Nikon
D3200
 vs
Sony
NEX-5N

Updated (August, 2012): Compare the Nikon D3200 vs Sony NEX-5R

Nikon D3200

87

  
Sony NEX-5N

62

  
Winner

Nikon D3200

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3200

Overall image quality
 Great image quality
81.0
True resolution
 High true resolution
24.1 MP
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
13.2 EV
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
External mic jack
 External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Badge
 Autofocuses shooting video
Contrast detection
 
Runner-up

Sony NEX-5N

Reasons to buy the Sony NEX-5N

Size
 Really small
Compact 111x59x38 mm
Light sensitivity
 High ISO
25,600 ISO
Touch screen
 Touch screen
Less buttons
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
10 fps
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12.7 EV
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
 

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D3200
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Lens availability Much more lenses available 169 lenses vs 8 lenses
Help
 More than 21x more lenses available
True resolution Much higher true resolution 24.1 MP vs 16 MP
Help
 Capture more than 50% more detail in your photos
Startup delay Significantly less startup delay 400 ms vs 1900 ms
Help
 4.8x less delay when turning on
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 81.0 vs 77.0
Help
 Around 10% better image quality
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
 A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Pentamirror vs None
Help
 A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Battery life Longer battery life 540 shots vs 460 shots
Help
 Around 20% more shots per battery charge
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13.2 EV vs 12.7 EV
Help
 0.5 f-stops more dynamic range
Nikon D3200 Learn more about
the Nikon D3200

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5N
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Size Significantly smaller 111x59x38 mm vs 125x96x76 mm
Help
 3.7x smaller
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 25,600 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The NEX-5N's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
 Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
Touch screen Has a touch screen Yes vs No
Help
 Fewer buttons to worry about and direct interaction with camera menus
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
 Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 10 fps vs 4 fps
Help
 2.5x faster continuous shooting
Thickness Significantly thinner 1.5" vs 3"
Help
 2x thinner
Weight Lighter 269 g vs 505 g
Help
 Around 50% lighter
Focus points More focus points 25 vs 11
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Sony NEX-5N Learn more about
the Sony NEX-5N
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon D3200 Nikon D3200
87 vs 62
Explain scores
Sony NEX-5N Sony NEX-5N
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3200. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a entry-level DSLR with a mirrorless interchangeable-lens.

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Supports 24p Both support 24p, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
For that film look
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
D3200:81.0
NEX-5N:77.0
Sensor size Large sensors Help
D3200:APS-C 23.2x15.4mm
NEX-5N:APS-C 23.4x15.6mm
True resolution Capture very high resolution images Help
D3200:24.1 MP
NEX-5N:16 MP
Interchangeable lenses Both support interchangeable lenses, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
Many lenses to choose from
Dynamic range Good dynamic range Help
D3200:13.2 EV
NEX-5N:12.7 EV
Movie continuous focus Focus continuously recording movies Help
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Color depth Good color depth Help
D3200:24.1 bits
NEX-5N:23.6 bits
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
Battery life Great battery life Help
D3200:540 shots
NEX-5N:460 shots
Sensor cleaning Both have self cleaning sensors, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
Avoids dust in your photos
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/4000 of a second
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$597 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the D5100 vs the D3200
Compare the D5100 vs the NEX-5N
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$599 - $649 with 18-55mm lens
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D3200
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the NEX-5N
Canon Rebel T4i

Canon Rebel T4i

Entry-level DSLR

$669 - $800 body only

$699 - $749 with 18-55mm lens
Autofocus Focuses automatically while shootting video
Cross type focus points Has slightly more cross-type focus points
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the D3200
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the NEX-5N
Canon Rebel SL1

Canon Rebel SL1

Entry-level DSLR

$649 body only

$799 with 18-55mm lens
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Rebel SL1 vs the D3200
Compare the Rebel SL1 vs the NEX-5N
Sony SLT A57

Sony SLT A57

Entry-level DSLR

$460 - $499 body only

$519 - $539 with 18-55mm lens
Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the SLT A57 vs the D3200
Compare the SLT A57 vs the NEX-5N

Nikon D3200 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D5200

Nikon D5200

Entry-level DSLR

$697 body only

$797 with 18-55mm lens
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Size Slightly larger
Battery life Slightly shorter battery life
Compare the D5200 vs the D3200
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Compare the D3100 vs the D3200
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$675 - $899 body only

$799 - $1,099 with 18-105mm lens
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Battery life Significantly longer battery life
True resolution Much lower true resolution
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Compare the D90 vs the D3200
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Weather sealed Weather sealed
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Size Larger
Compare the D7000 vs the D3200

Sony NEX-5N Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony NEX-5R

Sony NEX-5R

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$498 body only

$598 with 18-55mm lens
Autofocus Faster autofocus
Focus points Many more focus points
Battery life Shorter battery life
Low light performance Slightly more noise at high ISO
Compare the NEX-5R vs the NEX-5N
Sony Alpha NEX-6

Sony Alpha NEX-6

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$748 body only

$898 with 16-50mm lens
Autofocus Faster autofocus
Focus points Many more focus points
Touch screen No touch screen
3D Doesn't take 3D photos
Compare the Alpha NEX-6 vs the NEX-5N
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$656 - $782 with 18-55mm lens
Startup delay Less startup delay
Supports 24p No 24p support
Touch screen No touch screen
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the NEX-5N
Sony Alpha NEX-3N

Sony Alpha NEX-3N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$448 with 16-50mm lens
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Built-in flash Built-in flash
Touch screen No touch screen
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Compare the Alpha NEX-3N vs the NEX-5N
Sony Alpha NEX-F3

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$399 - $730 with 18-55mm lens
Built-in flash Built-in flash
Startup delay Less startup delay
Touch screen No touch screen
Movie continuous focus Doesn't focus continuously recording movies
Compare the NEX-F3 vs the NEX-5N

appearance

Nikon D3200 Sony NEX-5N
Nikon D3200 Sony NEX-5N
Nikon D3200 Sony NEX-5N

discussion

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