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Nikon D5000 vs Sony A37

Portability
65
Imaging
51
Features
50
Overall
50
Nikon D5000 front
 
Sony SLT-A37 front
Portability
67
Imaging
57
Features
65
Overall
60

Nikon D5000 vs Sony A37 Key Specs

Nikon D5000
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Increase to 6400)
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 590g - 127 x 104 x 80mm
  • Launched June 2009
  • Earlier Model is Nikon D60
  • Replacement is Nikon D5100
Sony A37
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.6" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 506g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Revealed May 2012
  • Succeeded the Sony A35
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Nikon D5000 vs Sony A37 Overview

Below is a extended review of the Nikon D5000 and Sony A37, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras by companies Nikon and Sony. There is a sizeable difference among the resolutions of the D5000 (12MP) and A37 (16MP) but they use the same exact sensor sizing (APS-C).

Photography Glossary

The D5000 was released 3 years earlier than the A37 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before going straight into a thorough comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the D5000 grades vs the A37 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D5000 over the Sony A37

 D5000 A37 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen sizing2.7"2.6"Bigger screen (+0.1")
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Sony A37 over the Nikon D5000

 A37 D5000 
RevealedMay 2012June 2009More recent by 35 months

Common features in the Nikon D5000 and Sony A37

 D5000 A37 
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Screen resolution230k230kSame screen resolution
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Nikon D5000 vs Sony A37 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera, you need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Nikon D5000 has got exterior measurements of 127mm x 104mm x 80mm (5.0" x 4.1" x 3.1") accompanied by a weight of 590 grams (1.30 lbs) whilst the Sony A37 has dimensions of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") along with a weight of 506 grams (1.12 lbs).

Check out the Nikon D5000 and Sony A37 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are employing at that time. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the D5000 versus the A37.

Nikon D5000 vs Sony A37 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the D5000 and A37 is 65 and 67 respectively.

Nikon D5000 vs Sony A37 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D5000 vs Sony A37 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be hard to envision the contrast in sensor measurements only by seeing specifications. The visual below will give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the D5000 and A37.

Plainly, the two cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same resolution. You should count on the Sony A37 to produce extra detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The older D5000 will be behind in sensor innovation.

Nikon D5000 vs Sony A37 sensor size comparison

Nikon D5000 vs Sony A37 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D5000 vs Sony A37 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D5000 Portrait photography features
Sony A37 Portrait photography features
62
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12MP)
74
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon D5000
Street photography with Sony A37
65
screen articulates fully
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no image stabilization
77
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
very good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D5000 Sports photography information
Sony A37 Sports photography information
42
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect AF
low fps (4.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
low resolution sensor (12MP)
terrible battery power (510 CIPA)
61
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
bad battery pack (500 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D5000 Travel photography advice
Sony A37 Travel photography advice
56
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
terrible battery power (510 per charge)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
54
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
no Time Lapse recording
bad battery pack (500 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D5000 Landscape photography features
Sony A37 Landscape photography features
51
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
no image stabilization
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
terrible battery power (510 CIPA)
64
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
very good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
screen is small (2.6 inches)
bad battery pack (500 CIPA)
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon D5000
Vlogging with Sony A37
52
selfie friendly screen
includes face detection focusing
no image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic port
35
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has external mic port
screen is not selfie friendly
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Nikon D5000 vs Sony A37 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D5000 and Sony A37
 Nikon D5000Sony SLT-A37
General Information
Manufacturer Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon D5000 Sony SLT-A37
Category Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2009-06-12 2012-05-16
Body design Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.6 x 15.8mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 372.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4288 x 2848 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 3200 25600
Max enhanced ISO 6400 -
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 11 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount type Nikon F Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 309 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen size 2.7" 2.6"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.52x 0.73x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 4.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 17.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/200 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 424 (24 fps), 320 x 216 (24 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 590 gr (1.30 lbs) 506 gr (1.12 lbs)
Dimensions 127 x 104 x 80mm (5.0" x 4.1" x 3.1") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 72 75
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 23.3
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.5 12.9
DXO Low light rating 868 799
Other
Battery life 510 photos 500 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL9a NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $630 $522