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Nikon D5100 vs Sony A560

Portability
66
Imaging
57
Features
81
Overall
66
Nikon D5100 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A560 front
Portability
64
Imaging
54
Features
78
Overall
63

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A560 Key Specs

Nikon D5100
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Raise to 25600)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 560g - 128 x 97 x 79mm
  • Released April 2011
  • Previous Model is Nikon D5000
  • Renewed by Nikon D5200
Sony A560
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Raise to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 599g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Announced August 2010
  • Superseded the Sony A500
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Nikon D5100 vs Sony A560 Overview

On this page, we are looking at the Nikon D5100 versus Sony A560, both Entry-Level DSLR digital cameras by manufacturers Nikon and Sony. The sensor resolution of the D5100 (16MP) and the A560 (14MP) is fairly similar and both cameras have the same sensor sizes (APS-C).

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The D5100 was introduced 9 months after the A560 so they are of a similar generation. Both the cameras have the same body design (Compact SLR).

Before going into a step-by-step comparison, here is a short highlight of how the D5100 matches up against the A560 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D5100 over the Sony A560

 D5100 A560 
AnnouncedApril 2011August 2010Newer by 9 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Sony A560 over the Nikon D5100

 A560 D5100 
Display resolution922k921kCrisper display (+1k dot)

Common features in the Nikon D5100 and Sony A560

 D5100 A560 
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A560 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to travel with your camera often, you need to factor in its weight and volume. The Nikon D5100 provides external measurements 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 A560 has sizing of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") along with a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs).

Check the Nikon D5100 versus Sony A560 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Below is a front view scale comparison of the D5100 compared to the A560.

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A560 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the D5100 and A560 is 66 and 64 respectively.

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A560 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A560 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its hard to picture the difference between sensor dimensions purely by reviewing a spec sheet. The picture here will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the D5100 and A560.

As you can see, both cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different resolution. You should anticipate the Nikon D5100 to offer you greater detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos a bit more aggressively. The fresher D5100 provides a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A560 sensor size comparison

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A560 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A560 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D5100 Portrait photography info
Sony A560 Portrait photography info
74
focusing manually
good megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
72
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection focusing
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon D5100 Street photography factors
Sony A560 Street photography factors
67
screen articulates fully
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
lack of image stabilization
75
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D5100 Sports photography factors
Sony A560 Sports photography factors
64
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
better than average battery life (660 per charge)
comes with phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
better than average battery pack (1,050 per charge)
supports phase detect AF
low frames per second (5.0 frames per second)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D5100 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A560 as a Travel photography camera
77
better than average battery life (660 CIPA)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
60
better than average battery pack (1,050 CIPA)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse mode
does not contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D5100 Landscape photography information
Sony A560 Landscape photography information
73
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Nikon F mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (660 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
73
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
better than average battery pack (1,050 shots)
has dual storage slots
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon D5100
Vlogging with Sony A560
69
screen is selfie friendly
includes face detect focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have microphone jack
lack of image stabilization
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external mic jack
does not contain selfie friendly screen
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Nikon D5100 vs Sony A560 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D5100 and Sony A560
 Nikon D5100Sony Alpha DSLR-A560
General Information
Brand Nikon Sony
Model Nikon D5100 Sony Alpha DSLR-A560
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2011-04-26 2010-08-24
Body design Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Expeed 2 Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.6 x 15.7mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 370.5mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4928 x 3264 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO 25600 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 11 15
Cross focus points 1 3
Lens
Lens mount Nikon F Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 309 143
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 921k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology TFT LCD monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.52x 0.53x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m
Flash settings 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
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/200 secs 1/160 secs
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) 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4 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 None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 560 gr (1.23 lb) 599 gr (1.32 lb)
Physical dimensions 128 x 97 x 79mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.1") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 80 70
DXO Color Depth score 23.5 22.5
DXO Dynamic range score 13.6 12.3
DXO Low light score 1183 817
Other
Battery life 660 photos 1050 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL14 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 Dual
Launch price $0 $650