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Nikon D3100 vs Sony Alpha DSLR-A560

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

NikonD3100SonyAlpha DSLR-A560
Overview
ReleasedSeptember 2010January 2011
Image and sensor
Camera typeDSLRDSLR
Sensor formatAPS-CAPS-C
Sensor typeCMOSExmor APS HD CMOS
Sensor dimensions23.1 × 15.4 mm23.4 × 15.6 mm
Effective resolution14.2 MP14.2 MP
Largest image4608 × 30724592 × 3056
RAW recordingYesYes
Standard ISO range100–3200100–12800
Sensor detail14.2 million effective and 14.8 million total pixels; Nikon DX format with approximately 1.5× lens focal-length equivalent; sensor-cleaning system and Image Dust Off reference dataApproximately 14.6 million total pixels; current Sony UK and original Hong Kong table specify 23.4 × 15.6 mm for A560; the shared Sony Asia sheet prints 23.5 × 15.6 mm without distinguishing the two bodies
Image formatsNEF RAW, JPEG and simultaneous RAW plus JPEG; Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait and Landscape Picture Controls; in-camera RAW processing and retouchingJPEG, RAW and RAW+JPEG; Sony ARW 2.2; sRGB and Adobe RGB
ISO detailISO 100–3200 in one-stop steps; expanded ISO 6400 and 12800 equivalents; Auto ISOStandard single-frame ISO 100–12800; six-frame Multi Frame NR reaches ISO 25600 and requires a sufficiently static scene; Auto ISO 200–1600
Image processorEXPEED 2BIONZ
Lens and shooting
Lens mountNikon F mountSony A-mount
StabilisationOptical lens stabilisationSensor shift
Maximum continuous burst3 fps7 fps
Lens detailAutofocus with AF-S and AF-I NIKKOR lenses; no body autofocus motor for screw-drive lenses. Other compatible AF lenses require manual focus. Non-CPU lenses work in manual exposure without metering; IX and F3AF lenses unsupported; electronic rangefinder requires maximum aperture f/5.6 or faster–
AutofocusMulti-CAM 1000; 11 phase-detection points including one cross-type; -1 to +19 EV at ISO 100, 20°C; AF-S/AF-C/AF-A, single-point, dynamic, auto-area and 11-point 3D tracking; AF-assist lamp. Live view uses contrast-detection AF-S/AF-F with face-priority, wide, normal and subject-tracking areasTTL phase detection, 15 points including three cross-type points in live view, 11 in optical-viewfinder mode; current Sony UK states EV −1 to 18 at ISO 100; contrast AF selectable in Focus Check Live View
Shutter1/4000 to 30 seconds in one-third stops and Bulb; flash sync 1/200 secondElectronically controlled focal-plane shutter; 30 seconds to 1/4000 second and Bulb; flash sync 1/160 second; two-second self-timer mirror-up function
Burst detailApproximately 3 fps under Nikon's manual-focus, S/M, 1/250-second-or-faster test conditions; Japanese specification lists up to 13 RAW, nine RAW plus Fine JPEG or 100 Fine JPEG frames with its specified 4 GB SanDisk Extreme SDHC cardMaximum approximately 7 fps in Speed Priority with focus and exposure locked at the first frame; normal continuous approximately 5 fps with optical viewfinder or 3 fps in live view. Maker buffer approximately 27 Fine JPEG, seven RAW or seven RAW+JPEG images, depending on card and conditions
Stabilisation detailOptical VR depends on the lens; no sensor-shift stabilisationSteadyShot INSIDE sensor shift; Sony claims approximately 2.5–4 shutter-speed steps depending on lens and conditions
FlashBuilt-in pop-up flash; guide number approximately 12 m at ISO 100, 20°C, or 13 at manual full output; hot shoe; optional AS-15 adapter for PC syncAutomatic pop-up flash, guide number 12 m at ISO 100; ADI and pre-flash TTL; proprietary Alpha accessory shoe and compatible wireless flash control
Exposure controlsP/S/A/M, Auto, flash-off Auto and scene modes; beginner Guide mode with illustrative assist images. 420-pixel RGB metering with Colour Matrix Metering II, centre-weighted and spot modes; ±5 EV compensation; Active D-Lighting on/offP/A/S/M and scene modes; 40-segment optical metering and 1,200-zone live-view metering; ±2 EV in 1/3 EV steps; three-exposure Auto HDR, 2D/3D Sweep Panorama and Hand-held Twilight
