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Sony Alpha 6000 vs Sony Alpha NEX-5

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

SonyAlpha 6000SonyAlpha NEX-5
Overview
ReleasedMarch 2014June 2010
Image and sensor
Camera typeMirrorlessMirrorless
Sensor formatAPS-CAPS-C
Sensor typeExmor APS HD CMOSExmor APS HD CMOS
Sensor dimensions23.5 × 15.6 mm23.4 × 15.6 mm
Effective resolution24.3 MP14.2 MP
Largest image6000 × 40004592 × 3056
RAW recordingYesYes
Standard ISO range100–25600200–12800
Sensor detailApproximately 24.7 million total pixels; 3:2 sensor; anti-static coating and ultrasonic dust reduction14.6 million total pixels; charge-protection coating on the optical low-pass filter and electromagnetic vibration for dust reduction
Image formatsJPEG, RAW and RAW+JPEG; Sony ARW 2.3JPEG, RAW and RAW+JPEG; Sony's original Japanese launch table specifies ARW 2.2; some contemporary secondary specifications say ARW 2.1
ISO detailStandard still-image ISO 100–25600; movie ISO 100–12800. Multi Frame NR reaches ISO 51200 by combining images, rather than extending the standard single-image range.Standard ISO 200–12800; Auto ISO 200–1600 in Sony's launch release
Image processorBIONZ XBIONZ
Lens and shooting
Lens mountSony E-mountSony E-mount
StabilisationOptical lens stabilisationOptical lens stabilisation
Maximum continuous burst11 fps7 fps
Lens detailInterchangeable E-mount; ILCE-6000L includes E PZ 16–50mm F3.5–5.6 OSS, shown in the photograph. ILCE-6000Y adds E 55–210mm F4.5–6.3 OSS.Interchangeable E-mount; launch kits use E 16mm F2.8 and/or E 18–55mm F3.5–5.6 OSS. The launch LA-EA1 A-mount adapter supports manual focusing; later firmware changes are separate from the original launch specification.
AutofocusFast Hybrid AF with 179 phase-detection and 25 contrast-detection points; AF-A, single AF, continuous AF, direct manual focus and manual focus; Eye AF and Lock-on AF. Phase-detection support depends on lens compatibility and firmware.Contrast detection; 25-point multipoint, centre and flexible-spot areas; single or continuous autofocus, direct manual focus and manual focus
ShutterElectronically controlled vertical-traverse focal-plane shutter; 30 seconds to 1/4000 second plus Bulb; flash sync 1/160 second; selectable electronic first curtainElectronically controlled vertical-traverse focal-plane shutter; 30 seconds to 1/4000 second plus Bulb; flash sync 1/160 second
Burst detailContinuous Hi approximately 11 fps, Mid 6 fps or Lo 2.5 fps; Sony's launch announcement confirms autofocus tracking at 11 fps. Buffer approximately 49 large Fine/Standard JPEGs or 21 RAW/RAW+JPEG images in Hi; rate and capacity depend on shooting conditions and card.Speed Priority Continuous reaches approximately 7 fps with focus and exposure fixed at the first frame. Normal Continuous Advance reaches approximately 2.3 fps. Separate Hand-held Twilight and Anti Motion Blur modes combine six photographs into one output image.
Stabilisation detailNo sensor-shift stabilisation; optical correction requires a compatible OSS lensNo sensor-shift stabilisation; Optical SteadyShot requires a compatible lens. The E 18–55mm OSS kit lens has optical correction; the E 16mm kit lens does not.
FlashBuilt-in pop-up flash; guide number 6 at ISO 100 in metres; approximately four-second recycle time; Multi Interface Shoe for compatible external flashesSupplied detachable flash mounts to the Smart Accessory Terminal; guide number 7 at ISO 100 in metres; approximately four-second recycle time
Exposure controlsProgram, aperture priority, shutter priority and manual; Intelligent Auto, Superior Auto, scene modes, Sweep Panorama, DRO and Auto HDR; 1200-zone meteringIntelligent Auto, program, aperture priority, shutter priority and manual; scene modes, Sweep Panorama, DRO and three-exposure Auto HDR
