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Nikon D5100 vs Sony A450

Portability
66
Imaging
57
Features
81
Overall
66
Nikon D5100 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A450 front
Portability
65
Imaging
54
Features
52
Overall
53

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A450 Key Specs

Nikon D5100
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Boost to 25600)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 560g - 128 x 97 x 79mm
  • Introduced April 2011
  • Replaced the Nikon D5000
  • Newer Model is Nikon D5200
Sony A450
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 560g - 137 x 104 x 81mm
  • Revealed January 2010
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Nikon D5100 vs Sony A450 Overview

Let's look much closer at the Nikon D5100 versus Sony A450, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras by brands Nikon and Sony. The sensor resolution of the D5100 (16MP) and the A450 (14MP) is pretty comparable and they come with the same exact sensor sizes (APS-C).

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The D5100 was announced 16 months after the A450 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Each of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before diving in to a in-depth comparison, below is a quick view of how the D5100 grades vs the A450 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D5100 over the Sony A450

 D5100 A450 
RevealedApril 2011January 2010Newer by 16 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Sony A450 over the Nikon D5100

 A450 D5100 

Common features in the Nikon D5100 and Sony A450

 D5100 A450 
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Touch friendly screen Neither offers Touch friendly screen

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A450 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to travel with your camera, you have to consider its weight and volume. The Nikon D5100 offers outer dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 79mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.1") with a weight of 560 grams (1.23 lbs) and the Sony A450 has sizing of 137mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.2") along with a weight of 560 grams (1.23 lbs).

Check the Nikon D5100 versus Sony A450 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have at the time. Here is the front view measurement comparison of the D5100 versus the A450.

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A450 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the D5100 and A450 is 66 and 65 respectively.

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A450 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A450 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's difficult to visualise the gap in sensor dimensions purely by checking out specs. The image underneath may provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the D5100 and A450.

All in all, both cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same megapixels. You should expect the Nikon D5100 to provide greater detail with its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs far more aggressively. The younger D5100 will have an advantage in sensor innovation.

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A450 sensor size comparison

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A450 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A450 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D5100 Portrait photography factors
Sony A450 Portrait photography factors
74
you can focus manually
good resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
72
has manual focus
decent MP (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Nikon D5100 Street photography details
Sony A450 Street photography details
67
fully articulated screen
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D5100 Sports photography factors
Sony A450 Sports photography factors
64
good resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking focus
good battery (660 CIPA)
sensor has phase detect AF
continuous shooting slow (4.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
77
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
great battery (1,050 per charge)
has phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D5100 Travel photography info
Sony A450 Travel photography info
77
good battery (660 per charge)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
60
great battery (1,050 CIPA)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse recording
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D5100 Landscape photography details
Sony A450 Landscape photography details
73
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen size is good (3")
good resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
good battery (660 CIPA)
does not have image stabilization
66
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
great battery (1,050 per charge)
tiny screen (2.7")
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon D5100
Vlogging with Sony A450
69
selfie friendly screen
has face detect focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes mic port
does not have image stabilization
9
no video shooting
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Nikon D5100 vs Sony A450 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D5100 and Sony A450
 Nikon D5100Sony Alpha DSLR-A450
General Information
Brand Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon D5100 Sony Alpha DSLR-A450
Category Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2011-04-26 2010-01-05
Body design Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed 2 Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.6 x 15.7mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 370.5mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4928 x 3264 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Max boosted ISO 25600 -
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 11 9
Cross type focus points 1 -
Lens
Lens support Nikon F Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 309 143
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 921 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech TFT LCD monitor TFT Clear Photo Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.52x 0.53x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Auto, Fill, Rear Sync, Slow Sync, Wireless/ High Speed Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/200s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 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 grams (1.23 pounds) 560 grams (1.23 pounds)
Dimensions 128 x 97 x 79mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.1") 137 x 104 x 81mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 80 66
DXO Color Depth rating 23.5 21.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.6 11.8
DXO Low light rating 1183 769
Other
Battery life 660 images 1050 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL14 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Price at launch $0 $1,241