Sony Alpha NEX-5N vs Sony Alpha NEX-5R

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

Only show differences

Better figure, where one is clearly better

Share comparison

Alpha NEX-5N compared with Alpha NEX-5R

	SonyAlpha NEX-5N	SonyAlpha NEX-5R
Overview
Released
Released	September 2011	October 2012
Image and sensor
Camera type
Camera type	Mirrorless	Mirrorless
Sensor format
Sensor format	APS-C	APS-C
Sensor type
Sensor type	Exmor APS HD CMOS	Exmor APS HD CMOS
Sensor dimensions
Sensor dimensions	23.5 × 15.6 mm	23.5 × 15.6 mm
Effective resolution
Effective resolution	16.1 MP	16.1 MP
Largest image
Largest image	4912 × 3264	4912 × 3264
RAW recording
RAW recording	Yes	Yes
Standard ISO range
Standard ISO range	100–25600	100–25600
Sensor detail
Sensor detail	16.7 million total pixels; charge-protection coating and ultrasonic vibration for dust reduction	16.7 million total pixels; charge-protection coating and ultrasonic dust reduction
Image formats
Image formats	JPEG, RAW and RAW+JPEG; ARW 2.2; MPO for 3D Sweep Panorama	JPEG, RAW and RAW+JPEG; ARW 2.3
ISO detail
ISO detail	Standard ISO 100–25600; Auto ISO 100–3200	Standard ISO 100–25600; Auto ISO 100–3200; movies ISO 100–6400
Image processor
Image processor	BIONZ	BIONZ
Lens and shooting
Lens mount
Lens mount	Sony E-mount	Sony E-mount
Stabilisation
Stabilisation	Optical lens stabilisation	Optical lens stabilisation
Maximum continuous burst
Maximum continuous burst	10 fps	10 fps
Lens detail
Lens detail	E-mount; launch kits use E 18–55mm F3.5–5.6 OSS and/or E 16mm F2.8; the later double-zoom kit adds E 55–210mm F4.5–6.3 OSS. Optional LA-EA2 provides phase-detection AF for compatible A-mount lenses.	E-mount; US launch kit used E 18–55mm. Japanese NEX-5RL uses E PZ 16–50mm F3.5–5.6 OSS; NEX-5RY adds E 55–210mm F4.5–6.3 OSS.
Autofocus
Autofocus	Contrast detection with 25 points; single or continuous AF, direct manual focus and manual focus; object tracking, touch focus and focus peaking	Fast Hybrid AF combines 99 phase-detection and 25 contrast-detection points; single and continuous AF, direct manual focus, tracking and manual-focus peaking
Shutter
Shutter	Vertical-traverse focal-plane shutter with switchable electronic first curtain; 30 seconds to 1/4000 second plus Bulb; flash sync 1/160 second	Focal-plane shutter with electronic first curtain; 30 seconds to 1/4000 second plus Bulb; flash sync 1/160 second
Burst detail
Burst detail	Approximately 10 fps Speed Priority Continuous with focus and exposure fixed at the first frame. Sony specifies approximately 3 fps normal continuous advance and buffers of 10 JPEG, 6 RAW or 4 RAW+JPEG images under its stated conditions.	Approximately 10 fps Speed Priority Continuous, with phase-detection tracking AF under Sony's supported-lens conditions; approximately 3 fps normal continuous advance. Maker buffers are 11 JPEG, 10 RAW or 9 RAW+JPEG frames and depend on shooting conditions and card.
Stabilisation detail
Stabilisation detail	No sensor-shift stabilisation (PhotographyBlog and CameraLabs); optical correction requires a compatible OSS lens	No sensor-shift stabilisation; optical correction requires a compatible OSS lens
Flash
Flash	Supplied HVL-F7S detachable flash; guide number 7 at ISO 100 in metres; approximately four-second recycle time	Supplied detachable flash; guide number 7 at ISO 100 in metres; approximately four-second recycle time. Optional HVL-F20S uses the accessory terminal.
Exposure controls
Exposure controls	Intelligent Auto and PASM; Photo Creativity Touch, Picture Effects, 2D/3D Sweep Panorama, DRO, Auto HDR and multi-exposure low-light modes	–
Video
Highest video resolution
