Updated (April, 2012): Compare the Nikon D3200 vs Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

67

Reasons to buy the Sony NEX-5N

Overall image quality
Great image quality
77.0
Screen resolution
High resolution screen
920k dots
Size
Really small
Compact 111x59x38 mm
Light sensitivity
High ISO
25,600 ISO
Touch screen
Touch screen
Less buttons
Supports 24p
24p movies
For that film look
Nikon D3100

65

"The D3100 offers little to complain about in terms of image quality, and its new 14Mp sensor delivers very good results."
dpreview.com | talking about the D3100's image-quality
"It's almost impossible to pick up without your hand falling into a sensible position with the key controls at your fingertips."
dpreview.com | talking about the D3100's button-layout

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3100

Supports 24p
24p movies
For that film look
Movie continuous focus
Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Badge
Autofocuses shooting video
Contrast detection
Lens availability
Slightly more lenses available
169 lenses
Badge
Phase detection autofocus
fast and accurate
Viewfinder
Great viewfinder
Pentamirror

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D3100

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
Startup delay Less startup delay 400 ms vs 1900 ms
Help
4.8x less delay when turning on
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 Pentamirror vs None
Help
A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Battery life Longer battery life 550 shots vs 460 shots
Help
Around 20% more shots per battery charge
Nikon D3100 Learn more about
the Nikon D3100

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5N

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
4x higher resolution screen
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 25,600 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The NEX-5N's maximum light sensitivity is 3 f-stops better
Size Significantly smaller 111x59x38 mm vs 124x96x73 mm
Help
3.6x smaller
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
Touch screen Has a touch screen Yes vs No
Help
Fewer buttons to worry about and direct interaction with camera menus
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
Overall image quality Better image quality 77.0 vs 67.0
Help
More than 10% better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.7 EV vs 11.3 EV
Help
1.4 f-stops more dynamic range
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 10 fps vs 3 fps
Help
Around 3.5x faster continuous shooting
Thickness Significantly thinner 1.5" vs 2.9"
Help
Around 50% thinner
True resolution Higher true resolution 16 MP vs 14.2 MP
Help
Capture more than 10% more detail in your photos
Weight Lighter 269 g vs 505 g
Help
Around 50% lighter
Focus points More focus points 25 vs 11
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Color depth Better color depth 23.6 bits vs 22.5 bits
Help
Distinguishes 1.1 more bits of color
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 1,079 ISO vs 919 ISO
Help
The NEX-5N has a slight edge (0.2 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Sony NEX-5N Learn more about
the Sony NEX-5N
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon D3100 Nikon D3100
65 vs 67
Explain scores
Sony NEX-5N Sony NEX-5N
Green arrow Too close to call! Snapsort considers these cameras too competitive to make a clear recommendation. 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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0
votes
by drrazariz last month
Nikon D3100 vs Sony NEX-3

Am a beginner. Want to get a camera for my wedding and honeymoon pictures. Preferably camera tha...

1
votes
by Lance-Villanueva-Ramos last month
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90

Beginner,capturing the moment of different events

2 people recommend the Nikon D3100:

" D3100 is going to have better video capabilities which you outlined as a need, image quality wil..."

"The D3100 is better for beginners because it has a great guide that will help you set up the camer..."

1
votes
by Kate-Hughes 4 days ago
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90

I am a beginner is DSLR photography & have been researching entry level models. I kep coming bac...

One person recommends the Nikon D3100:

" Hi Kate, Since you are a beginner in DSLR photography and it seems you have a budget, I would..."

0
votes
by Larisa-Dragan this month
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90

beginner/want to start a studio for newborn/children pictures/i think shooting in low light is i...

0
votes
by Ehsan-Sharif1 last month
Nikon D90 vs Sony NEX-5N

I feel like d90 is a little old to use for the next 2-3 years.

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Supports 24p Both support 24p, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
For that film look
Movie format Full HD (1080p) video Help
D3100:1080p @ 24fps
NEX-5N:1080p @ 60fps
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
D3100:APS-C 23.1x15.4mm
NEX-5N:APS-C 23.4x15.6mm
True resolution Capture very high resolution images Help
D3100:14.2 MP
NEX-5N:16 MP
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
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
Color depth Good color depth Help
D3100:22.5 bits
NEX-5N:23.6 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

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
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
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
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
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 with 18-55mm lens

Battery life Has a slightly shorter battery life
Supports 24p Doesn't record movies in 24p
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$547 with 10-30mm lens

High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Sensor size Has a slightly smaller sensor
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Weather sealed Has a weather sealed body
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier

Nikon D3100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$333 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens

Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Battery life Longer battery life
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus
Nikon D3000

Nikon D3000

Entry-level DSLR

$449 with 18-55mm lens

Size Slightly smaller
Thickness Thinner
Movie format Does not take movies
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus

Sony NEX-5N Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,200 body only

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

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Touch screen No touch screen
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Sony NEX-F3

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$600 with 18-55mm lens

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Built-in flash Built-in flash
Touch screen No touch screen
Movie continuous focus Doesn't focus continuously recording movies
Sony NEX C3

Sony NEX C3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$548 with 16mm lens

Startup delay Less startup delay
Weight Slightly lighter
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Supports 24p No 24p support

appearance

Nikon D3100 Sony NEX-5N
Nikon D3100 Sony NEX-5N
Nikon D3100 Sony NEX-5N

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