Nikon
D5100
 vs
Sony Alpha
NEX-5

Updated (August, 2011): Compare the 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

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 Alpha NEX-5

54
Runner-up

Sony Alpha NEX-5
"High quality video mode"
dpreview.com | talking about the NEX-5's video-quality
"The NEX's image quality is consistent with previous Sonys - generally rather good though not quite as good as the raw sensor data shows it could be."
dpreview.com | talking about the NEX-5's image-quality

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha NEX-5

Size
 Really small
Compact 111x59x38 mm
Light sensitivity
 High ISO
12,800 ISO
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Panorama
 In-camera panoramas
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
3D
 Takes 3D photos
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions

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
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Lens availability Much more lenses available 169 lenses vs 8 lenses
Help
 More than 21x more lenses available
Overall image quality Better image quality 80.0 vs 69.0
Help
 Around 20% better image quality
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 660 shots vs 330 shots
Help
 2x more shots per battery charge
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
True resolution Higher true resolution 16.1 MP vs 14 MP
Help
 Capture more than 10% more detail in your photos
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,183 ISO vs 796 ISO
Help
 The D5100 has a slight edge (0.6 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Pentamirror vs None
Help
 A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs None
Help
 Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Color depth Better color depth 23.5 bits vs 22.2 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.3 more bits of color
Startup delay Less startup delay 500 ms vs 1000 ms
Help
 2x less delay when turning on
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13 EV vs 12.2 EV
Help
 0.8 f-stops more dynamic range
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 273 ms vs 441 ms
Help
 Around 40% less delay when taking photos
Nikon D5100 Learn more about
the Nikon D5100

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5
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
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 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The NEX-5's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Thickness Significantly thinner 1.5" vs 3.1"
Help
 2.1x thinner
Weight Significantly lighter 287 g vs 560 g
Help
 Around 50% lighter
Focus points More focus points 25 vs 11
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 7 fps vs 4 fps
Help
 Around 80% faster continuous shooting
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Learn more about
the Sony NEX-5
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon D5100 Nikon D5100
100 vs 54
Explain scores
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Sony Alpha NEX-5
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
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Movie format Both shoot high resolution HD movies Help
1080p @ 30fps
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
D5100:APS-C 23.6x15.6mm
NEX-5:APS-C 23.4x15.6mm
HDR Both have in-camera, most cameras like these don't Help
Combines multiple exposures
True resolution Capture very high resolution images Help
D5100:16.1 MP
NEX-5:14 MP
Interchangeable lenses Both support interchangeable lenses, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
Many lenses to choose from
Dynamic range Good dynamic range Help
D5100:13 EV
NEX-5:12.2 EV
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
Color depth Good color depth Help
D5100:23.5 bits
NEX-5:22.2 bits
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
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
D5100:1
NEX-5:0

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 Alpha NEX-5
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 Alpha NEX-5
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
Compare the D90 vs the D5100
Compare the D90 vs the Alpha NEX-5
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 slightly heavier
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D5100
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$598 - $600 body only

$698 - $700 with 18-55mm lens
Light sensitivity Much higher maximum light sensitivity
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Compare the NEX-5N vs the D5100
Compare the NEX-5N vs the Alpha NEX-5
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$333 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D5100
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the Alpha NEX-5

Nikon D5100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $700 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Weight Lighter
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Compare the D3200 vs the D5100
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens
Weather sealed Weather sealed
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Compare the D7000 vs the D5100
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Battery life Significantly longer battery life
Overall image quality Worse image quality
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D5100

Sony Alpha NEX-5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
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
Screen resolution Significantly lower resolution screen
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Compare the 1 J1 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony NEX-F3

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$600 with 18-55mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Continuous shooting Shoots slower
Size Slightly larger
Compare the NEX-F3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,200 body only

$1,350 - $1,499 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Much higher true resolution
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Startup delay Slightly more startup delay
Weight Heavier
Compare the NEX-7 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony NEX C3

Sony NEX C3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$548 with 16mm lens
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality
True resolution Higher true resolution
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly slower
Compare the NEX C3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony Alpha NEX-3

Sony Alpha NEX-3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$689 with 18-55mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Storage slots Has more storage slots
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the Alpha NEX-3 vs the Alpha NEX-5

appearance

Nikon D5100 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Nikon D5100 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Nikon D5100 Sony Alpha NEX-5

discussion

Showing 1 comments

Meredith (0:51 PM, October 24, 2011)
Snapsort, (or anyone)

I'm a college student/graphic design, and I travel a lot. I really love the lightweight, small body of the mirrorless cameras and really don't see a big set back for me in terms of getting the sony. My main requirements are decent videos, ability to take multiple photos at once, easy to switch out lens b/c I have limited knowledge of camera (though I do have some, it's mostly with fil cameras), and overall great image quality. My budget is 400-800, and everything on snapsort points to the Nikon 5100--which I would definitely get over the 3100 because of the need for video, but I'm wondering, given my needs, if a smaller, easy to travel with camera would be smarter. I'm looking at the Sony and the Fuji X10 when it comes out. 

Feedback? Opinions? Anything!