Sony
NEX-7
 vs
Sony Alpha
NEX-5

Sony NEX-7

91

  
Sony Alpha NEX-5

74

  
Winner

Sony NEX-7

Reasons to buy the Sony NEX-7

Overall image quality
 Great image quality
81.0
Viewfinder
 Great viewfinder
Digital
True resolution
 High true resolution
24 MP
Supports 24p
 24p movies
For that film look
External mic jack
 External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Battery life
 Great battery life
430 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-7.
 

differences

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
True resolution Much higher true resolution 24 MP vs 14 MP
Help
 Capture more than 70% 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 69.0
Help
 Around 20% better image quality
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,016 ISO vs 796 ISO
Help
 The NEX-7 has a slight edge (0.4 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 430 shots vs 330 shots
Help
 More than 30% more shots per battery charge
Color depth Better color depth 24.1 bits vs 22.2 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.9 more bits of color
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13.4 EV vs 12.2 EV
Help
 1.2 f-stops more dynamic range
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 223 ms vs 670 ms
Help
 3x less delay when taking photos
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 16,000 ISO vs 12,800 ISO
Help
 The NEX-7's maximum light sensitivity is 0.3 f-stops better
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 10 fps vs 7 fps
Help
 More than 40% faster continuous shooting
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
Sony NEX-7 Learn more about
the Sony NEX-7

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 1000 ms vs 1200 ms
Help
 Around 20% less delay when turning on
Weight Lighter 287 g vs 350 g
Help
 Around 20% lighter
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $656.43 vs $948.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $292 cheaper (more than 30% less)
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-7 Sony NEX-7
91 vs 74
Explain scores
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony NEX-7.

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-7:13.4 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-7:24.1 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
Longest exposure Short max exposure time Help
30 seconds
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
Focus points Few focus points Help
25
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$650 - $699 with 18-55mm lens
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Compare the NEX-5N vs the NEX-7
Compare the NEX-5N vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony Alpha NEX-6

Sony Alpha NEX-6

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$748 body only

$898 with 16-50mm lens
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
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-7
Compare the Alpha NEX-6 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Samsung NX300

Samsung NX300

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$748 - $749 with 20-50mm lens
Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Compare the NX300 vs the NEX-7
Compare the NX300 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony NEX-5R

Sony NEX-5R

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$498 body only

$598 with 18-55mm lens
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Compare the NEX-5R vs the NEX-7
Compare the NEX-5R vs the Alpha NEX-5
Canon EOS M

Canon EOS M

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$599 with 22mm lens
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Lens availability Much more lenses available
Panorama Lacks a built in panoramas
3D Doesn't take 3D photos
Compare the EOS M vs the NEX-7
Compare the EOS M vs the Alpha NEX-5
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$597 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Viewfinder Has higher quality type of viewfinder
Startup delay Has slightly less startup delay
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
Compare the D5100 vs the NEX-7
Compare the D5100 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$599 - $649 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-7
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the Alpha NEX-5

Sony NEX-7 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Olympus OM-D E-M5

Olympus OM-D E-M5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$999 - $1,130 body only

$1,099 with 14-42mm lens
Weather sealed Weather sealed
Image stabilization Image stabilization
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Compare the OM-D E-M5 vs the NEX-7
Fujifilm X-E1

Fujifilm X-E1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$999 - $1,000 body only

$1,399 with 18-55mm lens
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Compare the X-E1 vs the NEX-7
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Battery life Much longer battery life
Lens availability Much more lenses available
Size Much larger
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Compare the D7000 vs the NEX-7

Sony Alpha NEX-5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
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
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the Alpha NEX-3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
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
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$379 - $497 with 10-30mm lens
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the 1 J1 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony NEX-F3

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$379 - $730 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Startup delay More startup delay
Continuous shooting Shoots slower
Compare the NEX-F3 vs the Alpha NEX-5

appearance

Sony NEX-7 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Sony NEX-7 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Sony NEX-7 Sony Alpha NEX-5

discussion

Showing 2 comments

Crabnebulae (9:55 AM, December 12, 2011)
At this level, it's pretty much pointless to upgrade (meaning: the quality of your photos will exclusively depend on your skills) unless you sacrifice portability and go for a high end reflex camera.
 
Nicola Vigio (11:41 PM, November 07, 2011)
I have the sony nex 5, should I get the NEX 7???