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Nikon D5000 vs Sony Alpha DSLR-A550

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

Better figure, where one is clearly better

NikonD5000SonyAlpha DSLR-A550
Overview
ReleasedMay 2009September 2009
Image and sensor
Camera typeDSLRDSLR
Sensor formatAPS-CAPS-C
Sensor typeCMOSExmor CMOS
Sensor dimensions23.6 × 15.8 mm23.4 × 15.6 mm
Effective resolution12.3 MP14.2 MP
Largest image4288 × 28484592 × 3056
RAW recordingYesYes
Standard ISO range200–3200200–12800
Sensor detailNikon DX CMOS; 12.3 million effective and 12.9 million total pixels; approximately 1.5× lens focal-length equivalent; integrated sensor cleaning and Image Dust Off reference dataApproximately 14.6 million total pixels; RGB primary-colour filter, charge protection coating and sensor-shift dust reduction
Image formatsCompressed 12-bit NEF RAW, JPEG and simultaneous RAW plus JPEG; maximum 4288 × 2848 pixels; customisable Picture Controls and in-camera RAW processingJPEG, RAW and RAW+JPEG; Sony ARW 2.1
ISO detailISO 200–3200 in one-third stops, expandable down to ISO 100 or up to ISO 6400 equivalent; Auto ISO–
Image processorEXPEEDBIONZ
Lens and shooting
Lens mountNikon F mountSony A-mount
StabilisationOptical lens stabilisationSensor shift
Maximum continuous burst4 fps7 fps
Lens detailAutofocus with AF-S and AF-I lenses; no body autofocus motor for screw-drive lenses. Non-CPU lenses require manual exposure without metering; IX and F3AF lenses unsupportedSony A-mount; operation confirmed with Minolta and Konica Minolta AF lenses
AutofocusMulti-CAM 1000; 11 phase-detection points including one cross-type; -1 to +19 EV at ISO 100 equivalent, 20°C; AF-S/AF-C/AF-A with single-point, dynamic, auto-area and 11-point 3D tracking. Contrast-detection live view adds face, wide, normal and subject-tracking areasTTL phase detection with nine points; single, automatic and continuous AF, manual focus, predictive control and Eye-start AF. Face detection and Smile Shutter are available in Quick AF Live View.
Shutter1/4000 to 30 seconds in one-third or half stops, Bulb and Time with optional ML-L3 remote; flash sync 1/200 second; shutter tested to 100000 cycles in Nikon's announcementElectronically controlled focal-plane shutter; 30 seconds to 1/4000 second plus Bulb; flash sync 1/160 second
Burst detailApproximately 4 fps with manual focus, S/M exposure, 1/250 second or faster and remaining settings at defaults; quiet release and interval-timer shootingUp to 5 fps with optical viewfinder, or 4 fps in live view. Speed-priority shooting reaches 7 fps with focus and exposure locked at the first frame. Normal continuous buffer: approximately 32 Fine JPEG, 14 RAW or seven RAW+JPEG frames, depending on conditions and media.
Stabilisation detailOptical VR depends on the lens; no sensor-shift stabilisationSteadyShot INSIDE sensor shift; Sony claims approximately 2.5–4 stops, depending on lens and conditions.
FlashBuilt-in pop-up flash; guide number approximately 17 m at ISO 200, 20°C, or 18 at manual full output; approximately 12/13 at ISO 100 equivalent; accessory shoe, optional AS-15 sync adapterAutomatic pop-up flash; guide number 12 m at ISO 100; ADI and pre-flash TTL; proprietary Alpha flash shoe
Exposure controlsP/S/A/M, Auto and 19 scene modes; 420-pixel RGB matrix, centre-weighted and spot metering; ±5 EV compensation; three-frame exposure/white-balance bracketing and two-frame Active D-Lighting bracketingProgram, aperture priority, shutter priority, manual and scene modes; 40-segment honeycomb metering with optical finder, 1,200-zone metering in Quick AF Live View. Auto HDR combines two exposures for JPEG still subjects.
Video
Highest video resolution1280 × 720 at 24 fps–
Video detailMotion JPEG AVI at 1280 × 720, 640 × 424 or 320 × 216, all 24 fps; maximum five minutes at 720p or 20 minutes at lower resolutions; autofocus before recording, manual focus during recording. Photography Blog's introductory 30 fps description differs from Nikon's 24 fps sheet and its later review textNo movie recording; HDMI supports still-image playback.
AudioBuilt-in mono recording; no external microphone input–
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderOpticalOptical
Screen size2.7″3″
Screen dots230,000921,600
Touchscreen–No
Tilting screenYesYes
Display detailBottom-hinged 2.7-inch vari-angle TFT, approximately 230000 dots and 100% coverage; announcement specifies approximately 90° downward swing and 180° rotation; screen can face inward for protectionXtra Fine LCD tilts 90° up and down. Quick AF Live View uses a dedicated sensor with 90% coverage; Manual Focus Check Live View uses the main sensor with 100% coverage and 7×/14× magnification.
Viewfinder detailPentamirror; approximately 95% coverage, 0.78× magnification with 50mm f/1.4 at infinity and 17.9 mm eyepointPentamirror; approximately 95% coverage and 0.80× magnification with a 50 mm lens at infinity, −1 m⁻¹.
Connections and design
Battery life (maker's claim)510 photographs950 photographs
Body weight560 g599 g
Release detailNikon Japan records first sale on 1 May 2009; global announcement on 14 April 2009Sony Hong Kong specifies September 2009 availability. Sony Japan revised its local sale date to 5 November 2009; that later regional release is not used as the first-sale date. No September sale day is given.
Recording mediaOne SD/SDHC card slotSD, SDHC, Memory Stick PRO Duo and PRO-HG Duo; card selection uses a manual switch.
PortsHi-Speed USB, HDMI Type C, NTSC/PAL analogue video output and accessory terminal for optional MC-DC2 remote or GP-1 GPS; optional ML-L3 infrared remoteUSB 2.0 Hi-Speed, mini HDMI Type C, remote release terminal and Alpha accessory shoe
Wireless connectionsNo integrated wireless networking; optional GP-1 GPS unit–
Battery life detailEN-EL9a; up to 510 CIPA photographs with AF-S DX 18–55mm VR and full-power flash on alternate shotsNP-FM500H; approximately 950 shots using optical viewfinder or 480 in live view, under CIPA conditions.
ChargingExternal MH-23 charger; optional EH-5a adapter with EP-5 power connectorSupplied BC-VM10 battery charger; optional AC-VQ900AM adapter/charger or AC-PW10AM adapter
DimensionsApproximately 127 × 104 × 80 mmApproximately 137 × 104 × 84 mm (width × height × depth), excluding projections.
Weight detailApproximately 560 g excluding battery, SD card and body capApproximately 599 g body only, excluding battery, memory card and accessories.
Colours–Black
In the boxEN-EL9a battery, MH-23 charger, DK-5 eyepiece cap, DK-24 eyecup, UC-E6 USB cable, EG-CP14 audio-video cable, AN-DC3 strap, BS-1 shoe cover, body cap and Software Suite CD-ROM–

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