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Nikon D5100 vs Sony A350

Portability
66
Imaging
57
Features
81
Overall
66
Nikon D5100 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A350 front
Portability
62
Imaging
53
Features
47
Overall
50

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A350 Key Specs

Nikon D5100
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Boost to 25600)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 560g - 128 x 97 x 79mm
  • Revealed April 2011
  • Succeeded the Nikon D5000
  • Refreshed by Nikon D5200
Sony A350
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 674g - 131 x 99 x 75mm
  • Revealed June 2008
  • Replacement is Sony A380
Photography Glossary

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A350 Overview

The following is a in-depth assessment of the Nikon D5100 versus Sony A350, both Entry-Level DSLR digital cameras by competitors Nikon and Sony. The image resolution of the D5100 (16MP) and the A350 (14MP) is very similar and both cameras offer the identical sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The D5100 was manufactured 2 years after the A350 which is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras feature the same body design (Compact SLR).

Before getting into a in depth comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the D5100 grades versus the A350 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D5100 over the Sony A350

 D5100 A350 
RevealedApril 2011June 2008Newer by 36 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Sony A350 over the Nikon D5100

 A350 D5100 

Common features in the Nikon D5100 and Sony A350

 D5100 A350 
Focus manually More precise focusing
Touch friendly display Neither comes with Touch friendly display

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A350 Physical Comparison

If you are going to travel with your camera, you'll have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Nikon D5100 comes with outer measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 79mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.1") having a weight of 560 grams (1.23 lbs) while the Sony A350 has proportions of 131mm x 99mm x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") along with a weight of 674 grams (1.49 lbs).

Check out the Nikon D5100 versus Sony A350 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have at that time. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the D5100 vs the A350.

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A350 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the D5100 and A350 is 66 and 62 respectively.

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A350 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A350 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its hard to envision the difference between sensor dimensions simply by reviewing a spec sheet. The image underneath should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the D5100 and A350.

As you can see, the 2 cameras feature the identical sensor size but not the same megapixels. You can expect to see the Nikon D5100 to offer you extra detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop pics way more aggressively. The younger D5100 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A350 sensor size comparison

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A350 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A350 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon D5100
Portrait photography with Sony A350
74
manual focus
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
71
manual focus
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Nikon D5100 Street photography details
Sony A350 Street photography details
67
screen articulates
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
66
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
heavier than average (674 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D5100 Sports photography features
Sony A350 Sports photography features
64
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
great battery pack (660 CIPA)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
continuous shooting slow (4.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has phase detect AF
low fps (3.0 frames/s)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D5100 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A350 as a Travel photography camera
77
great battery pack (660 shots)
MP count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
51
resolution is good (14MP)
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse recording
heavier than average (674g)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon D5100
Landscape photography with Sony A350
73
manual focus
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
great battery pack (660 CIPA)
does not have image stabilization
64
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D5100 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A350 as a Vlogging camera
69
selfie friendly screen
offers face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external mic jack
does not have image stabilization
9
no video recording
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Nikon D5100 vs Sony A350 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D5100 and Sony A350
 Nikon D5100Sony Alpha DSLR-A350
General Information
Brand Name Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon D5100 Sony Alpha DSLR-A350
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2011-04-26 2008-06-06
Body design Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor 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 surface area 370.5mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4928 x 3264 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Maximum enhanced ISO 25600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 11 9
Cross type focus points 1 -
Lens
Lens mount type Nikon F Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 309 143
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 2.7"
Resolution of display 921k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology TFT LCD monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 95 percent
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 speed 4.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain, wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/200 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video data format MPEG-4 -
Mic input
Headphone input
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 lbs) 674 gr (1.49 lbs)
Physical dimensions 128 x 97 x 79mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.1") 131 x 99 x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 80 65
DXO Color Depth rating 23.5 22.6
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.6 11.5
DXO Low light rating 1183 595
Other
Battery life 660 pictures -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID EN-EL14 -
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC Compact Flash (Type I or II), Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, UDMA Mode 5, Supports FAT12 / FAT16 / FAT32
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $0 $600