Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5
Mirrorless interchangeable-lens Mirrorless interchangeable-lens
May, 2010

Summary Sony NEX-5

Prices Price
Body only Unknown With 18-55mm lens $656
all NEX-5 prices
Score Snapsort rank
Within its price range #n/a of 26 Among similar cameras #n/a of 47
details details
Specifications Key specs
Sensor size Help APS-C 23.4x15.6mm Screen resolution Help 920k dots
Megapixels Help 14 MP Movie format Help 1080p @ 30fps
Screen size Help 3.0" Light sensitivity Help 12,800 ISO
see all specifications
Lenses Lenses
Browse all Sony Alpha NEX-5 lenses at LensHero
Sony Alpha NEX-5Sony Alpha NEX-5

Replacement

Sony has replaced the Alpha NEX-5 with the NEX-5N and NEX-7.

Sony NEX-5N
Sony NEX-5N announced August, 2011
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Supports 24p Supports 24p

Compare the new Sony NEX-5N vs the NEX-5
Sony NEX-7
Sony NEX-7 announced August, 2011
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
True resolution Much higher true resolution
External mic jack Has an external mic jack

Compare the new Sony NEX-7 vs the NEX-5

reviewsWhat are people saying about the NEX-5

"With noise (and noise reduction in the JPEGs), kept well controlled up to ISO 3200, and giving very usable results even at 6400."
dpreview.com | talking about the camera's iso-noise
"With its magnesium alloy body has a level of build that's pretty much untouchable for the money."
dpreview.com | talking about the camera's build-quality
"High quality video mode"
dpreview.com | talking about the camera's video-quality

Videos

Sony Alpha NEX-5 Short Hand-o...

Sony NEX-5 First Impressions

Official Sony NEX-5 HD Video S...
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Short Hand-on Review
  • Review
  • Amateur
 Sony NEX-5 First Impressions
  • Review
  • Amateur
  • Ergonomics
  • Image quality
 Official Sony NEX-5 HD Video Samples
  • Sample video
  • Demo
  • Autofocus
  • Manual focus

Browse all Sony NEX-5 videos

Pros

The Sony NEX-5 vs other recent mirrorless cameras

Dynamic range Wide dynamic range Help
12.2 EV
Screen flips out Flip-out screen Help
Great for movies
Panorama In-camera panoramas Help
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
3D Takes 3D photos Help
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
Size Quite small Help
Compact 111x59x38 mm
Color depth Good color depth Help
22.2 bits
Startup delay Short startup delay Help
1000 ms startup delay
HDR In-camera HDR Help
Combines multiple exposures
External flash External flash Help
Better lighting
Popularity Very popular Help
Among snapsort users

Cons

The Sony NEX-5 vs other recent mirrorless cameras

Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Viewfinder Can only preview photos on the screen Help
None
Cross type focus points Fewer cross-type focus points Help
0
Announced Old Help
May, 2010
Light sensitivity (boost) Lacks boost light sensitivity Help
None
Supports 24p No 24p movies Help
Missing that film look
Touch screen No touch screen Help
More buttons
Focus points Fewer focus points Help
25
Built-in flash No built-in flash Help
Professional
Longest exposure Short exposures Help
30 seconds

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front photo of the Sony Alpha NEX-5back photo of the Sony Alpha NEX-5angle photo of the Sony Alpha NEX-5

Discussion What do you think about the Sony Alpha NEX-5?

Speech is free, but discussion at Snapsort is moderated! Please discuss your opinion of this camera here, and discuss feedback for Snapsort at our support community.

Showing 17 comments

Carlibra (5:12 AM, November 27, 2011)
I shot two hundred photos with it this morning, landscapes, macro, portraits, etc.  The image quality is really outstanding.  The detachable flash is a joke... it really doesn't belong on such a nice camera.  The panorama stitching works great.  Color balance on most shots is very faithful and pleasing.  I haven't tried the video yet.  
 
Avatar for Meekohi Meekohi (3:57 PM, August 15, 2011)
Here is what I am really wondering. Will this fit in my pocket? Can I carry it around with me all day?
 
Plustron100 (7:44 PM, August 02, 2011)
Flimsy port holes and a silly flimsy screw on flash. The camera it's self is very sturdy  so there is no excuse to put parts on an expensive camera that will break easily. 
 
Aliffiqhwan (11:42 PM, April 27, 2011)
i very like this camera only 4 thing had to upgrade
1) 18 megapixer
2) viewfinder
3) Rapid fire 11fps
4) Movie recording slowmotion 240fps
 
Romeusk8lins (3:26 PM, March 20, 2011)
I need one of this... I make movies with one of this cam from my friend and I say: Osson!!!
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (0:52 PM, February 24, 2011)
Have you seen Snapsort's comparison of the Sony NEX-5 vs Canon S95? The NEX-5 has a HUGE sensor compared to the S95 or any other compact, giving it a big advantage. According to the benchmarks, the Canon S95 takes excellent quality images up to 153 ISO, whereas the NEX-5 takes excellent quality images up to 800 ISO, giving it a 2 f-stop advantage.
 
Avatar for Bappy Bappy (7:22 AM, February 24, 2011)
so how is the low light image quality and overall image quality? compared to the bulkiness which pro-digicams like Canon s95 does not have?
 
Bartz5275 (4:30 PM, February 17, 2011)
no need to worry, i also bought this on nov10 as my secondary camera..
its low light is very powerful to take picture...i really dont need flash so far..
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (2:14 PM, February 09, 2011)
The NEX-5 body doesn't have a built-in flash, but, when you buy the NEX-5 it comes with a small flash you can attach to the top of the camera.
 
Ojay Ordonio (0:12 PM, February 09, 2011)
no built in flash?
 
Ed (6:33 PM, February 08, 2011)
Two things:
1) The NEX-5 also has an IR port for control by a remote control. This is not a common feature and should be highlighted in the overview.
2) The picture for the NEX-5 is wrong (it is actually a NEX-3)
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (4:14 PM, December 17, 2010)
Hi Joe,

I've a bit more about Sony's 1920x1080 @ 60i, and from what I can tell its actually the same as 30p, read the section titled "30P or 60i – Which Is It?" here:

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/camcorders/vg10.shtml

"Most people interested in video know that interlaced is old tech, that all modern TVs are progressive devices, and that therefore Progressive video recording is to be preferred, because it potentially offers twice the vertical resolution of interlaced. But Sony AVCHD video cameras (at least until one gets to their higher-end prosumer and pro gear) is speced as recording 60i. But, when you read the fine print you discover that at least some of these cameras (such as the VG10) really aren't recording 60i, they're capturing 30P and placing it in a 60i "wrapper".
 
joe (5:30 AM, December 17, 2010)
I thought it was only 1080i?
 
Enmanuel (10:02 AM, October 10, 2010)
I have already try a some compact/brige digital cameras (Panasonic FT1, Panasonic TZ7, Canon Powershot Ixus20IS) and I must say that all of them aren't comparable to this one. I've got the camera at the end of august and since then I have done thousands of pictures and lot of HD Videos with it. I love it's DSLR picture quality and High Definition Videos!
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (11:37 PM, October 03, 2010)
Good catch - I've fixed that mistake, thanks.
 
Pivriddle (10:38 PM, October 03, 2010)
but it doesn't have a built in flash???
 
Avatar for NEXtended NEXtended (5:29 PM, June 30, 2010)
As you note, the NEX-5 doesn't have in-body image stabilisation but the 18-55mm kit lens does have in-lens stabilisation.