Updated (April, 2011): Compare the Nikon D5100 vs Sony Alpha DSLR-A330

Nikon D5000

48

Winner

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

Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
12.5 EV
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Sensor size
Large sensor
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Sensor type
CMOS Sensor
Better in low light
Sony Alpha DSLR-A330

32

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha DSLR-A330

Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Sensor size
Large sensor
APS-C 23.5x15.7mm
Storage slots
More storage slots
2
Badge
Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D5000

Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 868 ISO vs 535 ISO
Help
The D5000 has a slight edge (0.7 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
Catch candid moments easily
Overall image quality Better image quality 72.0 vs 64.0
Help
More than 10% better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.5 EV vs 11.5 EV
Help
1 f-stop more dynamic range
Movie format Shoots movies 720p @ 24fps vs None
Help
Shoots HD (720p) video as well as still pictures
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 92 lenses
Help
More than 80% more lenses available
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Color depth Better color depth 22.7 bits vs 22.4 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.3 more bits of color
True resolution Higher true resolution 12.2 MP vs 10 MP
Help
Capture more than 20% more detail in your photos
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 4 fps vs 2.5 fps
Help
60% faster continuous shooting
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.51x vs 0.48x
Help
More than 10% larger viewfinder
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
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs APS-C 23.5x15.7mm
Help
Almost the same
Nikon D5000 Learn more about
the Nikon D5000

Advantages of the Sony DSLR-A330

Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Size Significantly smaller 128x97x71 mm vs 127x104x80 mm
Help
Around 20% smaller
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Thickness Significantly thinner 2.8" vs 3.1"
Help
More than 10% thinner
Weight Lighter 529 g vs 590 g
Help
More than 10% lighter
Sony Alpha DSLR-A330 Learn more about
the Sony DSLR-A330
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent entry-level DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D5000 Nikon D5000
48 vs 32
Explain scores
Sony Alpha DSLR-A330 Sony Alpha DSLR-A330
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D5000.

advice

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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...

0
votes
by ImranVirk last month
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5000

Im a beginner and will mainly be using the camera for vacation pictures and weekend hobby photogra...

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Light sensitivity (boost) One has boost ISO Help
D5000:6,400 ISO
DSLR-A330:None
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
3,200 ISO
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
D5000:12.2 MP
DSLR-A330:10 MP
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Screen size Very small screens Help
2.7"
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
230k dots
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
D5000:4 fps
DSLR-A330:2.5 fps
Viewfinder size Below average viewfinder size Help
D5000:0.51x
DSLR-A330:0.48x
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Movie format One shoots movies Help
D5000:720p @ 24fps
DSLR-A330:None

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen size Has a much larger screen
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen size Has a much larger screen
Sensor size Has a slightly smaller sensor
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

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

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen size Has a much larger screen
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is significantly larger
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$333 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens

Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Battery life Has a significantly longer battery life
Thickness Is thicker
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Canon EOS Rebel T1i

Canon Rebel T1i

Entry-level DSLR

$475 - $629 body only

$549 - $580 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen size Has a much larger screen
Sensor size Has a slightly smaller sensor
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
Nikon D3000

Nikon D3000

Entry-level DSLR

$449 with 18-55mm lens

Screen size Has a much larger screen
Size Is slightly smaller
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
Live view Doesn't let you preview your photos on the screen

Nikon D5000 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens

Screen size Much larger screen
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Weight Heavier
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Focus points Many more focus points
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Weight Significantly heavier

Sony Alpha DSLR-A330 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony Alpha DSLR-A390

Sony Alpha DSLR-A390

Entry-level DSLR

$471 with 18-55mm lens

Autofocus Faster autofocus
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Size Significantly larger
Thickness Much thicker
Sony Alpha DSLR-A300

Sony Alpha DSLR-A300

Entry-level DSLR

Color depth Better color depth
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Sony Alpha DSLR-A350

Sony Alpha DSLR-A350

Entry-level DSLR

$972 body only

True resolution Significantly higher true resolution
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO
Size Larger
Weight Significantly heavier

appearance

Nikon D5000 Sony Alpha DSLR-A330
Nikon D5000 Sony Alpha DSLR-A330
Nikon D5000 Sony Alpha DSLR-A330

discussion

Showing 1 comments

Avatar for rookieblogger rookieblogger (3:17 PM, April 03, 2010)
thanks for this