Sony
NEX-5N
 vs
Sony Alpha
NEX-5

Sony NEX-5N

92

  
Sony Alpha NEX-5

74

  
Winner

Sony NEX-5N

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
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Battery life
 Great battery life
460 shots
 
Runner-up

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha NEX-5

We are not aware of any reasons to consider buying the Sony Alpha NEX-5 over the Sony NEX-5N.
 

differences

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5N
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,079 ISO vs 796 ISO
Help
 The NEX-5N has a slight edge (0.4 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Touch screen Has a touch screen Yes vs No
Help
 Fewer buttons to worry about and direct interaction with camera menus
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 25,600 ISO vs 12,800 ISO
Help
 The NEX-5N's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Overall image quality Better image quality 77.0 vs 69.0
Help
 More than 10% better image quality
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 460 shots vs 330 shots
Help
 Around 40% more shots per battery charge
Color depth Better color depth 23.6 bits vs 22.2 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.4 more bits of color
True resolution Higher true resolution 16 MP vs 14 MP
Help
 Capture more than 10% more detail in your photos
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 235 ms vs 670 ms
Help
 2.9x less delay when taking photos
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.7 EV vs 12.2 EV
Help
 0.5 f-stops more dynamic range
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 10 fps vs 7 fps
Help
 More than 40% faster continuous shooting
Weight Slightly lighter 269 g vs 287 g
Help
 Around 10% lighter
Sony NEX-5N Learn more about
the Sony NEX-5N

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5
Startup delay Less startup delay 1000 ms vs 1900 ms
Help
 Around 50% less delay when turning on
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Learn more about
the Sony NEX-5
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Sony NEX-5N Sony NEX-5N
92 vs 74
Explain scores
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony NEX-5N.

similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Dynamic range Good dynamic range Help
NEX-5N:12.7 EV
NEX-5:12.2 EV
HDR In-camera HDR Help
Combines multiple exposures
3D 3D photos Help
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
Color depth Good color depth Help
NEX-5N:23.6 bits
NEX-5:22.2 bits
Panorama In-camera panoramas Help
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
Size Fairly small Help
Compact 111x59x38 mm
External flash Each supports an external flash Help
Better lighting
Built-in flash No built-in flash Help
Professional
Longest exposure Short max exposure time Help
30 seconds
Focus points Few focus points Help
25
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Viewfinder No viewfinders Help
Can only preview photos on the screen

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony NEX-5R

Sony NEX-5R

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$498 body only

$598 with 18-55mm lens
Autofocus Focuses automatically
Focus points Has significantly more focus points
Compare the NEX-5R vs the NEX-5N
Compare the NEX-5R vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$948 body only

$1,098 with 18-55mm lens
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the NEX-7 vs the NEX-5N
Compare the NEX-7 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony Alpha NEX-3N

Sony Alpha NEX-3N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$448 with 16-50mm lens
Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Built-in flash Has a built-in flash
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Compare the Alpha NEX-3N vs the NEX-5N
Compare the Alpha NEX-3N vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony NEX-F3

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$379 - $730 with 18-55mm lens
Built-in flash Has a built-in flash
Movie continuous focus Doesn't focus continuously while recording movies
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Compare the NEX-F3 vs the NEX-5N
Compare the NEX-F3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony Alpha NEX-3

Sony Alpha NEX-3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$448 with 16-50mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Storage slots Has more storage slots
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Movie format Records lower quality movies
Compare the Alpha NEX-3 vs the NEX-5N
Compare the Alpha NEX-3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony Alpha NEX-6

Sony Alpha NEX-6

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$748 body only

$898 with 16-50mm lens
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Startup delay Has slightly less startup delay
Size Is slightly larger
3D Doesn't take 3D photos
Compare the Alpha NEX-6 vs the NEX-5N
Compare the Alpha NEX-6 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Samsung NX1000

Samsung NX1000

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$325 - $630 with 20-50mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Compare the NX1000 vs the NEX-5N
Compare the NX1000 vs the Alpha NEX-5

Sony NEX-5N Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Sony NEX-5N.

Sony Alpha NEX-5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Lens availability Much more lenses available
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Panorama Lacks in-camera panoramic stitching
Compare the D3100 vs the Alpha NEX-5

appearance

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

discussion

Showing 11 comments

Phelanmccormack95 (11:32 AM, July 21, 2012)
It's saying that they are professional as in a lot of professional cameras you would buy a flash for to go on top, it look professional when you have an exterior flash and not a built in one. Also you get a flash with the NEX 5N and the NEX 5 which is really good. Definitely buy one, overall the NEX 5N takes my point
 
Jamie (11:45 AM, April 25, 2012)
I am taking photos of bags in a light tent with two 5500k lights at the side. I need the photos to be similar to this quality: 
http://www.yoogiscloset.com/images/product/large/22278.jpg
Any help with deciding would be appreciated, the choices are not limited to these two models but a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. 
 
Ppm1978 (4:29 AM, February 01, 2012)
I want to bay a mirrorless camera please telmy wich 1 its bether thanks
 
Lanson Chua (4:04 PM, September 28, 2011)
Sahiljohnian, I am equally as undecided as you. I am dead fuzzy about committing one. I have been reading several websites and making comparisons over & over again. Specs for specs, features for features. I still find that NEX-5N price is value for money at this new launching stage. My local shops are selling USD1000 with 2 lenses. I have a high budget & I might be considering the NEX-7 when it is available to us in November. Maybe not or maybe I am sold for its excellent package.

What is holding me back is my very dislike for the Sony lenses for these NEX models. They look horrible  in proportion to its body and defeats my purpose of wanting a unit reasonably sized CSC. Two of my friends got themselves a NEX-5N & they have no complain of anything other than the lopsided weight they feel when carrying & holding it in hand. Just awkward. 

I dont know, I just feel very reluctant to get one for now even though all aspects are fine. Really. If you dont mind what I mind then it is a fine one. The clicking sound has come to the attention of Sony & I think it is a rectifiable small problem.
 
Sahiljohnian (3:20 PM, September 28, 2011)
with the click sound in sony nex 5n which wud u say is better??other sites say sony nex is better in most ways..and the pricee difference isn't as much as they say here..kindly help me on this
 
Lanson Chua (2:02 PM, September 06, 2011)
Can someone enlighten me as to what it means `Professional` in the common weakness comments for both nex-5 & nex-5N without a build-in-flash. I love these 2 models but I cant make up my mind for which they are without a flash & an image stabilization. Are these two features very important? Do they mean a bad buy for a newbie like me? Kindly advise. Thanks.
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (6:14 PM, August 26, 2011)
Our mistake, we've fixed up the specs, thanks, you're right the Nex-5N does have continuous video focus.
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (6:13 PM, August 26, 2011)
Thanks D D, we've fixed up the size and weight!
 
Guest (9:55 AM, August 26, 2011)
On http://www.sony.co.uk/hub/nex-compact-camera-system/range/nex-5n at the bottom of the page you can find information concerning movie continuous focus - "Keep moving video subjects crisp and clear with tracking autofocus". Is nex 5n camera really without this feature?
 
D D (8:41 AM, August 26, 2011)
I checked the weight and dimensions and they are exactly the same in case of size and the body should be even lighter than the previous nex 5...
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (4:44 PM, August 24, 2011)
Our mistake, we got those reversed, we'll have them updated shortly, thanks!