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Nikon D5100 vs Sony A100

Portability
66
Imaging
57
Features
81
Overall
66
Nikon D5100 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 front
Portability
64
Imaging
49
Features
38
Overall
44

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A100 Key Specs

Nikon D5100
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Increase to 25600)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 560g - 128 x 97 x 79mm
  • Introduced April 2011
  • Superseded the Nikon D5000
  • New Model is Nikon D5200
Sony A100
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 638g - 133 x 95 x 71mm
  • Released July 2006
  • Earlier Model is Konica Minolta 5D
  • Newer Model is Sony A550
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Nikon D5100 vs Sony A100 Overview

Let's look a little more closely at the Nikon D5100 and Sony A100, both Entry-Level DSLR digital cameras by rivals Nikon and Sony. There exists a substantial gap between the sensor resolutions of the D5100 (16MP) and A100 (10MP) but they come with the same exact sensor sizes (APS-C).

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The D5100 was launched 4 years later than the A100 and that is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before delving through a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the D5100 scores against the A100 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D5100 over the Sony A100

 D5100 A100 
ReleasedApril 2011July 2006More recent by 58 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display sizing3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Sony A100 over the Nikon D5100

 A100 D5100 

Common features in the Nikon D5100 and Sony A100

 D5100 A100 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Touch display Neither has Touch display

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A100 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to lug around your camera frequently, you'll need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Nikon D5100 has outer dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 79mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.1") accompanied by a weight of 560 grams (1.23 lbs) while the Sony A100 has dimensions of 133mm x 95mm x 71mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 2.8") along with a weight of 638 grams (1.41 lbs).

Analyze the Nikon D5100 and Sony A100 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have attached at the time. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the D5100 against the A100.

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A100 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the D5100 and A100 is 66 and 64 respectively.

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A100 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A100 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's difficult to imagine the gap between sensor measurements merely by going over specifications. The graphic underneath should give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the D5100 and A100.

To sum up, the two cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but different megapixels. You can anticipate the Nikon D5100 to deliver greater detail utilizing its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics a little more aggressively. The fresher D5100 should have an edge in sensor innovation.

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A100 sensor size comparison

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A100 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D5100 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A100 as a Portrait photography camera
74
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports face detect focus
delivers RAW files
53
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
does not have liveview
low resolution (10MP)
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Street Comparison

Nikon D5100 Street photography advice
Sony A100 Street photography advice
67
screen articulates fully
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
no image stabilization
65
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D5100 Sports photography information
Sony A100 Sports photography information
64
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports tracking focus
good battery life (660 shots)
has phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
does not have liveview
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
low resolution (10 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D5100 Travel photography info
Sony A100 Travel photography info
77
good battery life (660 shots)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
45
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
low resolution (10MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D5100 Landscape photography details
Sony A100 Landscape photography details
73
has manual focus
change lenses (Nikon F mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
good battery life (660 per charge)
no image stabilization
53
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inches)
does not have liveview
low resolution (10MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon D5100
Vlogging with Sony A100
69
selfie friendly display
supports face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has microphone port
no image stabilization
9
no video
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Nikon D5100 vs Sony A100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D5100 and Sony A100
 Nikon D5100Sony Alpha DSLR-A100
General Information
Company Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon D5100 Sony Alpha DSLR-A100
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2011-04-26 2006-07-31
Body design Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Expeed 2 -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.6 x 15.7mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor area 370.5mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Full resolution 4928 x 3264 3872 x 2592
Max native ISO 6400 1600
Max boosted ISO 25600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 11 9
Cross type focus points 1 -
Lens
Lens mount type Nikon F Sony/Minolta Alpha
Total lenses 309 143
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 2.5 inches
Resolution of display 921 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology TFT LCD monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.52x 0.55x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/200 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30, 25, 24 fps), 640 x 424 (30, 25 fps) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video data format MPEG-4 -
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 560 gr (1.23 lb) 638 gr (1.41 lb)
Dimensions 128 x 97 x 79mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.1") 133 x 95 x 71mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 80 61
DXO Color Depth rating 23.5 22.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.6 11.2
DXO Low light rating 1183 476
Other
Battery life 660 photographs -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID EN-EL14 NP-FM55H
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Compact Flash (Type I or II)
Storage slots 1 1
Retail pricing $0 $1,000