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Nikon D5100 vs Sony W310

Portability
66
Imaging
57
Features
81
Overall
66
Nikon D5100 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W310 front
Portability
96
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Nikon D5100 vs Sony W310 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
  • Revealed April 2011
  • Superseded the Nikon D5000
  • Newer Model is Nikon D5200
Sony W310
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.0-5.8) lens
  • 137g - 95 x 55 x 19mm
  • Launched January 2010
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Nikon D5100 vs Sony W310 Overview

Lets examine more closely at the Nikon D5100 versus Sony W310, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Ultracompact by competitors Nikon and Sony. There exists a substantial gap between the sensor resolutions of the D5100 (16MP) and W310 (12MP) and the D5100 (APS-C) and W310 (1/2.3") come with different sensor measurements.

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The D5100 was announced 16 months later than the W310 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Nikon D5100 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony W310 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving through a complete comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the D5100 grades vs the W310 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D5100 over the Sony W310

 D5100 W310 
LaunchedApril 2011January 2010Fresher by 16 months
Manually focus Very precise focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Sony W310 over the Nikon D5100

 W310 D5100 

Common features in the Nikon D5100 and Sony W310

 D5100 W310 
Touch screen Neither features Touch screen

Nikon D5100 vs Sony W310 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry your camera regularly, you will have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Nikon D5100 enjoys outside measurements 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 W310 has dimensions of 95mm x 55mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") along with a weight of 137 grams (0.30 lbs).

Contrast the Nikon D5100 versus Sony W310 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have chosen at the time. Following is the front view sizing comparison of the D5100 versus the W310.

Nikon D5100 vs Sony W310 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the D5100 and W310 is 66 and 96 respectively.

Nikon D5100 vs Sony W310 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D5100 vs Sony W310 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is difficult to visualize the gap between sensor sizing purely by reading through technical specs. The graphic here will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the D5100 and W310.

As you have seen, both the cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The D5100 having a bigger sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF simpler and the Nikon D5100 will give greater detail with its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots much more aggressively. The more recent D5100 provides an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Nikon D5100 vs Sony W310 sensor size comparison

Nikon D5100 vs Sony W310 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D5100 vs Sony W310 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D5100 Portrait photography info
Sony W310 Portrait photography info
74
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect focus
delivers RAW files
21
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
low megapixels (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon D5100 Street photography factors
Sony W310 Street photography factors
67
fully articulated screen
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
does not have image stabilization
57
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D5100 Sports photography factors
Sony W310 Sports photography factors
64
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking focus
better than average battery life (660 CIPA)
has phase detect auto focus
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
25
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
max fps low (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
low megapixels (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D5100 Travel photography information
Sony W310 Travel photography information
77
better than average battery life (660 CIPA)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
58
flash built-in
rather wide (28mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D5100 Landscape photography features
Sony W310 Landscape photography features
73
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (660 per charge)
does not have image stabilization
32
rather wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
lack of manual exposure
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon D5100
Vlogging with Sony W310
69
display is selfie friendly
supports face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has mic socket
does not have image stabilization
29
rather wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
video res low (640 x 480 pixels)
does not have external mic port
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Nikon D5100 vs Sony W310 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D5100 and Sony W310
 Nikon D5100Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W310
General Information
Brand Name Nikon Sony
Model Nikon D5100 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W310
Category Entry-Level DSLR Ultracompact
Revealed 2011-04-26 2010-01-07
Body design Compact SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed 2 -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.6 x 15.7mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 370.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4928 x 3264 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Maximum enhanced ISO 25600 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 11 9
Cross focus points 1 -
Lens
Lens mount Nikon F fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.0-5.8
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Number of lenses 309 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 921 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology TFT LCD monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.52x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 1s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/200s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30, 25, 24 fps), 640 x 424 (30, 25 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video data format MPEG-4 Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 560 grams (1.23 lb) 137 grams (0.30 lb)
Dimensions 128 x 97 x 79mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.1") 95 x 55 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 80 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 13.6 not tested
DXO Low light score 1183 not tested
Other
Battery life 660 shots -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery model EN-EL14 NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec) Yes (2 sec or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo / Pro HG-Duo, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $0 $150