Nikon
D5100
 vs
Sony
NEX-7

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

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
Sony NEX-7

59
Runner-up

Sony NEX-7

Reasons to buy the Sony NEX-7

Overall image quality
 Great image quality
81.0
Size
 Really small
Compact 111x59x38 mm
True resolution
 High true resolution
24 MP
Light sensitivity
 High ISO
16,000 ISO
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
10 fps
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
13.4 EV

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D5100
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
Lens availability Much more lenses available 169 lenses vs 8 lenses
Help
 More than 21x more lenses available
Battery life Longer battery life 660 shots vs 430 shots
Help
 More than 50% more shots per battery charge
Startup delay Less startup delay 500 ms vs 1200 ms
Help
 2.4x less delay when turning on
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 1,183 ISO vs 1,016 ISO
Help
 The D5100 has a slight edge (0.2 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
Lowest price Cheaper $499.99 vs $1,199.99
Help
 The best price we've seen is $700 cheaper (2.4x less)
Nikon D5100 Learn more about
the Nikon D5100

Advantages of the Sony NEX-7
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Size Significantly smaller 111x59x38 mm vs 127x96x78 mm
Help
 3.9x smaller
True resolution Much higher true resolution 24 MP vs 16.1 MP
Help
 Capture around 50% more detail in your photos
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
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 16,000 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The NEX-7's maximum light sensitivity is 1.3 f-stops better
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
Focus points More focus points 25 vs 11
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Weight Lighter 350 g vs 560 g
Help
 Around 40% lighter
Viewfinder coverage Slightly better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 95%
Help
 Around 10% better viewfinder coverage
Color depth Better color depth 24.1 bits vs 23.5 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.6 more bits of color
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13.4 EV vs 13 EV
Help
 0.4 f-stops more dynamic range
Sony NEX-7 Learn more about
the Sony NEX-7
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon D5100 Nikon D5100
100 vs 59
Explain scores
Sony NEX-7 Sony NEX-7
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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1
votes
by cherlyn-gunnell this month
Nikon D5100 vs Sony NEX-7

I am a beginner that will never be an expert.  My life is busy as a single mom and we are always...

One person recommends the Sony NEX-7:

" The Nex-7 is MUCH smaller, definitely go for it.  The Nex-7 also has some great features like fa..."
0
votes
by streetglide7 last month
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I coach my daughters fast pitch softball and am highly interested in taking stills and action ph...
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by Michelle-Perry-Hollenshead last month
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0
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by Priyanka-Mahsky last month
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similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
D5100:80.0
NEX-7:81.0
Screen resolution Very high resolution screens Help
D5100:920k dots
NEX-7:921k dots
External mic jack You can plug a microphone into both of these Help
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
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-7:1080p @ 60fps
True resolution Capture extremely high resolution images Help
D5100:16.1 MP
NEX-7:24 MP
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
D5100:APS-C 23.6x15.6mm
NEX-7:APS-C 23.5x15.6mm
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-7:13.4 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-7:24.1 bits
Movie continuous focus Focus continuously recording movies Help
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Sensor cleaning Self cleaning sensors Help
Avoids dust in your photos
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
D5100:Pentamirror
NEX-7:Digital
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
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D5100
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the NEX-7
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $700 with 18-55mm lens
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D3200 vs the D5100
Compare the D3200 vs the NEX-7
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-7
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D5100
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the NEX-7
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Battery life Has a significantly longer battery life
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D5100
Compare the EOS 60D vs the NEX-7
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$598 - $600 body only

$698 - $700 with 18-55mm lens
Light sensitivity Significantly higher maximum light sensitivity
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Viewfinder Doesn't have a viewfinder
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Compare the NEX-5N vs the D5100
Compare the NEX-5N vs the NEX-7
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

$1,500 - $1,849 with 18-135mm lens
Weather sealed Has a weather sealed body
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS 7D vs the D5100
Compare the EOS 7D vs the NEX-7

Nikon D5100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens
Size Slightly smaller
Weight Slightly lighter
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Compare the D3100 vs the D5100
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-7 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Olympus OM-D E-M5

Olympus OM-D E-M5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,000 - $1,299 body only

$1,100 with 14-42mm lens
Screen type Has an OLED screen
Weather sealed Weather sealed
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Supports 24p No 24p support
Compare the OM-D E-M5 vs the NEX-7
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 with 18-55mm lens
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay
Weight Lighter
True resolution Much lower true resolution
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the NEX-7
Nikon 1 V1

Nikon 1 V1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$797 - $947 with 10-30mm lens
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Compare the 1 V1 vs the NEX-7
Fujifilm X-Pro1

Fujifilm X-Pro1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,991 - $2,298 body only
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Compare the X-Pro1 vs the NEX-7
Sony SLT-A77

Sony SLT A77

Pro DSLR

$1,398 body only

$1,998 with 16-50mm lens
Weather sealed Weather sealed
Autofocus Faster autofocus
Size Much larger
Startup delay Significantly more startup delay
Compare the SLT A77 vs the NEX-7

appearance

Nikon D5100 Sony NEX-7
Nikon D5100 Sony NEX-7
Nikon D5100 Sony NEX-7

discussion

Showing 1 comments

Jmr (3:01 PM, January 19, 2012)
The cost of both cameras is in error above.