Nikon D5100 vs Sony DSLR-A700

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D5100

Shoots movies

1080p @ 30fps

None

Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures

Much lower noise at high ISO

1,183 ISO

581 ISO

The D5100 has excellent image quality 1 f-stop higher ISO than the DSLR-A700

Significantly better image quality

80.0

66.0

More than 20% better image quality

Has live view

Yes

Preview your photos on the camera's screen before taking them

Has in-camera HDR

Yes

Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range

Much more lenses available

169 lenses

92 lenses

More than 80% more lenses available

More dynamic range

13 EV

11.9 EV

1.1 f-stops more dynamic range

Has a flip-out screen

Yes

Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies

Much smaller

127x96x78 mm

142x105x80 mm

Around 20% smaller

Video autofocus

Contrast detection

None

Automatically focuses shooting video

Higher true resolution

16.1 MP

12.2 MP

Capture more than 30% more detail in your photos

Better maximum light sensitivity

6,400 ISO

1,600 ISO

The D5100's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better

Better color depth

23.5 bits

22.3 bits

Distinguishes 1.2 more bits of color

Better boost ISO

25,600 ISO

6,400 ISO

The D5100's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better

Significantly lighter

560 g

768 g

Around 30% lighter

Slightly less startup delay

500 ms

600 ms

Around 20% less delay when turning on

Slightly thinner

3.1"

Almost the same

Learn more about
the Nikon D5100

Advantages of the Sony DSLR-A700

Image stabilization

Sensor shift

None

Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements

Larger viewfinder

0.59x

0.51x

More than 30% larger viewfinder

Has more storage slots

More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards

Has a built-in focus motor

Yes

Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses

Has a pentaprism viewfinder

Pentaprism

Pentamirror

Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter

Shoots faster

5 fps

4 fps

Around 30% faster continuous shooting

Much faster max shutter speed

1/8000s

1/4000s

2x faster max shutter speed

Learn more about
the Sony DSLR-A700

recommendations

Relative to the best recent entry-level DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D5100

77	vs	50
Explain scores

Sony Alpha DSLR-A700

Snapsort recommends the Nikon D5100.

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths

Common Weaknesses

Large sensors

D5100:	APS-C 23.6x15.6mm
DSLR-A700:	APS-C 23.5x15.6mm

	Below average viewfinder coverage
	95%

	Few cross-type focus points
	1

Poor maximum light sensitivity

D5100:	6,400 ISO
DSLR-A700:	1,600 ISO

	Neither camera stitches together panoramas
	You could stitch photos in post

	Neither camera can take 3D photos
	No 3d support

Capture low resolution images

D5100:	16.1 MP
DSLR-A700:	12.2 MP

	Neither is weather sealed
	Need to shelter it from weather

Lacks video autofocus

D5100:	Contrast detection
DSLR-A700:	None

dxomark

competitors

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens

Takes much higher resolution photos

Is slightly smaller

Has a slower max shutter speed

Has a marginally smaller sensor

Compare the D3200 vs the D5100

Compare the D3200 vs the Alpha DSLR-A700

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$599 - $649 with 18-55mm lens

