Nikon
D5000
 vs
Sony Alpha
DSLR-A390

Updated (April, 2011): Compare the Nikon D5100 vs Sony Alpha DSLR-A390

Nikon D5000

50

  
Sony Alpha DSLR-A390

42

  
Winner

Nikon D5000

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5000

Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12.5 EV
Live view
 Has live view
Preview your photos
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
 

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha DSLR-A390

Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Live view
 Has live view
Preview your photos
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Sensor size
 Large sensor
APS-C 23.5x15.7mm
Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
198 ms shutter lag
Storage slots
 More storage slots
2
 

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D5000
Movie format Shoots movies 720p @ 24fps vs None
Help
 Shoots HD (720p) video as well as still pictures
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 868 ISO vs 607 ISO
Help
 The D5000 has a slight edge (0.5 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.5 EV vs 11.5 EV
Help
 1 f-stop more dynamic range
Overall image quality Better image quality 72.0 vs 66.0
Help
 Around 10% better image quality
Lens availability Much 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
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 4 fps vs 2.5 fps
Help
 60% faster continuous shooting
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.51x vs 0.48x
Help
 More than 10% larger viewfinder
Color depth Better color depth 22.7 bits vs 22.5 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.2 more bits of color
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
Thickness Significantly thinner 3.1" vs 3.4"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs APS-C 23.5x15.7mm
Help
 Almost the same
Focus points Slightly more focus points 11 vs 9
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Size Slightly smaller 127x104x80 mm vs 128x97x86 mm
Help
 Almost the same
Nikon D5000 Learn more about
the Nikon D5000

Advantages of the Sony DSLR-A390
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 198 ms vs 276 ms
Help
 Around 30% less delay when taking photos
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
 More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
True resolution Higher true resolution 14 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
 Capture more than 10% more detail in your photos
Weight Lighter 549 g vs 590 g
Help
 Around 10% lighter
Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 Learn more about
the Sony DSLR-A390
vs

recommendations

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

Nikon D5000 Nikon D5000
50 vs 42
Explain scores
Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D5000.

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Sensor size Large sensors Help
D5000:APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
DSLR-A390:APS-C 23.5x15.7mm
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-A390:None
Thickness Quite thick Help
D5000:3.1"
DSLR-A390:3.4"
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Size Large Help
D5000:127x104x80 mm
DSLR-A390:128x97x86 mm
Movie format One shoots movies Help
D5000:720p @ 24fps
DSLR-A390:None
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
3,200 ISO
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
230k dots
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
D5000:12.2 MP
DSLR-A390:14 MP
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
1
Screen size Very small screens Help
2.7"
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
D5000:4 fps
DSLR-A390:2.5 fps
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Viewfinder size Below average viewfinder size Help
D5000:0.51x
DSLR-A390:0.48x
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
Sensor size Has a marginally smaller sensor
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the D3100 vs the D5000
Compare the D3100 vs the Alpha DSLR-A390
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$597 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the D5100 vs the D5000
Compare the D5100 vs the Alpha DSLR-A390
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Sensor size Has a marginally smaller sensor
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the D3200 vs the D5000
Compare the D3200 vs the Alpha DSLR-A390
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$599 - $649 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
Sensor size Has a significantly smaller sensor
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D5000
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the Alpha DSLR-A390
Nikon D3000

Nikon D3000

Entry-level DSLR

$436 with 18-55mm lens
Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
Size Is much smaller
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
Compare the D3000 vs the D5000
Compare the D3000 vs the Alpha DSLR-A390
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$332 body only

$449 - $499 with 18-55mm lens
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D5000
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the Alpha DSLR-A390
Nikon D80

Nikon D80

Entry-level DSLR
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder
Viewfinder Has higher quality type of viewfinder
Weight Is slightly heavier
Autofocus Users slower contrast detection autofocus
Compare the D80 vs the D5000
Compare the D80 vs the Alpha DSLR-A390

Nikon D5000 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$599 - $899 body only

$799 - $1,099 with 18-105mm lens
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Weight Heavier
Compare the D90 vs the D5000
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Weight Significantly heavier
Compare the D7000 vs the D5000

Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony SLT-A37

Sony SLT-A37

Entry-level DSLR

$482 - $600 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Shoots movies
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Viewfinder Has a digital viewfinder
Screen size Smaller screen
Compare the SLT-A37 vs the Alpha DSLR-A390
Sony Alpha DSLR-A350

Sony Alpha DSLR-A350

Entry-level DSLR
Battery life Longer battery life
Size Smaller
Autofocus Slower autofocus
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Compare the Alpha DSLR-A350 vs the Alpha DSLR-A390
Sony SLT-A33

Sony SLT-A33

Entry-level DSLR

$848 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Shoots movies
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Viewfinder Has a digital viewfinder
Battery life Shorter battery life
Compare the SLT-A33 vs the Alpha DSLR-A390

appearance

Nikon D5000 Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
Nikon D5000 Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
Nikon D5000 Sony Alpha DSLR-A390

discussion

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