Nikon
D5100
 vs
Sony
NEX-5N

Nikon D5100

100
Winner

Nikon D5100
"Sophisticated AF system for the price"
dpreview.com | talking about the D5100's auto-focus
"On the whole the D5100's movies are look great, with smooth motion and impressively low noise in dim light."
dpreview.com | talking about the D5100's video-quality

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5100

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
Badge
 Autofocuses shooting video
Contrast detection
Sony NEX-5N

67
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
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D5100
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
Startup delay Less startup delay 500 ms vs 1900 ms
Help
 3.8x less delay when turning on
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
Battery life Longer battery life 660 shots vs 460 shots
Help
 More than 40% more shots per battery charge
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 80.0 vs 77.0
Help
 Almost the same
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Pentamirror vs None
Help
 A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 1,183 ISO vs 1,079 ISO
Help
 The D5100 has a slight edge (0.1 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13 EV vs 12.7 EV
Help
 0.3 f-stops more dynamic range
Nikon D5100 Learn more about
the Nikon D5100

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5N
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
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
Size Significantly smaller 111x59x38 mm vs 127x96x78 mm
Help
 3.9x smaller
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
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 10 fps vs 4 fps
Help
 2.5x faster continuous shooting
Thickness Significantly thinner 1.5" vs 3.1"
Help
 2.1x thinner
Weight Significantly lighter 269 g vs 560 g
Help
 2.1x 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 D5100 Nikon D5100
100 vs 67
Explain scores
Sony NEX-5N Sony NEX-5N
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D5100. 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.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen resolution Very high resolution screens Help
920k dots
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
D5100:80.0
NEX-5N:77.0
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Supports 24p Both support 24p, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
For that film look
Movie format Full HD (1080p) video Help
D5100:1080p @ 30fps
NEX-5N:1080p @ 60fps
True resolution Capture extremely high resolution images Help
D5100:16.1 MP
NEX-5N:16 MP
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
D5100:APS-C 23.6x15.6mm
NEX-5N:APS-C 23.4x15.6mm
HDR Both have in-camera, most cameras like these don't Help
Combines multiple exposures
Dynamic range Good dynamic range Help
D5100:13 EV
NEX-5N:12.7 EV
Interchangeable lenses Both support interchangeable lenses, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
Many lenses to choose from
Color depth Good color depth Help
D5100:23.5 bits
NEX-5N:23.6 bits
Movie continuous focus Focus continuously recording movies Help
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
Low light performance Relatively low noise at high ISO Help
D5100:1,183 ISO
NEX-5N:1,079 ISO
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Sensor cleaning Self cleaning sensors Help
Avoids dust in your photos
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/4000 of a second
Longest exposure Long exposures Help
30 seconds
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D5100
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the NEX-5N
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $700 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D3200 vs the D5100
Compare the D3200 vs the NEX-5N
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D3100 vs the D5100
Compare the D3100 vs the NEX-5N
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens
Weather sealed Has a weather sealed body
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
Compare the D7000 vs the D5100
Compare the D7000 vs the NEX-5N
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D5100
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the NEX-5N
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D5100
Compare the EOS 60D vs the NEX-5N
Sony SLT A57

Sony SLT A57

Entry-level DSLR

$698 - $700 body only

$798 - $800 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 D5100
Compare the SLT A57 vs the NEX-5N

Nikon D5100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder
Movie format Lower resolution movies
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Compare the D90 vs the D5100

Sony NEX-5N Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,200 body only

$1,350 - $1,499 with 18-55mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Touch screen No touch screen
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Compare the NEX-7 vs the NEX-5N
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 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
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$547 with 10-30mm lens
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Compare the 1 J1 vs the NEX-5N
Sony NEX-F3

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$600 with 18-55mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Built-in flash Built-in flash
Touch screen No touch screen
Movie continuous focus Doesn't focus continuously recording movies
Compare the NEX-F3 vs the NEX-5N
Sony NEX C3

Sony NEX C3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$548 with 16mm lens
Startup delay Less startup delay
Weight Slightly lighter
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Supports 24p No 24p support
Compare the NEX C3 vs the NEX-5N

appearance

Nikon D5100 Sony NEX-5N
Nikon D5100 Sony NEX-5N
Nikon D5100 Sony NEX-5N

discussion

Showing 7 comments

Keathow (6:55 PM, April 10, 2012)
 http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Cameras/Camera-Sensor-Database/Nikon/D5100

IQ of D5100 is great! i love it!
 
Avatar for Meraga Abderaouf Meraga Abderaouf (9:16 PM, February 16, 2012)
 in my opinion this comparison isn't true because i've tested the both cameras and the video qualty is quite huge on the nex 5N than the Nikon and also the image qualty and i think too that the Nikon wone here because it has a better manuel setting than the NEX and let us do not forget the "Click...click...'' busines on the sony that it has'nt been resolved intel now by the producers even thier Know about the deal. and Thanks!
 
Guest (1:50 PM, January 11, 2012)
Popularity is a joke - why use it in the first place? Surely the whole reason you've come here is to get an objective comparison of specs?? Disregarding popularity the NEX 5n wins hands down.
 
bboy (7:16 AM, December 03, 2011)
From what I've read, the d5100 is much easier to handle because the controls are easily accessible. Also, it has more lenses and accessories available. But if daily means portability to you, I'd go for the NEX-5N.
 
bboy (7:13 AM, December 03, 2011)
[1] http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1042&message=39205451&changemode=1
 
bboy (7:12 AM, December 03, 2011)
I am planning to get a d5100 but the comparison on dpreview[1] is disturbing. I really want the d5100. Is IQ really that far off? I'm planning to use it for night photography as a hobby.
 
TonyCastle (6:45 PM, October 02, 2011)
if size didnt matter, which one is really better for daily photo shooting?