Nikon
D5100
 vs
Sony
NEX-7

Updated (March, 2013): Compare the Nikon D5200 Hands-on P vs Sony NEX-7n

Nikon D5100

100

  
Sony NEX-7

54

  
Winner

Nikon D5100

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
 
Runner-up

Sony NEX-7

Reasons to buy the Sony NEX-7

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
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
 

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 $496.95 vs $948.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $451 cheaper (around 50% 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
Weight Lighter 350 g vs 560 g
Help
 Around 40% lighter
Focus points More focus points 25 vs 11
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Viewfinder coverage Slightly better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 95%
Help
 Around 10% better viewfinder coverage
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13.4 EV vs 13 EV
Help
 0.4 f-stops more dynamic range
Color depth Better color depth 24.1 bits vs 23.5 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.6 more bits of color
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 54
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.

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
D5100:80.0
NEX-7:81.0
External mic jack You can plug a microphone into both of these Help
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Supports 24p Both support 24p, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
For that film look
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Sensor size Large sensors Help
D5100:APS-C 23.6x15.6mm
NEX-7:APS-C 23.5x15.6mm
True resolution Capture very high resolution images Help
D5100:16.1 MP
NEX-7:24 MP
HDR In-camera HDR 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
Movie continuous focus Focus continuously recording movies Help
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Color depth Good color depth Help
D5100:23.5 bits
NEX-7:24.1 bits
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
Sensor cleaning Self cleaning sensors Help
Avoids dust in your photos
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
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
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 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

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm 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 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,279 with 18-135mm lens
Weather sealed Has a weather sealed body
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D5100
Compare the EOS 60D vs the NEX-7
Nikon D7100

Nikon D7100

Entry-level DSLR

$1,197 body only

$1,497 with 18-105mm lens
Screen size Has a slightly larger screen
Weather sealed Has a weather sealed body
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D7100 vs the D5100
Compare the D7100 vs the NEX-7
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,499 body only

$1,699 with 28-135mm 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 D600

Nikon D600

Pro DSLR

$1,997 body only

$2,397 with 24-85mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Screen size Has a slightly larger screen
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D600 vs the D5100
Compare the D600 vs the NEX-7
Sony SLT-A65

Sony SLT A65

Entry-level DSLR

$587 - $698 body only

$798 - $1,005 with 18-55mm lens
Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the SLT A65 vs the D5100
Compare the SLT A65 vs the NEX-7

Nikon D5100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$599 - $649 with 18-55mm lens
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
True resolution Higher true resolution
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D5100
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Size Slightly smaller
Weight Slightly lighter
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Compare the D3100 vs the D5100
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
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Compare the D90 vs the D5100
Canon EOS 650D

Canon EOS 650D

Entry-level DSLR

$580 - $797 body only

$639 - $1,144 with 18-55mm lens
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the EOS 650D vs the D5100

Sony NEX-7 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$650 - $699 with 18-55mm lens
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Compare the NEX-5N vs the NEX-7
Olympus OM-D E-M5

Olympus OM-D E-M5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$999 - $1,130 body only

$1,099 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
Fujifilm X-E1

Fujifilm X-E1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$999 - $1,000 body only

$1,399 with 18-55mm lens
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Compare the X-E1 vs the NEX-7
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$656 with 18-55mm lens
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay
Weight Lighter
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Supports 24p No 24p support
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the NEX-7
Samsung NX300

Samsung NX300

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$748 - $749 with 20-50mm lens
Screen type Has an OLED screen
Autofocus Faster autofocus
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Supports 24p No 24p support
Compare the NX300 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.