Nikon
D5100
 vs
Sony SLT
A77

Updated (October, 2012): Compare the Nikon D5200 vs Sony SLT-A77

Sony SLT-A77

64

  
Nikon D5100

57

  
Winner

Sony SLT A77

Reasons to buy the Sony SLT A77

Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
13.2 EV
Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.72x
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
True resolution
 High true resolution
24 MP
Light sensitivity
 High ISO
16,000 ISO
Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
 
Runner-up

Nikon D5100

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5100

Overall image quality
 Great image quality
80.0
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
13 EV
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
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
 

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D5100
Startup delay Much less startup delay 500 ms vs 3100 ms
Help
 6.2x less delay when turning on
Lens availability Much more lenses available 169 lenses vs 92 lenses
Help
 More than 80% more lenses available
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,183 ISO vs 801 ISO
Help
 The D5100 has a slight edge (0.6 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Viewfinder Has an optical viewfinder Pentamirror vs Digital
Help
 Optical viewfinders save battery life and are more detailed
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 80.0 vs 78.0
Help
 Almost the same
Size Smaller 127x96x78 mm vs 143x104x81 mm
Help
 Around 20% smaller
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 660 shots vs 530 shots
Help
 More than 20% more shots per battery charge
Weight Lighter 560 g vs 732 g
Help
 More than 20% lighter
Thickness Thinner 3.1" vs 3.2"
Help
 Almost the same
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $496.95 vs $998.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $501 cheaper (2x less)
Nikon D5100 Learn more about
the Nikon D5100

Advantages of the Sony SLT A77
Viewfinder size Much larger viewfinder 0.72x vs 0.51x
Help
 Around 2x larger viewfinder
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster 12 fps vs 4 fps
Help
 3x faster continuous shooting
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
 Sealed to shoot in the rain
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
 Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 24 MP vs 16.1 MP
Help
 Capture around 50% more detail in your photos
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag 124 ms vs 273 ms
Help
 2.2x less delay when taking photos
Autofocus Faster video autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Shoot videos without worrying about focus
GPS Has a GPS Yes vs No
Help
 Automatically geotags your photos when traveling
Viewfinder coverage Much better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 95%
Help
 Around 10% better viewfinder coverage
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 16,000 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The SLT A77's maximum light sensitivity is 1.3 f-stops better
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 11 vs 1
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Focus points More focus points 19 vs 11
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Color depth Better color depth 24 bits vs 23.5 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.5 more bits of color
Fastest shutter speed Significantly faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Sony SLT-A77 Learn more about
the Sony SLT A77
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D5100 Nikon D5100
57 vs 64
Explain scores
Sony SLT A77 Sony SLT-A77
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony SLT-A77. 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 pro DSLR.

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Movie continuous focus Focus continuously recording movies Help
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Built-in flash Each has a built-in flash Help
External flash not needed
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
Sensor size Very small sensors Help
D5100:APS-C 23.6x15.6mm
SLT A77:APS-C 23.5x15.6mm

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D5200

Nikon D5200

Entry-level DSLR

$697 body only

$797 with 18-55mm lens
Focus points Has slightly more focus points
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Compare the D5200 vs the D5100
Compare the D5200 vs the SLT A77
Canon Rebel T4i

Canon Rebel T4i

Entry-level DSLR

$669 - $800 body only

$699 - $749 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the D5100
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the SLT A77
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Viewfinder Has higher quality type of viewfinder
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Weight Is slightly heavier
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
Compare the D7000 vs the D5100
Compare the D7000 vs the SLT A77
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,279 with 18-135mm lens
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Viewfinder Has higher quality type of viewfinder
Weight Is slightly heavier
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D5100
Compare the EOS 60D vs the SLT A77
Nikon D7100

Nikon D7100

Entry-level DSLR

$1,197 body only

$1,497 with 18-105mm lens
Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
Compare the D7100 vs the D5100
Compare the D7100 vs the SLT A77
Sony SLT A57

Sony SLT A57

Entry-level DSLR

$460 - $499 body only

$519 - $539 with 18-55mm lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Compare the SLT A57 vs the D5100
Compare the SLT A57 vs the SLT A77
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,499 body only

$1,799 with 18-135mm lens
Viewfinder Has higher quality type of viewfinder
Cross type focus points Has slightly more cross-type focus points
Weight Is slightly heavier
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the EOS 7D vs the D5100
Compare the EOS 7D vs the SLT A77

Nikon D5100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution
Color depth Better color depth
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Compare the D3200 vs the D5100
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$599 - $649 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D5100
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Thickness Thinner
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the D3100 vs the D5100
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$675 - $899 body only

$799 - $1,099 with 18-105mm lens
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the D90 vs the D5100

Sony SLT-A77 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony SLT-A99

Sony SLT-A99

Pro DSLR

$2,798 body only

$3,196 - $3,198 with 28-75mm lens
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Better image quality
3D Doesn't take 3D photos
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly slower
Compare the SLT-A99 vs the SLT A77

appearance

Nikon D5100 Sony SLT-A77
Nikon D5100 Sony SLT-A77
Nikon D5100 Sony SLT-A77

discussion

Showing 4 comments

Meshoolord (7:05 AM, October 01, 2011)
Hi, would you help, which is the Best DSLR that capture movies???
Ist Nikon or Sony ALT 77????
Please advise
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (0:27 AM, October 01, 2011)
Hi Ioan, the color depths quoted here are test results conducted by DXOMark
 
Ioan Florea (0:10 AM, October 01, 2011)
Hey. I know that Sony A-77, A-65, and NEX-7 have the same sensor. In this case, down't they have the same color depth (24 bit like A-77)? I'm asking because I haven't seen this specified on A-65 and NEX-7, presentation page.
 
Tony Barbeta_1 (9:49 PM, September 25, 2011)
A77, for me is clearly the better camera, bringing breakthriugh technology.