Nikon
D3100
 vs
Sony Alpha
NEX-5

Updated (August, 2011): Compare the Nikon D3100 vs Sony NEX-5N

Nikon D3100

74
Winner

Nikon D3100
"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
"Unusually fast Live View AF for an SLR"
dpreview.com | talking about the D3100's auto-focus

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3100

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 24fps
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
Sony Alpha NEX-5

54
Runner-up

Sony Alpha NEX-5
"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
Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
920k dots
Size
 Really small
Compact 111x59x38 mm
Light sensitivity
 High ISO
12,800 ISO
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12.2 EV
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D3100
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
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
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
Startup delay Less startup delay 400 ms vs 1000 ms
Help
 2.5x less delay when turning on
Battery life Longer battery life 550 shots vs 330 shots
Help
 Around 70% more shots per battery charge
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Pentamirror vs None
Help
 A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 919 ISO vs 796 ISO
Help
 The D3100 has a slight edge (0.2 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs None
Help
 Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 279 ms vs 441 ms
Help
 Around 40% less delay when taking photos
Cross type focus points Slightly more cross-type focus points 1 vs 0
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Color depth Better color depth 22.5 bits vs 22.2 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.3 more bits of color
Nikon D3100 Learn more about
the Nikon D3100

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 4x higher resolution screen
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
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
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
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 11.3 EV
Help
 0.9 f-stops more dynamic range
Thickness Significantly thinner 1.5" vs 2.9"
Help
 Around 50% thinner
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 7 fps vs 3 fps
Help
 Around 2.5x faster continuous shooting
Weight Significantly lighter 287 g vs 505 g
Help
 More than 40% lighter
Focus points More focus points 25 vs 11
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 69.0 vs 67.0
Help
 Almost the same
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Learn more about
the Sony NEX-5
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon D3100 Nikon D3100
74 vs 54
Explain scores
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3100. 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.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

NikonD3100
 Nikon D3100 vs Sony Alpha NEX-5
SonyAlpha NEX-5
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
45
79
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
56
59
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
55
48
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
59
48
Vote Vote
Autofocus performance Video focusing
Speed and accuracy
59
48
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
71
37
Vote Vote
Build quality Build quality
Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal
59
56
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Movie format Full HD (1080p) video Help
D3100:1080p @ 24fps
NEX-5:1080p @ 30fps
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
D3100:67.0
NEX-5:69.0
True resolution Capture very high resolution images Help
D3100:14.2 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
Color depth Good color depth Help
D3100:22.5 bits
NEX-5:22.2 bits
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
Low light performance Relatively low noise at high ISO Help
D3100:919 ISO
NEX-5:796 ISO
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Sensor cleaning Self cleaning sensors Help
Avoids dust in your photos
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
D3100:1
NEX-5:0

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$650 - $749 body only

$600 - $750 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the D5100 vs the D3100
Compare the D5100 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$379 body only

$460 - $550 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 D3100
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$499 - $949 body only

$579 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D3100
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the Alpha NEX-5
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$609 - $800 body only

$709 - $1,180 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D3100
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony SLT-A55

Sony SLT-A55

Entry-level DSLR

$699 body only

$799 - $880 with 18-70mm lens
Image stabilization Has image stabilization
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the SLT-A55 vs the D3100
Compare the SLT-A55 vs the Alpha NEX-5

Nikon D3100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$869 - $897 body only

$1,099 - $1,200 with 18-105mm lens
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus
Compare the D90 vs the D3100
Canon EOS Rebel T1i

Canon Rebel T1i

Entry-level DSLR

$445 - $629 body only

$504 - $609 with 18-55mm lens
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Supports 24p No 24p support
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus
Compare the Rebel T1i vs the D3100
Nikon D5000

Nikon D5000

Entry-level DSLR

$997 with 18-55mm lens
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Dynamic range More dynamic range
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
Compare the D5000 vs the D3100

Sony Alpha NEX-5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$599 - $600 body only

$698 - $699 with 18-55mm lens
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Startup delay Significantly more startup delay
Compare the NEX-5N vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony NEX C3

Sony NEX C3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$499 - $550 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly slower
Compare the NEX C3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Lowest price Significantly more expensive
Weight Heavier
Compare the NEX-7 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony Alpha NEX-3

Sony Alpha NEX-3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$479 - $548 with 16mm lens
Storage slots Has more storage slots
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the Alpha NEX-3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$597 with 10-30mm lens
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the 1 J1 vs the Alpha NEX-5

appearance

Nikon D3100 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Nikon D3100 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Nikon D3100 Sony Alpha NEX-5

Find similar cameras

Here are some links to help you find other cameras with similar features to both of these:

discussion Which do you think is better?

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