Takes slightly higher resolution photos

Has a slower max shutter speed

Is slightly larger

Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D5100

Compare the Rebel T3i vs the Alpha DSLR-A700

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens

Is slightly smaller

Is thinner

Has a slower max shutter speed

Has a marginally smaller sensor

Compare the D3100 vs the D5100

Compare the D3100 vs the Alpha DSLR-A700

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$675 - $899 body only

$799 - $1,099 with 18-105mm lens

Slightly larger viewfinder

Has slightly less shutter lag

Has a slower max shutter speed

Is slightly more expensive

Compare the D90 vs the D5100

Compare the D90 vs the Alpha DSLR-A700

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens

Has a weather sealed body

Has a significantly longer battery life

Is significantly more expensive

Is significantly heavier

Compare the D7000 vs the D5100

Compare the D7000 vs the Alpha DSLR-A700

Sony SLT A57

Entry-level DSLR

$460 - $499 body only

$519 - $539 with 18-55mm lens

Significantly larger viewfinder

Significantly higher maximum light sensitivity

Has a slower max shutter speed

Is thicker

Compare the SLT A57 vs the D5100

Compare the SLT A57 vs the Alpha DSLR-A700

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,499 body only

$1,799 with 18-135mm lens

Takes slightly higher resolution photos

Has a weather sealed body

Is much more expensive

Is much heavier

Compare the EOS 7D vs the D5100

Compare the EOS 7D vs the Alpha DSLR-A700

Nikon D5200

Entry-level DSLR

$697 body only

$797 with 18-55mm lens

Many more focus points

Much higher true resolution

Shorter battery life

More expensive

Compare the D5200 vs the D5100

Canon Rebel T4i

Entry-level DSLR

$669 - $800 body only

$699 - $749 with 18-55mm lens

Has a touch screen

Significantly more cross-type focus points

Significantly more noise at high ISO

Much worse image quality

Compare the Rebel T4i vs the D5100

Sony SLT A77

Pro DSLR

$998 - $1,000 body only

$1,598 - $1,930 with 16-50mm lens

Shoots movies

Has live view

Much more startup delay

Has a digital viewfinder

Compare the SLT A77 vs the Alpha DSLR-A700

Sony Alpha DSLR-A580

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $779 with 18-55mm lens

Shoots movies

Much lower noise at high ISO

Smaller viewfinder

Has fewer storage slots

Compare the Alpha DSLR-A580 vs the Alpha DSLR-A700

Sony SLT-A55

Entry-level DSLR

$1,098 body only

$1,193 with 18-55mm lens

Shoots movies

Has live view

Has a digital viewfinder

Significantly shorter battery life

Compare the SLT-A55 vs the Alpha DSLR-A700

appearance

“This combination of Renaissance Faire and photo stats sets our nerdy hearts aflutter. Now, have at you, Sir Nikon!” - Photojojo	“Absolutely love this site for camera comparison, makes well known consumer rating sites look rudimentary” - @chris2pherlynn
“Killer web-app for camera nerds.” - Besser Wisser	“I'm still in love with Snapsort” - @JustinMoodie
“This is the Google of the camera review websites” - Karel Donk, Photographer	“The site works hard to simplify a complex topic” - Janice Chen, ZDNet

Nikon
D5100
vs
Sony Alpha
DSLR-A700

Nikon D5100

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5100

Sony Alpha DSLR-A700

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha DSLR-A700

recommendations

Relative to the best recent entry-level DSLRs, and ignoring price

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D5100

Advantages of the Sony DSLR-A700

recommendations

Relative to the best recent entry-level DSLRs, and ignoring price

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

dxomark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D3200

Canon Rebel T3i

Nikon D3100

Nikon D90

Nikon D7000

Sony SLT A57

Canon EOS 7D

Nikon D5100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D5200

Canon Rebel T4i

Sony Alpha DSLR-A700 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony SLT A77

Sony Alpha DSLR-A580

Sony SLT-A55

appearance

discussion

Showing 0 comments

NikonD5100 vs Sony AlphaDSLR-A700

Nikon D5100

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5100

Sony Alpha DSLR-A700

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha DSLR-A700

recommendations

Relative to the best recent entry-level DSLRs, and ignoring price

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D5100

Advantages of the Sony DSLR-A700

recommendations

Relative to the best recent entry-level DSLRs, and ignoring price

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

dxomark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D3200

Canon Rebel T3i

Nikon D3100

Nikon D90

Nikon D7000

Sony SLT A57

Canon EOS 7D

Nikon D5100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D5200

Canon Rebel T4i

Sony Alpha DSLR-A700 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony SLT A77

Sony Alpha DSLR-A580

Sony SLT-A55

appearance

discussion

Showing 0 comments

Nikon
D5100
vs
Sony Alpha
DSLR-A700