Updated (August, 2012): Compare the Sony Alpha NEX-6 vs Sony NEX-5R

Sony NEX-5N

Winner
Sony NEX-5N

91

vs

Sony Alpha NEX-6

87

Sony Alpha NEX-6

Runner-up
 
 
 
 

Reasons to buy the Sony NEX-5N

Light sensitivity
High ISO
25,600 ISO
Touch screen
Touch screen
Less buttons
Supports 24p
24p movies
For that film look
3D
Takes 3D photos
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
 

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha NEX-6

Viewfinder
Great viewfinder
Digital
Light sensitivity
High ISO
25,600 ISO
Supports 24p
24p movies
For that film look
Startup delay
Almost no delay when powering up
200 ms startup delay
 

differences

Advantages of the Sony NEX-6

Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Digital vs None
Help
A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
Catch candid moments easily
Startup delay Significantly less startup delay 200 ms vs 1900 ms
Help
9.5x less delay when turning on
Focus points Significantly more focus points 99 vs 25
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13.1 EV vs 12.7 EV
Help
0.4 f-stops more dynamic range
Sony Alpha NEX-6 Learn more about
the Sony NEX-6

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5N

Touch screen Has a touch screen Yes vs No
Help
Fewer buttons to worry about and direct interaction with camera menus
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 460 shots vs 360 shots
Help
Around 30% more shots per battery charge
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 1,079 ISO vs 1,018 ISO
Help
The NEX-5N has a slight edge (0.1 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Size Smaller 111x59x38 mm vs 120x67x43 mm
Help
Around 30% smaller
Thickness Thinner 1.5" vs 1.7"
Help
More than 10% thinner
Weight Slightly lighter 269 g vs 287 g
Help
Around 10% lighter
Sony NEX-5N Learn more about
the Sony NEX-5N
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Sony Alpha NEX-6 Sony Alpha NEX-6
87 vs 91
Explain scores
Sony NEX-5N Sony NEX-5N
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony NEX-5N.

similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Low light performance Relatively low noise at high ISO Help
NEX-6:1,018 ISO
NEX-5N:1,079 ISO
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
NEX-6:78.0
NEX-5N:77.0
Light sensitivity Very good maximum light sensitivity Help
25,600 ISO
Color depth Good color depth Help
NEX-6:23.7 bits
NEX-5N:23.6 bits
Screen resolution High resolution screens Help
NEX-6:921k dots
NEX-5N:920k dots
Dynamic range Good dynamic range Help
NEX-6:13.1 EV
NEX-5N:12.7 EV
Supports 24p 24p support Help
For that film look
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
HDR In-camera HDR Help
Combines multiple exposures
Panorama In-camera panoramas Help
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
External flash Each supports an external flash Help
Better lighting
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony NEX-5R

Sony NEX-5R

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$498 body only

$598 with 18-55mm lens

Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$948 body only

$1,098 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Weight Is slightly heavier
Light sensitivity Slightly lower maximum light sensitivity
Sony Cybershot DSC-RX100

Sony Cybershot DSC-RX100

Pro digicam

$648 - $760

Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$656 - $743 with 18-55mm lens

Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
True resolution Takes slightly lower resolution photos
Canon EOS M

Canon EOS M

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$479 - $599 with 22mm lens

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Lens availability Much more lenses available
Panorama Lacks a built in panoramas
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Sony Alpha NEX-3N

Sony Alpha NEX-3N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$448 with 16-50mm lens

Image stabilization Has image stabilization
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Light sensitivity Slightly lower maximum light sensitivity
Samsung NX300

Samsung NX300

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$699 with 20-50mm lens

Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Supports 24p Doesn't record movies in 24p
Screen resolution Has a slightly lower resolution screen

Sony Alpha NEX-6 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Fujifilm X-E1

Fujifilm X-E1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$799 - $1,000 body only

$1,199 with 18-55mm lens

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Thickness Thinner
Viewfinder size Much smaller viewfinder
Screen resolution Significantly lower resolution screen

Sony NEX-5N Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony NEX-F3

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$495 - $730 with 18-55mm lens

Startup delay Less startup delay
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO
Touch screen No touch screen
Movie continuous focus Doesn't focus continuously recording movies

appearance

Sony Alpha NEX-6 Sony NEX-5N
Sony Alpha NEX-6 Sony NEX-5N
Sony NEX-5N

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