Nikon D3100 vs Sony NEX-5

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D3100

Faster autofocus

Phase detection

Contrast detection

Catch candid moments easily

Supports 24p

Yes

Get that real film feel

Much more lenses available

169 lenses

8 lenses

More than 21x more lenses available

Longer battery life

550 shots

330 shots

Around 70% more shots per battery charge

Less shutter lag

279 ms

670 ms

2.4x less delay when taking photos

Less startup delay

400 ms

1000 ms

2.5x less delay when turning on

Built-in flash

Yes

A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light

Has a viewfinder

Pentamirror

None

A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off

Slightly lower noise at high ISO

919 ISO

796 ISO

The D3100 has a slight edge (0.2 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance

Has boost ISO

12,800 ISO

None

Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image

Better color depth

22.5 bits

22.2 bits

Distinguishes 0.3 more bits of color

Slightly cheaper

$399.00

$656.43

The best price we've seen is $257 cheaper (around 40% less)

Learn more about
the Nikon D3100

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5

Has a built-in focus motor

Yes

Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses

Significantly smaller

111x59x38 mm

124x96x73 mm

3.6x smaller

Has a flip-out screen

Yes

Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies

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

Has in-camera HDR

Yes

Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range

Better maximum light sensitivity

12,800 ISO

3,200 ISO

The NEX-5's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better

More dynamic range

12.2 EV

11.3 EV

0.9 f-stops more dynamic range

Significantly thinner

1.5"

2.9"

Around 50% thinner

Shoots faster

7 fps

3 fps

Around 2.5x faster continuous shooting

Lighter

287 g

505 g

More than 40% lighter

More focus points

Set focus accurately within the frame

Slightly better image quality

69.0

67.0

Almost the same

Learn more about
the Sony NEX-5

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon D3100

69	vs	47
Explain scores

Sony Alpha NEX-5

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.

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths

Common Weaknesses

Large sensors

D3100:	APS-C 23.1x15.4mm
NEX-5:	APS-C 23.4x15.6mm

	Both support interchangeable lenses, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these
	Many lenses to choose from

Capture very high resolution images

D3100:	14.2 MP
NEX-5:	14 MP

	Supports RAW
	Better editing

Good color depth

D3100:	22.5 bits
NEX-5:	22.2 bits

Minimal startup delay

D3100:	400 ms
NEX-5:	1000 ms

	Self cleaning sensors
	Avoids dust in your photos

	Support external flash
	Better lighting

	Better sensor types
	Better in low light

	Fast max shutter speeds
	1/4000 of a second

	No image stabilization
	Risk of blur

Few cross-type focus points

D3100:	1
NEX-5:	0

dxomark

competitors

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$332 body only

$449 - $499 with 18-55mm lens

Has a slightly longer battery life

Lacks a self cleaning sensor

Is thicker

Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D3100

Compare the Rebel T3 vs the Alpha NEX-5

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$597 - $805 with 18-55mm lens

Has slightly better image quality

Has an external mic jack

Is thicker

Is significantly heavier

Compare the D5100 vs the D3100

Compare the D5100 vs the Alpha NEX-5

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$599 - $649 with 18-55mm lens

Takes slightly higher resolution photos

Has an external mic jack

Is thicker

Is significantly heavier

Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D3100

Compare the Rebel T3i vs the Alpha NEX-5

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$535 body only

$609 with 18-55mm lens

Takes slightly higher resolution photos

Has an external mic jack

Is thicker

Is slightly heavier

Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D3100

Compare the Rebel T2i vs the Alpha NEX-5

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens

Has an external mic jack

Much higher true resolution

Slightly more expensive

Compare the D3200 vs the D3100

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$599 - $899 body only

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

Has a built-in focus motor

More dynamic range

Lacks video autofocus

Lower resolution movies

Compare the D90 vs the D3100

Nikon D3000

Entry-level DSLR

$436 with 18-55mm lens

Slightly smaller

Thinner

Does not take movies

No live view

Compare the D3000 vs the D3100

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$650 - $699 with 18-55mm lens

Supports 24p

Has a touch screen

More startup delay

Compare the NEX-5N vs the Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$448 with 16-50mm lens

Has an external mic jack

Has more storage slots

Lower resolution movies

Less dynamic range

Compare the Alpha NEX-3 vs the Alpha NEX-5

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$948 body only

$1,098 with 18-55mm lens

Has an external mic jack

Supports 24p

Slightly more startup delay

Heavier

Compare the NEX-7 vs the Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-6

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$748 body only

$898 with 16-50mm lens

Faster autofocus

Supports 24p

Doesn't take 3D photos

Slightly larger

Compare the Alpha NEX-6 vs the Alpha NEX-5

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$379 - $497 with 10-30mm lens

Records high-speed movies

Shoots much faster

Screen does not flip out

Worse image quality

Compare the 1 J1 vs the Alpha NEX-5

appearance

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Nikon
D3100
vs
Sony Alpha
NEX-5

Nikon D3100

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3100

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha NEX-5

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D3100

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

dxomark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Rebel T3

Nikon D5100

Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T2i

Nikon D3100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D3200

Nikon D90

Nikon D3000

Sony Alpha NEX-5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony NEX-5N

Sony Alpha NEX-3

Sony NEX-7

Sony Alpha NEX-6

Nikon 1 J1

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discussion

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NikonD3100 vs Sony AlphaNEX-5

Nikon D3100

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3100

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha NEX-5

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D3100

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

dxomark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Rebel T3

Nikon D5100

Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T2i

Nikon D3100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D3200

Nikon D90

Nikon D3000

Sony Alpha NEX-5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony NEX-5N

Sony Alpha NEX-3

Sony NEX-7

Sony Alpha NEX-6

Nikon 1 J1

appearance

discussion

Showing 0 comments

Nikon
D3100
vs
Sony Alpha
NEX-5