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

Sony Alpha NEX-5

54

"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

Size
Really small
Compact 111x59x38 mm
Light sensitivity
High ISO
12,800 ISO
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Panorama
In-camera panoramas
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
3D
Takes 3D photos
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
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
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Lens availability
Slightly more lenses available
169 lenses
Badge
Phase detection autofocus
fast and accurate
Viewfinder
Great viewfinder
Pentamirror
Built-in flash
Built-in flash
External flash not needed

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D5000

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
Battery life Longer battery life 510 shots vs 330 shots
Help
More than 50% more shots per battery charge
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 72.0 vs 69.0
Help
Almost the same
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Pentamirror vs None
Help
A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Startup delay Less startup delay 400 ms vs 1000 ms
Help
2.5x less delay when turning on
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 276 ms vs 441 ms
Help
Around 40% less delay when taking photos
Color depth Better color depth 22.7 bits vs 22.2 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.5 more bits of color
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.5 EV vs 12.2 EV
Help
0.3 f-stops more dynamic range
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 868 ISO vs 796 ISO
Help
The D5000 has a slight edge (0.1 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
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
Nikon D5000 Learn more about
the Nikon D5000

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5

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
Size Much smaller 111x59x38 mm vs 127x104x80 mm
Help
4.2x smaller
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps 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
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
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
Thickness Significantly thinner 1.5" vs 3.1"
Help
2.1x thinner
Weight Significantly lighter 287 g vs 590 g
Help
2.1x lighter
True resolution Higher true resolution 14 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
Capture more than 10% more detail in your photos
Focus points More focus points 25 vs 11
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 7 fps vs 4 fps
Help
Around 80% faster continuous shooting
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $569.00 vs $879.95
Help
The best price we've seen is $311 cheaper (around 40% less)
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Learn more about
the Sony NEX-5
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon D5000 Nikon D5000
42 vs 54
Explain scores
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony Alpha NEX-5. 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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1
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by Matthew-Kim last month
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2
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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"

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
D5000:APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
NEX-5:APS-C 23.4x15.6mm
Interchangeable lenses Both support interchangeable lenses, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
Many lenses to choose from
Dynamic range Good dynamic range Help
D5000:12.5 EV
NEX-5:12.2 EV
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
Color depth Good color depth Help
D5000:22.7 bits
NEX-5:22.2 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
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
D5000:1
NEX-5:0

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 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
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $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 slightly heavier
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens

Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Battery life Has a significantly longer battery life
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 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
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$333 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens

Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Thickness Is thicker

Nikon D5000 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Weather sealed Weather sealed
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Weight Heavier

Sony Alpha NEX-5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$598 - $600 body only

$698 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

Supports 24p Supports 24p
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Startup delay More startup delay
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
Screen resolution Significantly lower resolution screen
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,200 body only

$1,350 - $1,499 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Much higher true resolution
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Startup delay Slightly more startup delay
Weight Heavier
Sony NEX-F3

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$600 with 18-55mm lens

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Continuous shooting Shoots slower
Size Slightly larger
Sony NEX C3

Sony NEX C3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$548 with 16mm lens

Overall image quality Slightly better image quality
True resolution Higher true resolution
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly slower

appearance

Nikon D5000 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Nikon D5000 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Nikon D5000 Sony Alpha NEX-5

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