Updated (August, 2011): Compare the Nikon D5100 vs Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

67

Winner

Sony NEX-5N

Reasons to buy the Sony NEX-5N

Overall image quality
Great image quality
77.0
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
Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
12.7 EV
Nikon D5000

42

Runner-up

Nikon D5000

"The D5000 acquires the 11-point AF system from the D90. It's a pretty sophisticated setup for a camera at this level"
dpreview.com | talking about the D5000's auto-focus
"Excellent degree of customization (reversible dial and meter ease transition from other systems)"
dpreview.com | talking about the D5000's button-layout

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5000

Supports 24p
24p movies
For that film look
Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
12.5 EV
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Lens availability
Many lenses available
169 lenses
Badge
Phase detection autofocus
fast and accurate
Viewfinder
Great viewfinder
Pentamirror

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D5000

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 Slightly longer battery life 510 shots vs 460 shots
Help
More than 10% more shots per battery charge
Nikon D5000 Learn more about
the Nikon D5000

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 Much smaller 111x59x38 mm vs 127x104x80 mm
Help
4.2x smaller
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 60fps vs 720p @ 24fps
Help
Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video at a higher frame rate
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
More than 10% larger screen
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
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 16 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
Capture more than 30% more detail in your photos
Overall image quality Better image quality 77.0 vs 72.0
Help
Around 10% better image quality
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 10 fps vs 4 fps
Help
2.5x faster continuous shooting
Thickness Significantly thinner 1.5" vs 3.1"
Help
2.1x thinner
Weight Significantly lighter 269 g vs 590 g
Help
2.2x lighter
Focus points More focus points 25 vs 11
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,079 ISO vs 868 ISO
Help
The NEX-5N has a slight edge (0.3 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Color depth Better color depth 23.6 bits vs 22.7 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.9 more bits of color
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $598.00 vs $879.95
Help
The best price we've seen is $282 cheaper (more than 30% less)
Sony NEX-5N Learn more about
the Sony NEX-5N
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon D5000 Nikon D5000
42 vs 67
Explain scores
Sony NEX-5N Sony NEX-5N
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony NEX-5N. 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 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.

0
votes
by Jithmi-Alwis last month
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5000

iam a beginner ...and need a good entry level dslr...which is cheap...and have great image stab...

One person recommends the Nikon D3100:

" The D3100 is a great starter camera"

0
votes
by Neeraj-Jain last week
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5000

I am beginner and I want to become an expert in portrait photography, especially baby shots. Ple...

0
votes
by telmanri last week
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5000

I'm photography enthusiast and I plan to move on for my first dSLR. I want to buy a refurbished ...

0
votes
by Ketan-Nivding last month
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5000

Hi, I' am an amateur photographer and have taken up photography as a hobby. Recently, while on a J...

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Supports 24p Both support 24p, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
For that film look
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
D5000:72.0
NEX-5N:77.0
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
D5000:APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
NEX-5N:APS-C 23.4x15.6mm
Dynamic range Good dynamic range Help
D5000:12.5 EV
NEX-5N:12.7 EV
Interchangeable lenses Both support interchangeable lenses, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
Many lenses to choose from
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
Color depth Good color depth Help
D5000:22.7 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
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly 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
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
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 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
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

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

True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier

Nikon D5000 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Weight Heavier
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
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Supports 24p No 24p support

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 Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 with 18-55mm lens

Startup delay Less startup delay
Supports 24p No 24p support
Touch screen No touch screen
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
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
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
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 D5000 Sony NEX-5N
Nikon D5000 Sony NEX-5N
Nikon D5000 Sony NEX-5N

discussion

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