Sony
NEX-5N
 vs
Sony
NEX-7

Sony NEX-5N

100
Winner

Sony NEX-5N

Reasons to buy the Sony NEX-5N

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
1,079 ISO
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
77.0
Color depth
 Great color depth
23.6 bits
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12.7 EV
Light sensitivity
 High ISO
25,600 ISO
Touch screen
 Touch screen
Less buttons
Sony NEX-7

97
Runner-up

Sony NEX-7

Reasons to buy the Sony NEX-7

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
1,016 ISO
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
81.0
Viewfinder
 Great viewfinder
Digital
Color depth
 Great color depth
24.1 bits
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
13.4 EV
True resolution
 High true resolution
24 MP

differences

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
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 25,600 ISO vs 16,000 ISO
Help
 The NEX-5N's maximum light sensitivity is 0.7 f-stops better
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 1,079 ISO vs 1,016 ISO
Help
 The NEX-5N has a slight edge (0.1 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Battery life Longer battery life 460 shots vs 430 shots
Help
 Around 10% more shots per battery charge
Lowest price Significantly cheaper $598.00 vs $1,199.99
Help
 The best price we've seen is $602 cheaper (2x less)
Weight Lighter 269 g vs 350 g
Help
 More than 20% lighter
Sony NEX-5N Learn more about
the Sony NEX-5N

Advantages of the Sony NEX-7
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Digital vs None
Help
 A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Startup delay Much less startup delay 1200 ms vs 1900 ms
Help
 Around 40% less delay when turning on
True resolution Much higher true resolution 24 MP vs 16 MP
Help
 Capture around 50% more detail in your photos
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Overall image quality Better image quality 81.0 vs 77.0
Help
 Around 10% better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13.4 EV vs 12.7 EV
Help
 0.7 f-stops more dynamic range
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
Color depth Better color depth 24.1 bits vs 23.6 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.5 more bits of color
Sony NEX-7 Learn more about
the Sony NEX-7
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Sony NEX-5N Sony NEX-5N
100 vs 97
Explain scores
Sony NEX-7 Sony NEX-7
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony NEX-5N.

advice

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2 people recommend the Sony NEX-7:

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similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Low light performance Relatively low noise at high ISO Help
NEX-5N:1,079 ISO
NEX-7:1,016 ISO
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
NEX-5N:77.0
NEX-7:81.0
Dynamic range Excellent dynamic range Help
NEX-5N:12.7 EV
NEX-7:13.4 EV
Screen resolution High resolution screens Help
NEX-5N:920k dots
NEX-7:921k dots
Color depth Good color depth Help
NEX-5N:23.6 bits
NEX-7:24.1 bits
Supports 24p Both support 24p, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
For that film look
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
HDR Both have in-camera, most cameras like these don't Help
Combines multiple exposures
Movie format Both shoot high resolution HD movies Help
1080p @ 60fps
Panorama In-camera panoramas Help
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
Light sensitivity Very good maximum light sensitivity Help
NEX-5N:25,600 ISO
NEX-7:16,000 ISO
Battery life Great battery life Help
NEX-5N:460 shots
NEX-7:430 shots
3D 3D photos Help
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
Movie continuous focus Focus continuously recording movies Help
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Size Fairly small Help
Compact 111x59x38 mm
Longest exposure Short max exposure time Help
30 seconds
Lens availability Few lenses available Help
8 lenses
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 with 18-55mm lens
Startup delay Has slightly less startup delay
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Battery life Has a significantly shorter battery life
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the NEX-5N
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the NEX-7
Olympus OM-D E-M5

Olympus OM-D E-M5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,000 - $1,299 body only

$1,100 with 14-42mm lens
Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Weather sealed Has a weather sealed body
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the OM-D E-M5 vs the NEX-5N
Compare the OM-D E-M5 vs the NEX-7
Sony NEX-F3

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$600 with 18-55mm lens
Size Is slightly larger
Movie continuous focus Doesn't focus continuously while recording movies
Compare the NEX-F3 vs the NEX-5N
Compare the NEX-F3 vs the NEX-7
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens
Viewfinder Has higher quality type of viewfinder
Startup delay Has much less startup delay
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
Compare the D5100 vs the NEX-5N
Compare the D5100 vs the NEX-7
Nikon 1 V1

