Updated (August, 2011): Compare the Nikon D300S vs Sony NEX-7

Sony Alpha NEX-5

54

"The system for manually positioning AF points is quick and easy to use."
dpreview.com | talking about the NEX-5's auto-focus
"High quality video mode"
dpreview.com | talking about the NEX-5's video-quality

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha NEX-5

Movie format
Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
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
Nikon D300S

48

Runner-up

Nikon D300S

"Although the fine detail of ergonomics can come down to personal preference and hand shape/size, the basics are universal"
dpreview.com | talking about the D300S's feel
"Sophisticated AF system with effective subject tracking"
dpreview.com | talking about the D300S's auto-focus

Reasons to buy the Nikon D300S

Weather sealed
Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Supports 24p
24p movies
For that film look
External mic jack
External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Lens availability
Slightly more lenses available
169 lenses
Battery life
Great battery life
950 shots
Badge
Phase detection autofocus
fast and accurate

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D300S

Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
Sealed to shoot in the rain
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
Battery life Much longer battery life 950 shots vs 330 shots
Help
Around 3x more shots per battery charge
Cross type focus points Significantly more cross-type focus points 15 vs 0
Help
Grab focus in difficult situations
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Focus points More focus points 51 vs 25
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
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
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Pentaprism vs None
Help
A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Startup delay Less startup delay 300 ms vs 1000 ms
Help
3.3x less delay when turning on
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 225 ms vs 441 ms
Help
Around 50% less delay when taking photos
Color depth Better color depth 22.5 bits vs 22.2 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.3 more bits of color
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 6,400 ISO vs None
Help
Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
2x faster max shutter speed
Nikon D300S Learn more about
the Nikon D300S

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5

Size Much smaller 111x59x38 mm vs 147x114x74 mm
Help
5x smaller
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 24fps
Help
Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video at a higher frame rate
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
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 3,200 ISO
Help
The NEX-5's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Weight Much lighter 287 g vs 938 g
Help
3.3x lighter
Thickness Significantly thinner 1.5" vs 2.9"
Help
Around 50% thinner
True resolution Higher true resolution 14 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
Capture more than 10% more detail in your photos
Lowest price Cheaper $569.00 vs $1,690.00
Help
The best price we've seen is $1,121 cheaper (3x less)
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Learn more about
the Sony NEX-5
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon D300S Nikon D300S
48 vs 54
Explain scores
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony Alpha NEX-5. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a pro DSLR with a mirrorless interchangeable-lens.

advice

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1
votes
by John-Dettinger last month
Nikon D300S vs Nikon D7000

I began photography around 11 months ago. I currently have the entry level Nikon D3100. It has d...

2 people recommend the Nikon D7000:

" I've got the d7000 and im really happy with it. 39 focuspoints are more than enough! The low lig..."

" I don't have experience with either camera... but the stats show that the D7000 is better in eve..."

0
votes
by Katie-Renee-Roloson last week
Nikon D300S vs Nikon D7000

I am looking to upgrade to start a wedding photography business ...

2 people recommend the Nikon D7000:

" surely the D7000 is more up to date and seems to be at least as relyable as the d300s (both shut..."

"I shoot weddings with the D7000 and love it.. use the money saved and put it toward a great lens. ..."

0
votes
by Marcos-Panayiotou last month
Nikon D300S vs Nikon D7000

I would like a camera that shoots sharp both during day and night(both raw and bright light) A c...

One person recommends the Nikon D7000:

" noise reduction at high iso. more true resolution .bigger sensor than other semipro camera"

0
votes
by Sherry-McCollum last month
Nikon D300S vs Nikon D700

I'm an advanced amateur and the most important features in the camera are ease of use and very sha...

One person recommends the Nikon D300S:

"Go for the D300s and spend some extra money on lenses. To get great wildlife shots you'll need a l..."

0
votes
by Saeddo-Fodi last week
Nikon D2Xs vs Nikon D300S

dear sir /madam i want to buy a second body with my nikon d80 but i want it to be better i wa...

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen resolution Very high resolution screens Help
920k dots
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
D300S:APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
NEX-5:APS-C 23.4x15.6mm
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
12.2 EV
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
Color depth Good color depth Help
D300S:22.5 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
D300S:1/8000s
NEX-5:1/4000s
Longest exposure Long exposures Help
30 seconds
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens

Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,200 body only

$1,350 - $1,499 with 18-55mm lens

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Autofocus Focuses automatically while shootting video
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker

Nikon D300S Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Autofocus Video autofocus
Cross type focus points Fewer cross-type focus points
Focus points Fewer focus points
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

$1,620 - $1,849 with 18-135mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution
Focus points Significantly fewer focus points
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,649 body only

Sensor size Much larger sensor
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO
Movie format Does not take movies
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Nikon D300

Nikon D300

Pro DSLR

$1,000 body only

Battery life Slightly longer battery life
Lowest price Cheaper
Movie format Does not take movies
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Weather sealed No weather sealing
Focus points Significantly fewer focus points

Sony Alpha NEX-5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$598 - $600 body only

$698 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

Supports 24p Supports 24p
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Startup delay More startup delay
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
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
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
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

appearance

Nikon D300S Sony Alpha NEX-5
Nikon D300S Sony Alpha NEX-5
Nikon D300S Sony Alpha NEX-5

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