Despite Sony’s claims, it seems that the Xperia 5 V can only match its predecessor when it comes to camera quality. Worse still, the Xperia 5 IV has the edge in zoomed-in shots thanks to its dedicated telephoto camera.
DxOMark has put the Xperia 5 V through its paces, a few days after we subjected Sony’s latest smaller flagship to our tests. Surprisingly, the device only scored 118 points in the former’s camera tests, leaving it in 70th place overall, tied with its predecessor and the Xperia 1 IV. Thus, the Xperia 5 V also falls behind the new Xiaomi 13T and other cheaper competitors like the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7a.
For reference, Sony equips the Xperia 5 V with a 48 MP primary camera sensor that has an f/1.9 aperture and a 1/1.35-inch optical format. Additionally, the handset has a 12 MP ultra wide-angle camera with an f/2.2 aperture and a 1/2.5-inch optical format but lacks a dedicated telephoto camera at all. In most situations, the Xperia 5 V delivers detailed, accurately exposed photos with appropriate white balance. However, DxOMark observed shutter lag when shooting a high-contrast scene.
Moreover, the preview image in the camera app’s viewfinder differs greatly from the final result. Separately, the Xperia 5 V is slow to adjust its white balance when taking videos, which results in a strong orange tint in low light. Furthermore, the new Xperia 5 falls short of its predecessor when capturing zoomed-in shots, with its lack of a telephoto camera noticeable in all lighting conditions. Please see our Xperia 5 V review for our full thoughts on Sony’s smaller alternative to the Xperia 1 V and how it fares against its peers.
Alex Alderson – Senior Tech Writer – 8708 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2018
Prior to writing and translating for Notebookcheck, I worked for various companies including Apple and Neowin. I have a BA in International History and Politics from the University of Leeds, which I have since converted to a Law Degree. Happy to chat on Twitter or Notebookchat.
