Generally, some of the advantages of the Nikon D5100 compared to mirrorless interchangeable-lens competitors include: it is significantly less noisy at high ISO (1,183 ISO vs 667 ISO), has slightly better image quality (80.0 vs 56.0), has a slightly higher resolution screen (920k dots vs 460k dots), has higher quality type of viewfinder (pentamirror vs none) and has slightly more color depth (23.5 bits vs 21.5 bits).
However, on average it doesn't record high-speed movies (none vs 1,200 fps), slightly lower maximum light sensitivity (6,400 ISO vs 12,800 ISO), doesn't have a touch screen, doesn't shoot as fast continuously (4 fps vs 60 fps) and lacks a built in panoramas.
Sony NEX-5N
4 months newer
$598 - $600 (body only)
$698 - $700 18-55mm lens
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Significant advantages of the NEX-5N (vs the D5100)
- Has a built-in focus motor
- Better maximum light sensitivity: 25,600 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
- Much smaller: Compact 111x59x38 mm vs Prosumer size 127x96x78 mm
Significant disadvantages of the NEX-5N (vs the D5100)
- Much fewer lenses available: 8 lenses vs 169 lenses
- Much more startup delay: 1900 ms vs 500 ms
- No viewfinder: None vs Pentamirror
common strengths of the NEX-5N and D5100
- Relatively low noise at high ISO: 1,079 ISO vs 1,183 ISO
- Good image quality: 77.0 vs 80.0
- Full HD (1080p) video: 1080p @ 60fps vs 1080p @ 30fps
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Sony NEX-7
4 months newer
$1,200 (body only)
$1,350 - $1,499 18-55mm lens
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Significant advantages of the NEX-7 (vs the D5100)
- Has a built-in focus motor
- Much higher true resolution: 24 MP vs 16.1 MP
- Much smaller: Compact 111x59x38 mm vs Prosumer size 127x96x78 mm
Significant disadvantages of the NEX-7 (vs the D5100)
- Much fewer lenses available: 8 lenses vs 169 lenses
- Slower autofocus: Contrast detection vs Phase detection
- Much shorter battery life: 430 shots vs 660 shots
common strengths of the NEX-7 and D5100
- Relatively low noise at high ISO: 1,016 ISO vs 1,183 ISO
- Extremely good image quality: 81.0 vs 80.0
- Full HD (1080p) video: 1080p @ 60fps vs 1080p @ 30fps
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Nikon 1 J1
5 months newer
$547 10-30mm lens
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Significant advantages of the J1 (vs the D5100)
- Records high-speed movies: 1,200 fps vs None
- Has a built-in focus motor
- Shoots much faster: 60 fps vs 4 fps
Significant disadvantages of the J1 (vs the D5100)
- Much more noise at high ISO: 372 ISO vs 1,183 ISO
- Much fewer lenses available: 4 lenses vs 169 lenses
- Much shorter battery life: 230 shots vs 660 shots
common strengths of the J1 and D5100
- Both shoot high resolution HD movies: 1080p @ 30fps vs 1080p @ 30fps
- Both use faster phase detection autofocus which is uncommon: Phase detection vs Phase detection
- Focus continuously recording movies
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Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3
similar age
$500 (body only)
$700 14-42mm lens
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Significant advantages of the DMC-G3 (vs the D5100)
- Has a built-in focus motor
- Has a touch screen
- Takes 3D photos
Significant disadvantages of the DMC-G3 (vs the D5100)
- Much fewer lenses available: 26 lenses vs 169 lenses
- Significantly more noise at high ISO: 667 ISO vs 1,183 ISO
- Much worse image quality: 56.0 vs 80.0
common strengths of the DMC-G3 and D5100
- Both shoot high resolution HD movies: 1080p @ 30fps vs 1080p @ 30fps
- Viewfinders: Digital vs Pentamirror
- Flip-out screens
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Sony Alpha NEX-5
10 months older
$569 18-55mm lens
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Significant advantages of the NEX-5 (vs the D5100)
- Has a built-in focus motor
- Much smaller: Compact 111x59x38 mm vs Prosumer size 127x96x78 mm
- Can create panoramas in-camera
Significant disadvantages of the NEX-5 (vs the D5100)
- Much fewer lenses available: 8 lenses vs 169 lenses
- Many fewer cross-type focus points: 0 vs 1
- No viewfinder: None vs Pentamirror
common strengths of the NEX-5 and D5100
- Good image quality: 69.0 vs 80.0
- Both shoot high resolution HD movies: 1080p @ 30fps vs 1080p @ 30fps
- High resolution screens: 920k dots vs 920k dots
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