutter features
Sony NEX-5 can shoot continuously at 7.0 fps. The max shutter speed is 1/4000 sec.
Sony NEX-5 Flash and Hot shoe features
Sony NEX-5 has got external flash ability but is without built-in flash. The max flash sync speed is 1/160 sec.
Sony NEX-5 Autofocus features
Sony NEX-5 has got only Contrast Based Autofocus and lacks Phase Detect Autofocus. Phase Detection autofocusing is more quicker & precise as compared to Contrast Based autofocusing.
The AF system has got 25 focus points to select from. Sony NEX-5 boasts manual focusing when required in low light or you want to have more precise control on focusing.
Sony NEX-5 Battery life
The battery power (NPFW50) for the Sony NEX-5 is fashioned to last for 330 pictures based on the CIPA benchmarks which is comparable with its competition. The typical Entry-Level Mirrorless camera battery life is 343. Fujifilm X-S20 has the highest (750) battery life in this group of cameras.
Listed below is a list of Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras that come with the strongest battery life:
Sony NEX-5 for specific kinds of photography
The following bar chart provides a summation of the Sony NEX-5 for specific kinds of photography. To understand more, check out the specific section below.
Sony NEX-5 Portrait photography details
The Sony NEX-5 gets a points total of 72 which is very good, and means the camera is a respectable fit for portrait photos. Shooting portraits leans greatly towards sensor dimensions, support for RAW photos plus the flexibility to utilize off-camera lighting.
Street photography with Sony NEX-5
Having a superb score of 76, the Sony NEX-5 is a terrific pick for street photography. A good street photography camera offers a good balance of image quality plus portability.
Sony NEX-5 as a Sports photography camera
A reasonable sports photography points tally of 52 indicates the Sony NEX-5 is fairly suitable for taking pictures of sports. A camera should have great focusing and continuous shooting for sports photography.
Sony NEX-5 as a Travel photography camera
Size is very crucial in selecting a camera for travel. Over-all, the Sony NEX-5 gets a average 59 for a travel camera which makes it somewhat acceptable to purchase for your holidays.
Sony NEX-5 as a Landscape photography camera
For anyone looking to choose a camera for landscape pictures, the most important aspect will be image quality. The Sony NEX-5 with it's nice grade of 68 for a landscape camera is a good fit in the current market.
Sony NEX-5 Vlogging highlights
A camera for vlogging should have a moving display screen, microphone port and if possible IBIS. Taking all things into account, the Sony NEX-5 is not really acceptable as a vlog camera as it receives a lousy rating of 28.
Sony NEX-5 Alternatives
If you want replacements to the NEX-5, here is a number of the top scored cameras which fall into the category of Entry-Level Mirrorless.
The chart down below offers you an overview of the NEX-5 compared to it's top ranked competitors suggested above.
There are a bunch of cameras you might see as alternate options. To browse through a extensive comparison, simply click on the "compare" link.