Video
Highest video resolution1920 × 1080 at 24 fps1920 × 1080 at 25 fps
Video detailH.264 MOV at Full HD 24p, 720p 30p/25p/24p or 640 × 424 at 24p; actual NTSC rates 29.97/23.976. Maximum clip ten minutes. Nikon USA's short movie feature list incorrectly describes 640 × 424 as 30 fps; its detailed table and Japan specify 24p. Continuous contrast-detection autofocus availablePAL AVCHD 1920 × 1080 encoded at 50i from 25 fps sensor output, approximately 17 Mbps; MP4 1440 × 1080 or VGA at 25 fps. NTSC versions use 59.94i from 29.97 fps output. No recording autofocus; movie shutter, aperture and ISO remain automatic (Imaging Resource and Reviewed)
AudioBuilt-in mono microphone with linear PCM recording; no external microphone inputBuilt-in stereo microphone, external stereo microphone connection and mono playback speaker
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderOpticalOptical
Screen size3″3″
Screen dots230,000921,600
Tilting screen–Yes
Display detailFixed 3-inch TFT, approximately 230000 dots, adjustable brightness; dots count subpixelsXtra Fine LCD tilts approximately 90° up and down; dots count colour subpixels. Dedicated-sensor Quick AF Live View covers approximately 90%; main-sensor Focus Check Live View covers 100% with 7×/14× magnification
Viewfinder detailPentamirror; approximately 95% frame coverage, 0.8× magnification with 50mm f/1.4 at infinity and 18 mm eyepointPentamirror optical viewfinder; approximately 95% coverage and 0.80× magnification with a 50 mm lens at infinity
Connections and design
Battery life (maker's claim)550 photographs1050 photographs
Body weight455 g599 g
Release detailNikon Japan records sale on 16 September 2010 for the body, single-lens and double-zoom kitsSony Hong Kong specified early 2011 and European launch coverage first quarter 2011; PConline's 26 January 2011 Guangzhou retail report confirms the camera already on sale, giving the January month used here. Sony UK's original newsroom page promised October 2010 for both models; Imaging Resource reports the delayed US launch and March availability, so that original promise is not treated as actual first sale
Recording mediaOne SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot; compatible Eye-Fi cards supportedSeparate Memory Stick PRO Duo/PRO-HG Duo and SD/SDHC/SDXC slots, with a manual card selector
PortsHi-Speed USB, mini-HDMI Type C, NTSC/PAL analogue video output and accessory terminal for optional MC-DC2 remote or GP-1 GPSUSB 2.0 Hi-Speed, mini HDMI Type C, remote-release terminal and stereo microphone input
Wireless connectionsNo integrated Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or GPS; optional GP-1 GPS and compatible Eye-Fi card accessories–
Battery life detailEN-EL14; approximately 550 CIPA photographs. Nikon USA's later page also lists EN-EL14a compatibilityNP-FM500H; maker CIPA claim approximately 1,050 shots with optical viewfinder or 560 in live view; BC-VM10 charger supplied
ChargingExternal MH-24 charger; optional EH-5a adapter with EP-5A power connector–
DimensionsApproximately 124 × 96 × 74.5 mm from Nikon Japan; Nikon USA's converted inch figures differ slightlyApproximately 137 × 104 × 84 mm (width × height × depth, excluding protrusions)
Weight detailApproximately 455 g body only or 505 g with battery and SD card, excluding body capApproximately 599 g body only; 679 g with battery and Memory Stick PRO Duo (original Sony Hong Kong table)
In the boxEN-EL14 battery, MH-24 charger, DK-5 eyepiece cap, DK-20 eyecup, AN-DC3 strap, BF-1B body cap, BS-1 shoe cover, ViewNX 2 CD-ROM and two ferrite cores for separately supplied USB/audio-video cables–

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