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Nikon D5100 vs Sony A57

Portability
66
Imaging
57
Features
81
Overall
66
Nikon D5100 front
 
Sony SLT-A57 front
Portability
64
Imaging
57
Features
85
Overall
68

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A57 Key Specs

Nikon D5100
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Bump to 25600)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 560g - 128 x 97 x 79mm
  • Released April 2011
  • Superseded the Nikon D5000
  • Later Model is Nikon D5200
Sony A57
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 16000 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 618g - 132 x 98 x 81mm
  • Introduced September 2012
  • Older Model is Sony A55
  • Renewed by Sony A58
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Nikon D5100 vs Sony A57 Overview

Here is a comprehensive comparison of the Nikon D5100 and Sony A57, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras by rivals Nikon and Sony. The image resolution of the D5100 (16MP) and the A57 (16MP) is very close and they use the exact same sensor dimensions (APS-C).

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The D5100 was launched 16 months before the A57 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. The two cameras come with the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before diving in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a short view of how the D5100 grades versus the A57 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D5100 over the Sony A57

 D5100 A57 

Reasons to pick Sony A57 over the Nikon D5100

 A57 D5100 
IntroducedSeptember 2012April 2011Fresher by 16 months

Common features in the Nikon D5100 and Sony A57

 D5100 A57 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFully ArticulatedFully Articulated display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing
Display resolution921k921kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Both good for selfies
Touch display No Touch display

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A57 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry your camera frequently, you'll need to take into account its weight and size. The Nikon D5100 enjoys exterior dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 79mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.1") along with a weight of 560 grams (1.23 lbs) and the Sony A57 has specifications of 132mm x 98mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2") with a weight of 618 grams (1.36 lbs).

Take a look at the Nikon D5100 and Sony A57 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are employing during that time. The following is the front view dimension comparison of the D5100 versus the A57.

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A57 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the D5100 and A57 is 66 and 64 respectively.

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A57 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A57 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its tough to imagine the difference in sensor sizing purely by looking through technical specs. The graphic here might offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the D5100 and A57.

As you can tell, each of the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements and the same MP so you can expect comparable quality of images though you need to consider the age of the cameras into account. The older D5100 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A57 sensor size comparison

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A57 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A57 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon D5100
Portrait photography with Sony A57
74
has manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
74
manual focus
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has face detect focus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon D5100 as a Street photography camera
Sony A57 as a Street photography camera
67
screen can move to multiple angles
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
does not have image stabilization
75
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D5100 Sports photography info
Sony A57 Sports photography info
64
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
great battery life (660 per charge)
comes with phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
78
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has tracking focus
has phase detect auto focus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon D5100
Travel photography with Sony A57
77
great battery life (660 CIPA)
resolution is good (16MP)
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
67
MP count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon D5100
Landscape photography with Sony A57
73
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Nikon F mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
great battery life (660 shots)
does not have image stabilization
72
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D5100 Vlogging info
Sony A57 Vlogging info
69
selfie friendly display
comes with face detection focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have external mic socket
does not have image stabilization
77
selfie friendly screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has mic socket
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Nikon D5100 vs Sony A57 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D5100 and Sony A57
 Nikon D5100Sony SLT-A57
General Information
Make Nikon Sony
Model Nikon D5100 Sony SLT-A57
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2011-04-26 2012-09-13
Physical type Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Expeed 2 -
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 16MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4928 x 3264 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 6400 16000
Max boosted ISO 25600 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 11 15
Cross focus points 1 3
Lens
Lens mounting type Nikon F Sony/Minolta Alpha
Total lenses 309 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 921 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology TFT LCD monitor Xtra Fine TFT drive with TruBlack technology
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.52x 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 4.0fps 12.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
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
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/200 secs 1/160 secs
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) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 560 gr (1.23 lb) 618 gr (1.36 lb)
Dimensions 128 x 97 x 79mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.1") 132 x 98 x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 80 75
DXO Color Depth score 23.5 23.4
DXO Dynamic range score 13.6 13.0
DXO Low light score 1183 785
Other
Battery life 660 photos 550 photos
Type 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
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $0 $1,000