Nikon 1 V1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$797 - $947 with 10-30mm lens
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the 1 V1 vs the NEX-5N
Compare the 1 V1 vs the NEX-7
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$547 with 10-30mm lens
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Sensor size Has a significantly smaller sensor
Compare the 1 J1 vs the NEX-5N
Compare the 1 J1 vs the NEX-7
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens
Viewfinder Has higher quality type of viewfinder
Lens availability Much more lenses available
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the NEX-5N
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the NEX-7

Sony NEX-5N Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony NEX C3

Sony NEX C3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$548 with 16mm lens
Startup delay Much less startup delay
Size Slightly smaller
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Supports 24p No 24p support
Compare the NEX C3 vs the NEX-5N

Sony NEX-7 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Fujifilm X-Pro1

Fujifilm X-Pro1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$2,298 body only
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen
True resolution Much lower true resolution
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Compare the X-Pro1 vs the NEX-7
Sony SLT-A77

Sony SLT A77

Pro DSLR

$1,398 body only

$1,998 with 16-50mm lens
Weather sealed Weather sealed
Lens availability Much more lenses available
Startup delay Much more startup delay
Size Much larger
Compare the SLT A77 vs the NEX-7

appearance

Sony NEX-5N Sony NEX-7
Sony NEX-5N Sony NEX-7
Sony NEX-5N Sony NEX-7

discussion

Showing 11 comments

Avatar for juan delgado juan delgado (9:38 PM, April 17, 2012)
iv bought the 5n and returned it one week and 6days later and bought the a65 very happy..... biggest difference is 5n is smaller in my hands it felt like i was bound to break something soon nex7 is almost pro like comes with a good lens too + :-)
 
Mardicronin (4:20 AM, April 17, 2012)
I'm very interested in these cameras but wondering what the biggest difference would be between the two. Is it worth the extra $$ or should I settle for the nex5??
 
CITO (5:47 AM, January 16, 2012)
my only problem with the nex 7 is the ugly pop up flash, it should have been built in camera above viewfinder (like a DSC-W180 cybershots flash) SCARED ILL DROP IT AND FLASH HITS SOMETHING WHILE POPPED OPEN
 
Avatar for Daniel Kuntz Daniel Kuntz (1:39 PM, January 07, 2012)
Actually the NEX 5N's body is magnesium alloy. But I do agree that it feels plasticky.
 
Avatar for Ji Hoon Yoon Ji Hoon Yoon (3:39 AM, December 06, 2011)
The NEX 7 actually drains battery faster when using the viewfinder due to the fact that it's an EVF, not an OVF. Doesn't save battery life at all.
 
Sadasddas (7:06 PM, December 02, 2011)
wow, what?
 
Lanson Chua (1:20 PM, October 20, 2011)
Thanks Jokapro, and that looks better. I have seen the NEX5N`s lens, the finishing feel & look so coarse and unpolished. The body is so plasticky too. Waiting for NEX 7.
 
Jokapr07 (0:02 PM, October 20, 2011)
If you are basing your assumption on the photo above, the NEX-7 in the picture has the 50mm 1.8 lens on it as opposed to the 18-55mm 3.5-5.6 lens.  And yes the NEX-5N can use the 50mm 1.8 lens.  
 
Lanson Chua (4:04 PM, September 25, 2011)
NEX-5N lens has a terrible proportion to its body. It is a pissed off. It has ruin the portability completely. Can the slimmer one on NEX-7 used on NEX-5N?
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (5:04 PM, August 24, 2011)
Hi Tom, thanks for pointing out those mistakes, in our effort to get the new cameras up on the site quickly we have made a mistake or two! We'll get those fixed asap.
 
Avatar for Tom Long Tom Long (4:59 PM, August 24, 2011)
On the NEX-7, you have the high ISO as 160,000.  The Sony site has 16,000.  On the NEX-5N the max and min shutter speeds are reversed.  Greatly enjoy your site.  Very helpful.