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Nikon D5100 vs Sony A65

Portability
66
Imaging
57
Features
81
Overall
66
Nikon D5100 front
 
Sony SLT-A65 front
Portability
64
Imaging
64
Features
85
Overall
72

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A65 Key Specs

Nikon D5100
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Push to 25600)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 560g - 128 x 97 x 79mm
  • Introduced April 2011
  • Old Model is Nikon D5000
  • Updated by Nikon D5200
Sony A65
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 622g - 132 x 97 x 81mm
  • Revealed November 2011
  • New Model is Sony A68
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Nikon D5100 vs Sony A65 Overview

Below is a comprehensive review of the Nikon D5100 versus Sony A65, both Entry-Level DSLR digital cameras by competitors Nikon and Sony. There exists a noticeable gap between the resolutions of the D5100 (16MP) and A65 (24MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor dimensions (APS-C).

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The D5100 was unveiled 6 months prior to the A65 and they are both of a similar age. Both cameras have the same body design (Compact SLR).

Before we go right into a more detailed comparison, here is a concise view of how the D5100 scores vs the A65 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D5100 over the Sony A65

 D5100 A65 

Reasons to pick Sony A65 over the Nikon D5100

 A65 D5100 

Common features in the Nikon D5100 and Sony A65

 D5100 A65 
RevealedApril 2011November 2011Similar age
Manually focus Very exact focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFully ArticulatedFully Articulated display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Display resolution921k921kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Both good for selfies
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A65 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to lug around your camera, you will have to take into account its weight and size. The Nikon D5100 features physical measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 79mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.1") along with a weight of 560 grams (1.23 lbs) while the Sony A65 has specifications of 132mm x 97mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 3.2") with a weight of 622 grams (1.37 lbs).

Analyze the Nikon D5100 versus Sony A65 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are working with at that moment. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the D5100 versus the A65.

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A65 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the D5100 and A65 is 66 and 64 respectively.

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A65 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A65 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very hard to imagine the difference between sensor measurements merely by reading technical specs. The graphic here may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the D5100 and A65.

As you can tell, both of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different resolution. You can expect to see the Sony A65 to offer you more detail having an extra 8MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos a bit more aggressively.

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A65 sensor size comparison

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A65 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D5100 vs Sony A65 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon D5100
Portrait photography with Sony A65
74
you can focus manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection focus
delivers RAW files
78
manual focus
decent megapixels (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon D5100 Street photography factors
Sony A65 Street photography factors
67
screen articulates
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
lack of image stabilization
77
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D5100 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A65 as a Sports photography camera
64
good resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
good battery life (660 shots)
supports phase detect auto focus
max frames per second low (4.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
82
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
supports phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D5100 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A65 as a Travel photography camera
77
good battery life (660 CIPA)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
68
decent megapixels (24MP)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
lack of Time Lapse recording
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Nikon D5100 Landscape photography features
Sony A65 Landscape photography features
73
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Nikon F mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
good resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
good battery life (660 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
75
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon D5100
Vlogging with Sony A65
69
selfie friendly screen
provides face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with external microphone support
lack of image stabilization
78
display is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external mic port
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Nikon D5100 vs Sony A65 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D5100 and Sony A65
 Nikon D5100Sony SLT-A65
General Information
Make Nikon Sony
Model Nikon D5100 Sony SLT-A65
Category Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2011-04-26 2011-11-15
Body design Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 surface area 370.5mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4928 x 3264 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Max enhanced ISO 25600 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
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
Number of lenses 309 143
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 921k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology TFT LCD monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dot
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.52x 0.73x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 10.00 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
WB 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, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 560 grams (1.23 lbs) 622 grams (1.37 lbs)
Physical dimensions 128 x 97 x 79mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.1") 132 x 97 x 81mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 80 74
DXO Color Depth score 23.5 23.4
DXO Dynamic range score 13.6 12.6
DXO Low light score 1183 717
Other
Battery life 660 photographs 560 photographs
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 One One
Cost at release $0 $700