Nikon D5100 vs Sony SLT-A33

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D5100

Much lower noise at high ISO

1,183 ISO

591 ISO

The D5100 has excellent image quality 1 f-stop higher ISO than the SLT-A33

Significantly better image quality

80.0

70.0

More than 10% better image quality

Supports 24p

Yes

Get that real film feel

Much more lenses available

169 lenses

92 lenses

More than 80% more lenses available

Significantly longer battery life

660 shots

270 shots

Around 2.5x more shots per battery charge

Has an optical viewfinder

Pentamirror

Digital

Optical viewfinders save battery life and are more detailed

Higher true resolution

16.1 MP

14 MP

Capture more than 10% more detail in your photos

Better color depth

23.5 bits

22.8 bits

Distinguishes 0.7 more bits of color

More dynamic range

13 EV

12.6 EV

0.4 f-stops more dynamic range

Less startup delay

500 ms

800 ms

Around 40% less delay when turning on

Significantly cheaper

$496.95

$848.23

The best price we've seen is $351 cheaper (more than 40% less)

Significantly thinner

3.1"

3.3"

Around 10% thinner

Learn more about
the Nikon D5100

Advantages of the Sony SLT-A33

Image stabilization

Sensor shift

None

Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements

Takes 3D photos

Yes

Combines multiple photos into a 3D image

Can create panoramas in-camera

Yes

Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective

Shoots significantly faster

7 fps

4 fps

Around 80% faster continuous shooting

Better maximum light sensitivity

12,800 ISO

6,400 ISO

The SLT-A33's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better

Faster video autofocus

Phase detection

Contrast detection

Shoot videos without worrying about focus

Less shutter lag

215 ms

273 ms

More than 20% less delay when taking photos

Has a built-in focus motor

Yes

Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses

More cross-type focus points

Grab focus in difficult situations

More focus points

Set focus accurately within the frame

Lighter

500 g

560 g

More than 10% lighter

Learn more about
the Sony SLT-A33

recommendations

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

Nikon D5100

77	vs	52
Explain scores

Sony SLT-A33

Snapsort recommends the Nikon D5100.

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths

Common Weaknesses

	Flip-out screens
	Great for movies

	Focus continuously recording movies
	Makes it easy to get in-focus movies

Large sensors

D5100:	APS-C 23.6x15.6mm
SLT-A33:	APS-C 23.5x15.6mm

	Slow max shutter speed
	1/4000 of a second

Capture low resolution images

D5100:	16.1 MP
SLT-A33:	14 MP

Few cross-type focus points

D5100:	1
SLT-A33:	3

	Neither is weather sealed
	Need to shelter it from weather

dxomark

competitors

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$599 - $649 with 18-55mm lens

Takes slightly higher resolution photos

Is slightly heavier

Slightly lower boost light sensitivity

Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D5100

Compare the Rebel T3i vs the SLT-A33

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens

Is slightly smaller

Is thinner

Slightly lower boost light sensitivity

Has a marginally smaller sensor

Compare the D3100 vs the D5100

Compare the D3100 vs the SLT-A33

Canon Rebel T4i

Entry-level DSLR

$669 - $800 body only

$699 - $749 with 18-55mm lens

Takes slightly higher resolution photos

Has a touch screen

Is slightly more expensive

Is slightly heavier

Compare the Rebel T4i vs the D5100

Compare the Rebel T4i vs the SLT-A33

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$675 - $899 body only

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

Significantly larger viewfinder

Has higher quality type of viewfinder

Is slightly more expensive

Is significantly heavier

Compare the D90 vs the D5100

Compare the D90 vs the SLT-A33

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,279 with 18-135mm lens

Slightly larger viewfinder

Takes slightly higher resolution photos

Is slightly more expensive

Is much heavier

Compare the EOS 60D vs the D5100

Compare the EOS 60D vs the SLT-A33

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$500 body only

$600 with 18-55mm lens

Takes slightly higher resolution photos

Is much smaller

Slightly lower boost light sensitivity

Has a significantly smaller sensor

Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D5100

Compare the Rebel T2i vs the SLT-A33

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$332 body only

$429 - $499 with 18-55mm lens

Is slightly less expensive

Lacks a self cleaning sensor

Is slightly larger

Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D5100

Compare the Rebel T3 vs the SLT-A33

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens

Much higher true resolution

Slightly better image quality

Lacks in-camera HDR

Screen does not flip out

Compare the D3200 vs the D5100

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

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens

Many more focus points

Weather sealed

Lacks in-camera HDR

Screen does not flip out

Compare the D7000 vs the D5100

Sony SLT A35

Entry-level DSLR

$446 - $1,052 with 18-55mm lens

Lower noise at high ISO

Better image quality

Screen does not flip out

Shoots slower

Compare the SLT A35 vs the SLT-A33

Sony SLT-A55

Entry-level DSLR

$1,098 body only

$1,193 with 18-55mm lens

Lower noise at high ISO

Has a GPS

Less dynamic range

Significantly more expensive

Compare the SLT-A55 vs the SLT-A33

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
SLT-A33

Nikon D5100

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5100

Sony SLT-A33

Reasons to buy the Sony SLT-A33

recommendations

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

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D5100

Advantages of the Sony SLT-A33

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

Canon Rebel T3i

Nikon D3100

Canon Rebel T4i

Nikon D90

Canon EOS 60D

Canon Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T3

Nikon D5100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D3200

Nikon D5200

Nikon D7000

Sony SLT-A33 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony SLT A35

Sony SLT-A55

appearance

discussion

Showing 0 comments

NikonD5100 vs SonySLT-A33

Nikon D5100

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5100

Sony SLT-A33

Reasons to buy the Sony SLT-A33

recommendations

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

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D5100

Advantages of the Sony SLT-A33

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

Canon Rebel T3i

Nikon D3100

Canon Rebel T4i

Nikon D90

Canon EOS 60D

Canon Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T3

Nikon D5100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D3200

Nikon D5200

Nikon D7000

Sony SLT-A33 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony SLT A35

Sony SLT-A55

appearance

discussion

Showing 0 comments

Nikon
D5100
vs
Sony
SLT-A33