Sony NEX-5N vs Sony a900

This is a full comparison between the cameras Sony NEX-5N and Sony a900. We compare them by looking at the categories you see below.

Manufacturing

These cameras are both manufactured by Sony.

Type of camera

Sony NEX-5N is a Mirrorless camera while Sony a900 is a DSLR camera. More information about their differences will come soon.

Sensors / crop factor

These cameras have different sensors. Sony NEX-5N has a "Sony APS-C"-sensor while Sony a900 has a "Sony Full Frame"-sensor, and their difference in sensors will also affect the crop factor and experience focal length. See the table below.

** Experienced focal length when using a lens such as a common "50mm f/1.8"

Learn more about crop factor and focal length multiplier here:
Camera selection can affect the focal length (Sony)

Resolution

Sony NEX-5N has a 16 MP (Megapixels) resolution while Sony a900 has 25 MP. If we break down this in more detail this is the data behind the numbers:

Sony a900 has a 52 % larger resolution than Sony NEX-5N. This could give you more details in the picture but also a possibility to crop more in the pictures, afterward while editing the pictures, if needed that is.

ISO range

Sony NEX-5N has a larger ISO-range than Sony a900. Sony NEX-5N has an ISO range that stretches from 100 to 25600 while Sony a900 has 100 to 1600.

Autofocus and lens compatibility

Both of these cameras have a built-in autofocus motor. Some lenses, that support autofocus, do not have an autofocus motor of their own but this won't cause any problems with these two cameras.

Here is a complete overview of which lenses work with each camera:
Lens compatibility chart for Sony NEX-5N
Lens compatibility chart for Sony a900

Pictures per second

Depending on what you are shooting the FPS, or frames/pictures per second, can definitely be of interest. Sony NEX-5N can shoot up to 10 pictures per seconds and Sony a900 can shoot up to 5 pictures per seconds.

Ability to record movies

It is becoming more and more popular to record movies with digital cameras.

When comparing these two cameras there is only one of them that can shoot movies and that is Sony NEX-5N. Unfortunately Sony a900 does not support recording movies and movie clips.

Weight

The weight of the camera can be an extremely important factor, especially if the camera is about to be used, or carried around, for several hours at a time.

Sony a900 weighs 895 gr (equal to 1.97 lb) which is 233% heavier than Sony NEX-5N and its 269 gr (or 0.59 lb).

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony a900 Specs

Below you will find the complete and detailed technical specs for both Sony NEX-5N and Sony a900, next to each other. Each category of data is a link to an article covering the subject, giving you a deeper understanding so you can better understand the strengths and weaknesses of the two camera models.

Product	Sony NEX-5N	Sony a900
Name	Sony NEX-5N	Sony a900
Manufacturer	Sony	Sony
Release Date and Price	Sony NEX-5N	Sony a900
Release Year	2011	2008
Release Date	2011-08-24	2008-09-09
MSRP	599 USD	2999 USD
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Camera Type	Sony NEX-5N	Sony a900
Camera Type	Mirrorless	DSLR
Sensor	Sony NEX-5N	Sony a900
Sensor Size	APS-C (approx 23.5 x 15.6 mm)	Full Frame (approx 36 x 24 mm)
Sensor Type	CMOS	CMOS
Resolution	4912 x 3264 pixels	6048 x 4032 pixels
Megapixels	16 MP	25 MP
Image Processor	Bionz	Bionz
Image	Sony NEX-5N	Sony a900
ISO Range	100 - 25600	100 - 1600
White Balance Presets	6	7
Custom White Balance	Yes	Yes
Image Stabilization	No	Yes (Sensor-Shift)
Image Stabilization CIPA Rating	0 stops	0 stops
Uncompressed format	RAW	RAW
Optics & Focus	Sony NEX-5N	Sony a900
Autofocus Motor	Yes	Yes
Autofocus	Contract Detect (sensor) Multi Area Selective Single Point Single Continuous LiveView	Phase Detect Multi Area Center Selective Single Point Single Continuous
Focus Points	25	9
Lens Mount	Sony E See Compatible Lenses	Sony A See Compatible Lenses
Focal Length Multiplier	APS-C Sensor (1.5x) 1.5x multiplier Example: 24 mm becomes 36 mm 50 mm becomes 75 mm 100 mm becomes 150 mm 200 mm becomes 300 mm	Full frame No multiplier Example: 24 mm remains 24 mm 50 mm remains 50 mm 100 mm remains 100 mm 200 mm remains 200 mm
Screen & Viewfinder	Sony NEX-5N	Sony a900
Articulated LCD	Tilting	Fixed
Screen size	3”	3”
Screen dots	920000	921600
Touch screen	Yes	No
Screen type	Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD	TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Live view	Yes	No
Viewfinder Type	Electronic (optional)	Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder Coverage		100%
Viewfinder Magnification		0.74x
Viewfinder Resolution	0	N/A
Photography features	Sony NEX-5N	Sony a900
Frames per second	10 fps	5 fps
Minimum Shutter Speed	30 seconds	30 seconds
Maximum Shutter Speed	1/4000 seconds	1/8000 seconds
Built-in Flash	Yes	No
Built-in Flash Range	12 meters	N/A
External Flash	Yes	Yes
Self-Timer	Yes	Yes
Time-lapse	No	No
Metering modes	Multi Center Weighted Spot	Multi Center Weighted Spot
Exposure Compensation	+/- 3 (at 1/3 EV steps)	+/- 3 (at 1/3 EV steps)
Videography features	Sony NEX-5N	Sony a900
Video recording	Yes	No
Video format	AVCHD	N/A
Video resolution	1440 x 1080 1920 x 1080	N/A
Built-in Microphone	Yes	No
Built-in Speakers	Yes	No
Storage	Sony NEX-5N	Sony a900
Memory Card	Memory Stick Pro Duo SD/SDHC	Compact Flash Memory Stick Pro Duo
Connectivity	Sony NEX-5N	Sony a900
HDMI Output	Yes	Yes
Microphone Port	No	No
Headphone Port	No	No
Wireless	Yes Eye-Fi Connected	No
Remote Control	Yes (optional RMT-DSLR1)	Yes (Wired or Wireless (Optional))
GPS	No	No
Body & Dimensions	Sony NEX-5N	Sony a900
Enviromentally sealed	No	Yes
Battery	Battery Pack	Battery Pack
Battery Details	ithium-Ion NPFW50 rechargeable battery & charger	Lithium-Ion NP-FM500H rechargeable battery & charger
Battery Life (CIPA)	460 shots	880 shots
Width	111 mm	156 mm
Height	59 mm	117 mm
Depth	38 mm	82 mm
Weight	269 gram	895 gram