Highest video resolution	1920 × 1080 at 60 fps	1920 × 1080 at 60 fps
Video detail
Video detail	Japanese model records AVCHD 2.0 Full HD at 60p up to 28 Mbps, 60i or 24p; PAL-region models offer 50p (CameraLabs). Manual aperture and shutter control is available during recording. MP4 offers 1440 × 1080 or VGA; interlaced field rates are separate from full-frame rates.	Japanese and US models offer Full HD 60p up to 28 Mbps, 60i or 24p in AVCHD 2.0; Sony Hong Kong lists PAL 50p, 50i and 25p. MP4 records 1440 × 1080 or VGA. Interlaced field rates are separate from full-frame rates.
Audio
Audio	Built-in stereo microphones; wind-noise filter; Dolby Digital or AAC-LC; proprietary accessory microphone support	–
Screen and viewfinder
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	None	None
Screen size
Screen size	3″	3″
Screen dots
Screen dots	921,600	921,600
Touchscreen
Touchscreen	Yes	Yes
Tilting screen
Tilting screen	Yes	Yes
Display detail
Display detail	Capacitive TruBlack touchscreen; tilts approximately 80° up and 45° down	Resistive touchscreen; tilts approximately 180° up and 50° down
Viewfinder detail
Viewfinder detail	No built-in finder; optional FDA-EV1S OLED electronic finder uses Smart Accessory Terminal 2	No built-in finder; optional FDA-EV1S electronic finder
Connections and design
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi	–	Yes
Battery life (maker's claim)
Battery life (maker's claim)	430 photographs	330 photographs
Body weight
Body weight	210 g (better)	218 g
Release detail
Release detail	Sony Japan specifies 9 September 2011 for the body, NEX-5NK zoom kit and NEX-5ND double-lens kit; the later NEX-5NY double-zoom kit followed on 18 May 2012.	Sony Electronics announced US availability in October 2012; Sony Japan specified 16 November 2012. The month records the earlier maker-confirmed US launch, rather than the announcement date.
Recording media
Recording media	Memory Stick PRO Duo and PRO-HG Duo; SD, SDHC and SDXC	Memory Stick PRO Duo and PRO-HG Duo; SD, SDHC and SDXC
Ports
Ports	USB 2.0 Hi-Speed, Mini HDMI Type C and Smart Accessory Terminal 2	USB 2.0 Hi-Speed via Micro USB Type B; Mini HDMI Type C; Smart Accessory Terminal 2; no microphone or headphone sockets
Wireless connections
Wireless connections	–	Built-in Wi-Fi; launch features included PlayMemories Camera Apps downloads and smartphone transfer
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	NP-FW50; Sony's Japanese launch sheet specifies approximately 430 CIPA photographs. CameraLabs gives 410 shots; the maker's launch figure is used here.	NP-FW50; approximately 330 CIPA photographs
Charging
Charging	Supplied BC-VW1 external charger; optional AC-PW20AM power supply	In-camera charging using supplied AC-UB10 and Micro USB cable; optional AC-PW20 power supply
Dimensions
Dimensions	Approximately 110.8 × 58.8 × 38.2 mm (width × height × depth); 23.3 mm thinnest section excludes grip and mount	Approximately 110.8 × 58.8 × 38.9 mm (width × height × depth)
Weight detail
Weight detail	Approximately 210 g camera only; 269 g including battery and Memory Stick PRO Duo; lens excluded	Approximately 218 g body only; 276 g with battery and memory card; lens excluded
Materials
Materials	Magnesium-alloy front and top covers	–
Colours
Colours	Black body; black, silver or white kits in Japan	Black, silver and white
In the box
In the box	NP-FW50 battery, BC-VW1 charger, USB cable, detachable flash and case, lens cap, shoulder strap and software CD; lenses depend on kit	Detachable flash and case, NP-FW50 battery, AC-UB10 AC adapter, shoulder strap, Micro USB cable and software CD; lens depends on kit