Sony Alpha NEX-5N vs Sony Alpha NEX-7

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Alpha NEX-5N compared with Alpha NEX-7

	SonyAlpha NEX-5N	SonyAlpha NEX-7
Overview
Released
Released	September 2011	January 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	24.3 MP
Largest image
Largest image	4912 × 3264	6000 × 4000
RAW recording
RAW recording	Yes	Yes
Standard ISO range
Standard ISO range	100–25600	100–16000
Sensor detail
Sensor detail	16.7 million total pixels; charge-protection coating and ultrasonic vibration for dust reduction	24.7 million total pixels; charge-protection coating and ultrasonic vibration for 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; MPO for 3D Sweep Panorama
ISO detail
ISO detail	Standard ISO 100–25600; Auto ISO 100–3200	Standard ISO 100–16000; Auto ISO 100–1600
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.	Sony E-mount; NEX-7K includes a black E 18–55mm F3.5–5.6 OSS lens; optional adapters support other mounts
Autofocus
Autofocus	Contrast detection with 25 points; single or continuous AF, direct manual focus and manual focus; object tracking, touch focus and focus peaking	Contrast detection with 25 points; single or continuous AF, direct manual focus and manual focus; object tracking and 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	Vertical-traverse focal-plane shutter with switchable 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 focus and exposure fixed at the first frame; approximately 3 fps normal continuous advance. Sony lists buffers of 17 Fine JPEG, 18 Standard JPEG, 13 RAW or 11 RAW+JPEG images under its stated conditions.
Stabilisation detail
Stabilisation detail	No sensor-shift stabilisation (PhotographyBlog and CameraLabs); optical correction requires a compatible OSS lens	No sensor-shift stabilisation (PhotographyBlog and CameraLabs); 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	Built-in pop-up flash; guide number 6 at ISO 100 in metres; approximately four-second recycle time; Auto-lock Accessory Shoe for compatible external flashes
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	Intelligent Auto and PASM; Tri-Dial Navi uses two top control dials and the rear wheel; Picture Effects, 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 model records AVCHD 2.0 Full HD at 60p up to 28 Mbps, 60i or 24p; PAL models offer 50p/25p (PhotographyBlog and CameraLabs). Manual exposure and continuous autofocus during recording. MP4 offers 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	Built-in stereo microphone, wind-noise reduction and external microphone input (PhotographyBlog and CameraLabs); Dolby Digital or AAC-LC audio
Screen and viewfinder
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	None	Electronic
Screen size
Screen size	3″	3″
Screen dots
Screen dots	921,600	921,600
Touchscreen
Touchscreen	Yes	No
Tilting screen
Tilting screen	Yes	Yes
Display detail
Display detail	Capacitive TruBlack touchscreen; tilts approximately 80° up and 45° down	TruBlack wide TFT; tilts approximately 90° up and 45° down; no touchscreen (PhotographyBlog and CameraLabs)
Viewfinder detail
Viewfinder detail	No built-in finder; optional FDA-EV1S OLED electronic finder uses Smart Accessory Terminal 2	0.5-type XGA OLED Tru-Finder with 2,359,296 dots, approximately 100% coverage and 1.09× magnification with a 50mm lens at infinity; eye sensor, histogram and level display
Connections and design
Battery life (maker's claim)
Battery life (maker's claim)	430 photographs	430 photographs
Body weight
Body weight	210 g (better)	291 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's revised Japanese announcement gives 27 January 2012 for NEX-7 and NEX-7K. The camera was announced in August 2011; Sony Hong Kong subsequently postponed the planned November 2011 launch because of Thai flooding. The recorded date is the manufacturer-confirmed Japanese sale date, not a universal first-shipment claim.
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, Mini HDMI Type C, Auto-lock Accessory Shoe and external microphone input
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; Sony specifies approximately 430 CIPA photographs using the LCD or 350 using the viewfinder. CameraLabs gives a lower 335-shot general figure; the manufacturer's explicitly separated claims are retained.
Charging
Charging	Supplied BC-VW1 external charger; optional AC-PW20AM power supply	Supplied BC-VW1 external charger; optional AC-PW20AM 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 119.9 × 66.9 × 42.6 mm (width × height × depth); 25.3 mm thinnest section excludes grip and mount
Weight detail
Weight detail	Approximately 210 g camera only; 269 g including battery and Memory Stick PRO Duo; lens excluded	Approximately 291 g camera only; 350 g including battery and Memory Stick PRO Duo; lens excluded
Materials
Materials	Magnesium-alloy front and top covers	Magnesium-alloy front and top covers; rubber grip
Colours
Colours	Black body; black, silver or white kits in Japan	Black
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	NP-FW50 battery, BC-VW1 charger, shoulder strap, cleaning cloth, body cap, accessory-shoe cap, eyepiece cup, USB cable and software CD; kit includes the specified lens