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Nikon D5100 vs Sony Alpha DSLR-A390

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

Better figure, where one is clearly better

NikonD5100SonyAlpha DSLR-A390
Overview
ReleasedApril 2011July 2010
Image and sensor
Camera typeDSLRDSLR
Sensor formatAPS-CAPS-C
Sensor typeCMOSCCD
Sensor dimensions23.6 × 15.6 mm23.5 × 15.7 mm
Effective resolution16.2 MP14.2 MP
Largest image4928 × 32644592 × 3056
RAW recordingYesYes
Standard ISO range100–6400100–3200
Sensor detailNikon DX CMOS with 16.2 million effective and 16.9 million total pixels; approximately 1.5× lens focal-length equivalent; sensor cleaning, Airflow Control System and Image Dust Off reference dataApproximately 14.9 million total pixels; RGB primary-colour filter; anti-static coating and image-sensor-shift dust reduction
Image formatsCompressed 14-bit NEF RAW, JPEG and simultaneous RAW plus JPEG; maximum 4928 × 3264 pixels; customisable Picture Controls and in-camera RAW processingJPEG, RAW and RAW+JPEG; Sony ARW 2.1; 3:2 and 16:9; sRGB and Adobe RGB
ISO detailISO 100–6400 in one-third stops, expandable up to ISO 25600 equivalent; Auto ISO; Night Vision is a separate monochrome special effect–
Image processorEXPEED 2BIONZ (Sony launch announcement)
Lens and shooting
Lens mountNikon F mountSony A-mount
StabilisationOptical lens stabilisationSensor shift
Maximum continuous burst4 fps2.5 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 unsupported–
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. Contrast-detection live view supports face, wide, normal and subject-tracking areasNine-point TTL phase detection with central cross sensor; EV 0–18 at ISO 100; single, automatic and continuous AF plus manual focus; Eye-start AF and flash AF illumination
Shutter1/4000 to 30 seconds in one-third or half stops, Bulb and Time with optional ML-L3 remote; flash sync 1/200 secondElectronically controlled focal-plane shutter; 30 seconds to 1/4000 second and 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 shootingMaximum approximately 2.5 fps at full resolution using the optical viewfinder or approximately 2 fps in Quick AF Live View; maker specifies Fine JPEG until card fills, six RAW or three RAW+JPEG frames, depending on card and conditions
Stabilisation detailOptical VR depends on the lens; no sensor-shift stabilisationSteadyShot INSIDE sensor shift; approximately 2.5–3.5 shutter-speed steps depending on lens and shooting conditions
FlashBuilt-in pop-up flash; guide number approximately 12 m at ISO 100, 20°C, or 13 at manual full output; accessory shoePop-up flash, guide number 10 m at ISO 100; ADI and pre-flash TTL; Sony Alpha accessory shoe; wireless flash with compatible optional external flash
Exposure controlsP/S/A/M, Auto, scene and special-effects modes; 420-pixel RGB matrix, centre-weighted and spot metering; ±5 EV compensation; three-frame exposure/white-balance bracketing, two-frame Active D-Lighting bracketing and two-exposure HDRP/A/S/M and scene modes; 40-segment honeycomb SPC metering; ±2 EV in 0.3 EV steps; three-frame exposure bracketing at 0.3 or 0.7 EV; Dynamic Range Optimizer Off, Standard and Advanced
Video
Highest video resolution1920 × 1080 at 30 fps–
Video detailH.264 MOV at Full HD 30p/25p/24p, 720p 30p/25p/24p or 640 × 424 at 30p/25p; actual NTSC rates 29.97/23.976; maximum approximately 20 minutes or three minutes with Miniature Effect. Photography Blog's 1920 × 1280, Motion JPEG AVI and five-minute passages differ from Nikon's technical sheetNo movie recording (PhotographyBlog and TechRadar); HDMI is for still-image playback
AudioBuilt-in mono microphone with adjustable sensitivity; external stereo microphone through 3.5 mm input; linear PCM audio–
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderOpticalOptical
Screen size3″2.7″
Screen dots921,000230,400
Tilting screenYesYes
Display detailSide-hinged 3-inch vari-angle TFT, approximately 921000 dots globally, rounded to 920000 in Japan; 170° viewing angle and 100% coverage; dots count subpixelsClear Photo LCD, tilting up approximately 135° and down 55°; dots count colour subpixels; separate live-view sensor with approximately 90% frame coverage and 1.4×/2× cropped Smart Teleconverter
Viewfinder detailPentamirror; approximately 95% coverage, 0.78× magnification with 50mm f/1.4 at infinity and 17.9 mm eyepointPentamirror optical viewfinder; approximately 95% coverage and 0.74× magnification with a 50 mm lens at infinity
Connections and design
Battery life (maker's claim)660 photographs500 photographs
Body weight510 g497 g
Release detailNikon Japan records first sale on 21 April 2011; global announcement on 5 April 2011Sony Spain's original announcement specifies availability in the first half of July 2010; month precision retained. Sony Europe's parallel announcement states summer 2010; DPReview also reports July shipping
Recording mediaOne SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot; MMC unsupportedSeparate Memory Stick PRO Duo/PRO-HG Duo/PRO-HG Duo HX and SD/SDHC card slots
PortsHi-Speed USB, HDMI Type C, NTSC/PAL analogue video output, 3.5 mm external microphone input and accessory terminal for optional MC-DC2 remote or GP-1 GPS; optional ML-L3 infrared remoteUSB 2.0 Hi-Speed and mini HDMI Type C; supports BRAVIA Sync and PhotoTV HD; optional infrared remote, without wired remote-release terminal
Wireless connectionsNo integrated wireless networking; optional GP-1 GPS unit–
Battery life detailEN-EL14 rechargeable lithium-ion battery; approximately 660 CIPA photographs per chargeNP-FH50; approximately 500 photographs using the optical viewfinder or 230 in live view under maker CIPA conditions
ChargingExternal MH-24 charger; optional EH-5b adapter with EP-5A power connector–
DimensionsApproximately 128 × 97 × 79 mmApproximately 128.1 × 97.1 × 83.5 mm (width × height × depth, excluding protrusions)
Weight detailApproximately 510 g body only or 560 g including battery and SD card, excluding body capApproximately 497 g without battery, memory card or accessories; approximately 549 g including battery and Memory Stick PRO Duo
In the boxEN-EL14 battery, MH-24 charger, AN-DC3 strap, EG-CP14 audio-video cable, UC-E6 USB cable, DK-5 eyepiece cap, BS-1 shoe cover, DK-20 eyecup, BF-1B body cap and ViewNX 2 CD-ROM–

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