Sony Alpha NEX-5R vs Sony Alpha NEX-7
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| SonyAlpha NEX-5R | SonyAlpha NEX-7 | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | October 2012 | January 2012 |
| Image and sensor | ||
| Camera type | Mirrorless | Mirrorless |
| Sensor format | APS-C | APS-C |
| Sensor type | Exmor APS HD CMOS | Exmor APS HD CMOS |
| Sensor dimensions | 23.5 × 15.6 mm | 23.5 × 15.6 mm |
| Effective resolution | 16.1 MP | 24.3 MP |
| Largest image | 4912 × 3264 | 6000 × 4000 |
| RAW recording | Yes | Yes |
| Standard ISO range | 100–25600 | 100–16000 |
| Sensor detail | 16.7 million total pixels; charge-protection coating and ultrasonic dust reduction | 24.7 million total pixels; charge-protection coating and ultrasonic vibration for dust reduction |
| Image formats | JPEG, RAW and RAW+JPEG; ARW 2.3 | JPEG, RAW and RAW+JPEG; ARW 2.3; MPO for 3D Sweep Panorama |
| ISO detail | Standard ISO 100–25600; Auto ISO 100–3200; movies ISO 100–6400 | Standard ISO 100–16000; Auto ISO 100–1600 |
| Image processor | BIONZ | BIONZ |
| Lens and shooting | ||
| Lens mount | Sony E-mount | Sony E-mount |
| Stabilisation | Optical lens stabilisation | Optical lens stabilisation |
| Maximum continuous burst | 10 fps | 10 fps |
| Lens detail | 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. | Sony E-mount; NEX-7K includes a black E 18–55mm F3.5–5.6 OSS lens; optional adapters support other mounts |
| Autofocus | Fast Hybrid AF combines 99 phase-detection and 25 contrast-detection points; single and continuous AF, direct manual focus, tracking and manual-focus peaking | Contrast detection with 25 points; single or continuous AF, direct manual focus and manual focus; object tracking and focus peaking |
| Shutter | Focal-plane shutter with 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 | 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. | 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 | No sensor-shift stabilisation; optical correction requires a compatible OSS lens | No sensor-shift stabilisation (PhotographyBlog and CameraLabs); optical correction requires a compatible OSS lens |
| Flash | Supplied detachable flash; guide number 7 at ISO 100 in metres; approximately four-second recycle time. Optional HVL-F20S uses the accessory terminal. | 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 | – | 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 | 1920 × 1080 at 60 fps | 1920 × 1080 at 60 fps |
| Video detail | 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. | 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 | – | Built-in stereo microphone, wind-noise reduction and external microphone input (PhotographyBlog and CameraLabs); Dolby Digital or AAC-LC audio |
| Screen and viewfinder | ||
| Viewfinder | None | Electronic |
| Screen size | 3″ | 3″ |
| Screen dots | 921,600 | 921,600 |
| Touchscreen | Yes | No |
| Tilting screen | Yes | Yes |
| Display detail | Resistive touchscreen; tilts approximately 180° up and 50° down | TruBlack wide TFT; tilts approximately 90° up and 45° down; no touchscreen (PhotographyBlog and CameraLabs) |
| Viewfinder detail | No built-in finder; optional FDA-EV1S electronic finder | 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 | ||
| Wi-Fi | Yes | – |
| Battery life (maker's claim) | 330 photographs | 430 photographs |
| Body weight | 218 g (better) | 291 g |
| Release detail | 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. | 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 | 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 | USB 2.0 Hi-Speed via Micro USB Type B; Mini HDMI Type C; Smart Accessory Terminal 2; no microphone or headphone sockets | USB 2.0 Hi-Speed, Mini HDMI Type C, Auto-lock Accessory Shoe and external microphone input |
| Wireless connections | Built-in Wi-Fi; launch features included PlayMemories Camera Apps downloads and smartphone transfer | – |
| Battery life detail | NP-FW50; approximately 330 CIPA photographs | 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 | In-camera charging using supplied AC-UB10 and Micro USB cable; optional AC-PW20 power supply | Supplied BC-VW1 external charger; optional AC-PW20AM power supply |
| Dimensions | Approximately 110.8 × 58.8 × 38.9 mm (width × height × depth) | Approximately 119.9 × 66.9 × 42.6 mm (width × height × depth); 25.3 mm thinnest section excludes grip and mount |
| Weight detail | Approximately 218 g body only; 276 g with battery and memory card; lens excluded | Approximately 291 g camera only; 350 g including battery and Memory Stick PRO Duo; lens excluded |
| Materials | – | Magnesium-alloy front and top covers; rubber grip |
| Colours | Black, silver and white | Black |
| In the box | Detachable flash and case, NP-FW50 battery, AC-UB10 AC adapter, shoulder strap, Micro USB cable and software CD; lens depends 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 |
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