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Nikon D5100 vs Sony A330

Portability
66
Imaging
56
Features
81
Overall
66
Nikon D5100 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A330 front
Portability
67
Imaging
50
Features
50
Overall
50

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A330 Key Specs

Nikon D5100
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Expand to 25600)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 560g - 128 x 97 x 79mm
  • Launched April 2011
  • Succeeded the Nikon D5000
  • Renewed by Nikon D5200
Sony A330
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 529g - 128 x 97 x 71mm
  • Released May 2009
  • Succeeded the Sony A300
Photography Glossary

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A330 Overview

Below is a in depth review of the Nikon D5100 vs Sony A330, both Entry-Level DSLR digital cameras by rivals Nikon and Sony. There is a crucial difference between the image resolutions of the D5100 (16MP) and A330 (10MP) but both cameras have the same sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The D5100 was revealed 24 months later than the A330 making them a generation apart from each other. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Compact SLR).

Before going into a complete comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the D5100 matches up versus the A330 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D5100 over the Sony A330

 D5100 A330 
ReleasedApril 2011May 2009More recent by 24 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Sony A330 over the Nikon D5100

 A330 D5100 

Common features in the Nikon D5100 and Sony A330

 D5100 A330 
Manually focus More exact focus
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A330 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to lug around your camera, you'll have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Nikon D5100 offers physical measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 79mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.1") and a weight of 560 grams (1.23 lbs) and the Sony A330 has measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 529 grams (1.17 lbs).

Look at the Nikon D5100 vs Sony A330 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have at that moment. Here is a front view sizing comparison of the D5100 and the A330.

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A330 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the D5100 and A330 is 66 and 67 respectively.

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A330 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A330 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be tough to envision the contrast between sensor measurements merely by checking specs. The photograph below will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the D5100 and A330.

All in all, both the cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same megapixels. You should expect to see the Nikon D5100 to resolve extra detail because of its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The younger D5100 will have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A330 sensor size comparison

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A330 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A330 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon D5100
Portrait photography with Sony A330
73
focusing manually
MP count good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports face detect focus
delivers RAW files
62
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Nikon D5100 Street photography information
Sony A330 Street photography information
67
screen can move to multiple angles
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
no image stabilization
75
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D5100 Sports photography info
Sony A330 Sports photography info
63
MP count good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports tracking focus
better than average battery life (660 per charge)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
continuous shooting slow (4.0 fps)
no image stabilization
50
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has phase detect auto focus
low fps (3.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
not so great battery life (230 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon D5100
Travel photography with Sony A330
77
better than average battery life (660 shots)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
44
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse mode
not so great battery life (230 shots)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D5100 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A330 as a Landscape photography camera
72
focusing manually
switch lenses (Nikon F mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
MP count good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (660 per charge)
no image stabilization
54
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
small screen (2.7 inches)
megapixel count low (10MP)
not so great battery life (230 shots)
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon D5100
Vlogging with Sony A330
69
selfie friendly screen
supports face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes mic support
no image stabilization
9
no video shooting
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Nikon D5100 vs Sony A330 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D5100 and Sony A330
 Nikon D5100Sony Alpha DSLR-A330
General Information
Make Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon D5100 Sony Alpha DSLR-A330
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2011-04-26 2009-05-18
Physical type Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Expeed 2 Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.6 x 15.7mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 370.5mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4928 x 3264 3872 x 2592
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Max enhanced ISO 25600 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 11 9
Cross type focus points 1 -
Lens
Lens support Nikon F Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 309 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Tilting
Display size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 921 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech TFT LCD monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.52x 0.49x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 10.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/200 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported 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 -
Microphone support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 560 gr (1.23 lb) 529 gr (1.17 lb)
Physical dimensions 128 x 97 x 79mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.1") 128 x 97 x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 80 64
DXO Color Depth rating 23.5 22.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.6 11.5
DXO Low light rating 1183 535
Other
Battery life 660 shots 230 shots
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL14 NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $0 $545