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Nikon D5000 vs Sony A55

Portability
65
Imaging
52
Features
50
Overall
51
Nikon D5000 front
 
Sony SLT-A55 front
Portability
67
Imaging
56
Features
80
Overall
65

Nikon D5000 vs Sony A55 Key Specs

Nikon D5000
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Push to 6400)
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 590g - 127 x 104 x 80mm
  • Revealed June 2009
  • Succeeded the Nikon D60
  • New Model is Nikon D5100
Sony A55
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Revealed August 2010
  • Updated by Sony A57
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Nikon D5000 vs Sony A55 Overview

Its time to take a closer look at the Nikon D5000 versus Sony A55, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras by rivals Nikon and Sony. There is a big difference among the resolutions of the D5000 (12MP) and A55 (16MP) but they feature the same exact sensor measurements (APS-C).

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The D5000 was revealed 14 months prior to the A55 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before diving straight into a detailed comparison, below is a short overview of how the D5000 grades against the A55 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D5000 over the Sony A55

 D5000 A55 

Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Nikon D5000

 A55 D5000 
RevealedAugust 2010June 2009More modern by 14 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Nikon D5000 and Sony A55

 D5000 A55 
Manually focus More exact focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFully ArticulatedFully Articulated screen
Selfie screen Both good for selfies
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Nikon D5000 vs Sony A55 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you need to factor its weight and measurements. The Nikon D5000 has outer dimensions of 127mm x 104mm x 80mm (5.0" x 4.1" x 3.1") and a weight of 590 grams (1.30 lbs) and the Sony A55 has proportions of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") along with a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Analyze the Nikon D5000 versus Sony A55 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are using at that moment. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the D5000 vs the A55.

Nikon D5000 vs Sony A55 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the D5000 and A55 is 65 and 67 respectively.

Nikon D5000 vs Sony A55 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D5000 vs Sony A55 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's hard to visualize the difference in sensor sizes only by researching specs. The pic below will offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the D5000 and A55.

All in all, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit different MP. You should count on the Sony A55 to render more detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop photographs far more aggressively. The more aged D5000 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Nikon D5000 vs Sony A55 sensor size comparison

Nikon D5000 vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D5000 vs Sony A55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D5000 Portrait photography factors
Sony A55 Portrait photography factors
63
focusing manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
73
focusing manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon D5000 Street photography information
Sony A55 Street photography information
66
screen articulates fully
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
77
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D5000 Sports photography details
Sony A55 Sports photography details
42
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
max frames per second very slow (4.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
low battery pack (510 shots)
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect AF
low battery (380 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D5000 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A55 as a Travel photography camera
56
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
low battery pack (510 per charge)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
62
good resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
no Time Lapse recording
low battery (380 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D5000 Landscape photography advice
Sony A55 Landscape photography advice
52
focusing manually
change lenses (Nikon F mount)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
low battery pack (510 CIPA)
67
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
low battery (380 CIPA)
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D5000 Vlogging factors
Sony A55 Vlogging factors
52
selfie friendly display
supports face detection autofocus
does not have image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external microphone socket
78
selfie friendly screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external mic jack
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Nikon D5000 vs Sony A55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D5000 and Sony A55
 Nikon D5000Sony SLT-A55
General Information
Manufacturer Nikon Sony
Model Nikon D5000 Sony SLT-A55
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2009-06-12 2010-08-24
Body design Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Expeed Bionz
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 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4288 x 2848 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Highest boosted ISO 6400 25600
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 11 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount Nikon F Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 309 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Display sizing 2.7" 3"
Display resolution 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150k dot
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.52x 0.73x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 17.00 m (at ISO 100) 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
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
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/200 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
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)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 590 gr (1.30 lbs) 500 gr (1.10 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 All around score 72 73
DXO Color Depth score 22.7 23.0
DXO Dynamic range score 12.5 12.4
DXO Low light score 868 816
Other
Battery life 510 pictures 380 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL9a NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $630 $800