Video
Highest video resolution1920 × 1080 at 60 fps1920 × 1080
Video detailJapanese launch specification provides AVCHD 1920 × 1080 at 60p or 24p, plus separate 60i modes. PAL versions offer 50p/25p (Photography Blog). Original recording formats are AVCHD and MP4; HDMI 4K output is for still-image playback, not 4K movie recording. Sony limits a continuous movie to approximately 29 minutes; its 90-minute battery figure totals restarted recordings.AVCHD 1920 × 1080 interlaced recording; Japanese launch model uses 60i (60 fields per second), with PAL 50i variants documented in the instruction manual. MP4 offers 1440 × 1080 or 640 × 480; the Japanese release gives 30p. The interlaced field rate is not a 60-full-frame-per-second claim. Approximately 29 minutes maximum continuous recording under the manual's conditions.
AudioBuilt-in stereo microphone and mono speaker; no microphone or headphone socket.Built-in stereo microphone; AVCHD Dolby Digital two-channel audio or MP4 AAC-LC; optional Sony stereo microphone uses the accessory terminal
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderElectronicNone
Screen size3″3″
Screen dots921,600921,600
TouchscreenNoNo
Tilting screenYesYes
Display detailTFT monitor tilts approximately 90° up or 45° down; dots count colour subpixels; no touchscreenTruBlack wide TFT; tilts approximately 80° up and 45° down; 921,600 dots count RGB subpixels; no touchscreen (Photography Blog)
Viewfinder detail0.39-inch OLED electronic viewfinder; 1,440,000 dots; 100% coverage; approximately 0.70× magnification equivalent to a 35 mm camera with a 50 mm lens at infinity–
Connections and design
Wi-FiYes–
Battery life (maker's claim)360 photographs330 photographs
Body weight285 g229 g
Release detailSony Japan specifies 14 March 2014 for the original ILCE-6000 body, ILCE-6000L and ILCE-6000Y kits. This entry covers the original Alpha 6000, not the later Alpha 6100 or Alpha 6300.Sony Japan specifies 3 June 2010 for NEX-5A, NEX-5K and NEX-5D kits. This is the original NEX-5, not the later NEX-5N, 5R or 5T.
Recording mediaSD, SDHC and SDXC including UHS-I; Memory Stick PRO Duo, PRO-HG Duo and XC-HG DuoMemory Stick PRO Duo and PRO-HG Duo; SD, SDHC and SDXC
PortsMulti/Micro USB, Micro HDMI Type D and Multi Interface ShoeMini-B USB 2.0 Hi-Speed, Mini HDMI Type C and proprietary Smart Accessory Terminal
Wireless connectionsBuilt-in 2.4 GHz IEEE 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi and NFC–
Battery life detailNP-FW50; approximately 360 photographs using the monitor or 310 using the viewfinder under CIPA conditionsNP-FW50; approximately 330 photographs under CIPA conditions, using the supplied fully charged battery and flash for half the shots
ChargingUSB charging in the camera; optional AC-PW20 power adapterSupplied BC-VW1 external charger
DimensionsApproximately 120.0 × 66.9 × 45.1 mm (width × height × depth), measuring depth from grip to monitorApproximately 110.8 × 58.8 × 38.2 mm (width × height × depth), excluding protrusions
Weight detailApproximately 285 g body only; 344 g including battery and memory card; both exclude the lensApproximately 229 g camera only; 287 g including battery and Memory Stick PRO Duo; both exclude the lens
Materials–Magnesium-alloy front cover
ColoursJapanese launch body and kits offered in black or silverBlack or silver
In the boxNP-FW50 battery, AC-UB10 adapter, shoulder strap, eyepiece cup and Micro USB cable; lenses depend on kitNP-FW50 battery, BC-VW1 charger, USB cable, detachable flash and flash case, shoulder strap, software CD; lenses depend on kit

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