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Nikon D5100 vs Sony Alpha DSLR-A560

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

Better figure, where one is clearly better

NikonD5100SonyAlpha DSLR-A560
Overview
ReleasedApril 2011January 2011
Image and sensor
Camera typeDSLRDSLR
Sensor formatAPS-CAPS-C
Sensor typeCMOSExmor APS HD CMOS
Sensor dimensions23.6 × 15.6 mm23.4 × 15.6 mm
Effective resolution16.2 MP14.2 MP
Largest image4928 × 32644592 × 3056
RAW recordingYesYes
Standard ISO range100–6400100–12800
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 14.6 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 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 2.2; 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 effectStandard 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 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 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 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 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; two-second self-timer mirror-up function
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 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; accessory shoeAutomatic 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, 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 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 30 fps1920 × 1080 at 25 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 sheetPAL 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 adjustable sensitivity; external stereo microphone through 3.5 mm input; linear PCM audioBuilt-in stereo microphone, external stereo microphone connection and mono playback speaker
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderOpticalOptical
Screen size3″3″
Screen dots921,000921,600
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 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% coverage, 0.78× magnification with 50mm f/1.4 at infinity and 17.9 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)660 photographs1050 photographs
Body weight510 g599 g
Release detailNikon Japan records first sale on 21 April 2011; global announcement on 5 April 2011Sony 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; MMC unsupportedSeparate Memory Stick PRO Duo/PRO-HG Duo and SD/SDHC/SDXC slots, with a manual card selector
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, mini HDMI Type C, remote-release terminal and stereo microphone input
Wireless connectionsNo integrated wireless networking; optional GP-1 GPS unit–
Battery life detailEN-EL14 rechargeable lithium-ion battery; approximately 660 CIPA photographs per chargeNP-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-5b adapter with EP-5A power connector–
DimensionsApproximately 128 × 97 × 79 mmApproximately 137 × 104 × 84 mm (width × height × depth, excluding protrusions)
Weight detailApproximately 510 g body only or 560 g including 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, 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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