Nikon D5100 vs Sony NEX-F3
66 Imaging
56 Features
81 Overall
66


86 Imaging
57 Features
60 Overall
58
Nikon D5100 vs Sony NEX-F3 Key Specs
(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
- Revealed April 2011
- Succeeded the Nikon D5000
- Successor is Nikon D5200
(Full Review)
- 16MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Tilting Display
- ISO 200 - 16000
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Sony E Mount
- 314g - 117 x 67 x 42mm
- Launched August 2012
- Older Model is Sony NEX-C3
- Replacement is Sony NEX-3N

Nikon D5100 vs Sony NEX-F3 Overview
Here, we are reviewing the Nikon D5100 versus Sony NEX-F3, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Nikon and Sony. The resolution of the D5100 (16MP) and the NEX-F3 (16MP) is very comparable and both cameras provide the identical sensor measurements (APS-C).

The D5100 was revealed 15 months prior to the NEX-F3 making them a generation apart from each other. The two cameras feature different body design with the Nikon D5100 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony NEX-F3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.
Before going straight to a thorough comparison, here is a concise summation of how the D5100 matches up versus the NEX-F3 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Nikon D5100 vs Sony NEX-F3 Gallery
The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Nikon D5100 & Sony Alpha NEX-F3. The full galleries are viewable at Nikon D5100 Gallery & Sony NEX-F3 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Nikon D5100 over the Sony NEX-F3
D5100 | NEX-F3 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display type | Fully Articulated | ![]() | Tilting | Fully Articulating display |
Display resolution | 921k | ![]() | 920k | Sharper display (+1k dot) |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Take selfies |
Reasons to pick Sony NEX-F3 over the Nikon D5100
NEX-F3 | D5100 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Launched | August 2012 | ![]() | April 2011 | Fresher by 15 months |
Common features in the Nikon D5100 and Sony NEX-F3
D5100 | NEX-F3 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Focus manually | ![]() | Very accurate focus | ||
Display size | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Same display measurements |
Touch friendly display | ![]() | Absent Touch friendly display |
Nikon D5100 vs Sony NEX-F3 Physical Comparison
For those who are going to carry your camera frequently, you'll need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Nikon D5100 has got exterior dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 79mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.1") and a weight of 560 grams (1.23 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-F3 has dimensions of 117mm x 67mm x 42mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.7") and a weight of 314 grams (0.69 lbs).
Check out the Nikon D5100 versus Sony NEX-F3 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you use during that time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the D5100 compared to the NEX-F3.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the D5100 and NEX-F3 is 66 and 86 respectively.

Nikon D5100 vs Sony NEX-F3 Sensor Comparison
Often, it's tough to visualise the contrast in sensor sizing simply by going through specs. The photograph underneath will help give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the D5100 and NEX-F3.
All in all, each of the cameras come with the identical sensor size and the exact same resolution so you can expect comparable quality of photographs although you will want to factor the age of the cameras into account. The older D5100 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Nikon D5100 vs Sony NEX-F3 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D5100 vs Sony NEX-F3 Specifications
Nikon D5100 | Sony Alpha NEX-F3 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Make | Nikon | Sony |
Model | Nikon D5100 | Sony Alpha NEX-F3 |
Type | Entry-Level DSLR | Entry-Level Mirrorless |
Revealed | 2011-04-26 | 2012-08-16 |
Body design | Compact SLR | Rangefinder-style mirrorless |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor Chip | Expeed 2 | Bionz |
Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
Sensor size | APS-C | APS-C |
Sensor dimensions | 23.6 x 15.7mm | 23.4 x 15.6mm |
Sensor surface area | 370.5mm² | 365.0mm² |
Sensor resolution | 16MP | 16MP |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 3:2 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
Peak resolution | 4928 x 3264 | 4912 x 3264 |
Highest native ISO | 6400 | 16000 |
Highest enhanced ISO | 25600 | - |
Lowest native ISO | 100 | 200 |
RAW pictures | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Touch focus | ||
Autofocus continuous | ||
Autofocus single | ||
Autofocus tracking | ||
Autofocus selectice | ||
Autofocus center weighted | ||
Multi area autofocus | ||
Live view autofocus | ||
Face detection focus | ||
Contract detection focus | ||
Phase detection focus | ||
Number of focus points | 11 | 25 |
Cross focus points | 1 | - |
Lens | ||
Lens mount | Nikon F | Sony E |
Total lenses | 309 | 121 |
Crop factor | 1.5 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Screen type | Fully Articulated | Tilting |
Screen diagonal | 3" | 3" |
Screen resolution | 921k dot | 920k dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch function | ||
Screen technology | TFT LCD monitor | TFT Xtra Fine LCD |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | Optical (pentamirror) | Electronic (optional) |
Viewfinder coverage | 95 percent | - |
Viewfinder magnification | 0.52x | - |
Features | ||
Min shutter speed | 30s | 30s |
Max shutter speed | 1/4000s | 1/4000s |
Continuous shutter speed | 4.0 frames/s | 6.0 frames/s |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manually set exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Set white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Integrated flash | ||
Flash range | 12.00 m (at ISO 100) | - |
Flash settings | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in |
Hot shoe | ||
AE bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Max flash sync | 1/200s | 1/160s |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment exposure | ||
Average exposure | ||
Spot exposure | ||
Partial exposure | ||
AF area exposure | ||
Center weighted exposure | ||
Video features | ||
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, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
Highest video resolution | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 |
Video data format | MPEG-4 | MPEG-4, AVCHD |
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 grams (1.23 lbs) | 314 grams (0.69 lbs) |
Physical dimensions | 128 x 97 x 79mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.1") | 117 x 67 x 42mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.7") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall score | 80 | 73 |
DXO Color Depth score | 23.5 | 22.7 |
DXO Dynamic range score | 13.6 | 12.3 |
DXO Low light score | 1183 | 1114 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 660 images | 470 images |
Battery format | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery model | EN-EL14 | NPFW50 |
Self timer | Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images) |
Time lapse feature | ||
Type of storage | SD/SDHC/SDXC | SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo |
Storage slots | 1 | 1 |
Pricing at release | $0 | $470 |