Nikon D5200 vs Sony a5100

Here is a comprehensive assessment of the Nikon D5200 vs Sony a5100, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Nikon and Sony. The resolution of the D5200 (24MP) and the a5100 (24MP) is fairly well matched and both cameras boast the identical sensor sizes (APS-C).

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The D5200 was announced 15 months before the a5100 making them a generation apart from each other. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Nikon D5200 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony a5100 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight to a detailed comparison, here is a short highlight of how the D5200 scores vs the a5100 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Nikon D5200 and Sony Alpha a5100. The whole galleries are provided at Nikon D5200 Gallery and Sony a5100 Gallery.

If you are intending to carry your camera regularly, you will want to factor its weight and size. The Nikon D5200 provides physical measurements of 129mm x 98mm x 78mm (5.1" x 3.9" x 3.1") with a weight of 555 grams (1.22 lbs) and the Sony a5100 has specifications of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") with a weight of 283 grams (0.62 lbs).

Analyze the Nikon D5200 vs Sony a5100 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you select at that moment. The following is a front view measurements comparison of the D5200 and the a5100.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the D5200 and a5100 is 66 and 89 respectively.

Generally, it's difficult to visualize the gap between sensor sizing only by looking at specifications. The graphic below should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the D5200 and a5100.

To sum up, both of these cameras feature the identical sensor size and the same exact MP therefore you should expect similar quality of images but you might want to factor the production date of the products into consideration. The older D5200 is going to be behind with regard to sensor innovation.