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Nikon D60 vs Sony Alpha DSLR-A300

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

Better figure, where one is clearly better

NikonD60SonyAlpha DSLR-A300
Overview
ReleasedFebruary 2008April 2008
Image and sensor
Camera typeDSLRDSLR
Sensor formatAPS-CAPS-C
Sensor typeCCDCCD
Sensor dimensions23.6 × 15.8 mm23.6 × 15.8 mm
Effective resolution10.2 MP10.2 MP
Largest image3872 × 25923872 × 2592
RAW recordingYesYes
Standard ISO range100–1600100–3200
Sensor detailNikon DX CCD with 10.2 million effective and 10.75 million total pixels; approximately 1.5× lens focal-length equivalent. Image Sensor Cleaning, Airflow Control System and Image Dust Off reference data; optional Capture NX required for dust-reference correction10.8 million total pixels; RGB primary-colour filter; anti-static coating and sensor-shift dust removal
Image formatsCompressed 12-bit NEF RAW, JPEG and simultaneous RAW plus Basic JPEG; maximum 3872 × 2592 pixels; in-camera NEF processing and retouching. The US announcement calls RAW lossless, conflicting with the precise compressed specification; no lossless guarantee inferredJPEG, RAW (Sony ARW 2.0) and RAW+JPEG; 3:2 or cropped 16:9 stills; 12-bit analogue-to-digital conversion
ISO detailISO 100–1600 in whole stops; Hi 1 expands to ISO 3200 equivalentISO 100–3200 in whole-stop steps, plus Auto; high-ISO noise reduction available from ISO 1600
Image processorEXPEED image-processing conceptBIONZ
Lens and shooting
Lens mountNikon F mountSony A-mount
StabilisationOptical lens stabilisationSensor shift
Maximum continuous burst3 fps3 fps
Lens detailAutofocus with AF-S and AF-I motor-equipped lenses; no body autofocus motor. Other compatible AF lenses require manual focusing; non-CPU lenses require manual exposure without metering; IX and F3AF lenses unsupportedInterchangeable Sony A-mount; supports compatible Sony, Minolta and Konica Minolta AF lenses; kit optics are separate from body specifications
AutofocusMulti-CAM 530 phase-detection module; three selectable focus points; -1 to +19 EV at ISO 100, 20°C; AF-S/AF-C/AF-A, single-point, dynamic-area and closest-subject modes; AF-assist illuminator and electronic rangefinderTTL phase detection with nine points and centre cross sensor; single-shot, automatic and continuous AF, manual focus and selectable Eye-Start AF; detection range EV 0–18 at ISO 100
ShutterElectronically controlled vertical-travel focal-plane shutter; 1/4000 to 30 seconds in one-third stops, Bulb and Time with optional ML-L3 remote; flash sync 1/200 secondElectronically controlled vertical-traverse focal-plane shutter; 30 seconds to 1/4000 second plus Bulb; flash sync 1/160 second
Burst detailUp to 3 fps with manual focus, S or M exposure, 1/250 second or faster and other settings at defaults; maker table lists six RAW or 100 Fine Large JPEG frames using a Panasonic PRO HIGH SPEED 1GB SD card; self-timer and optional ML-L3 delayed or immediate infrared remote releaseUp to 3 fps using the optical viewfinder or 2 fps in live view; JPEG Standard/Fine can continue until the card fills, subject to shooting conditions and card speed. Maker buffer claim six RAW or three RAW+JPEG frames.
Stabilisation detailOptical VR depends on the attached lens; no sensor-shift stabilisation. The pictured original AF-S DX 18–55mm f/3.5–5.6G VR kit lens provides optical VRSuper SteadyShot sensor-shift stabilisation; Sony claims approximately 2.5–3.5 stops depending on lens and conditions; excludes Minolta AF Macro Zoom 3X–1X F1.7–2.8
FlashBuilt-in pop-up flash; guide number approximately 12 m at ISO 100, 20°C, or 13 at manual full output; i-TTL and accessory shoeAutomatic pop-up built-in flash, guide number 12 in metres at ISO 100; ADI and pre-flash TTL control; wireless and high-speed sync require compatible external flash
Exposure controlsP/S/A/M, Auto and scene modes; 420-segment RGB matrix, centre-weighted and spot metering; ±5 EV compensation in one-third stops; Active D-Lighting selectable on or offProgram, aperture priority, shutter priority and manual controls; scene modes; 40-segment honeycomb metering through the optical finder or 1200-zone analysis in live view, with centre-weighted and spot options; ±2 EV compensation in 1/3-stop steps; D-Range Optimizer and Creative Style controls
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderOpticalOptical
Screen size2.5″2.7″
Screen dots230,000230,400
TouchscreenNo–
Tilting screenNoYes
Display detailFixed 2.5-inch low-temperature-polysilicon TFT with approximately 230000 dots and 170° viewing angle; eye sensor automatically switches display off at the viewfinder; contextual help and playback magnification; dots count subpixelsClear Photo TFT LCD; 230,400 dots count colour subpixels; tilts approximately 130° upward or 40° downward. Live view previews exposure compensation, white balance and selected Creative Style settings; Smart Teleconverter produces 1.4×/2× digital crops.
Viewfinder detailPentamirror; approximately 95% coverage, 0.80× magnification with 50mm f/1.4 at infinity and 18 mm eyepointFixed eye-level pentamirror; approximately 95% coverage and 0.74× magnification with a 50 mm lens at infinity; optical path closed automatically when live view is selected
Connections and design
Battery life (maker's claim)500 photographs730 photographs
Body weight495 g582 g
Release detailNikon Japan records first sale on 22 February 2008; the 28 January US announcement states US availability beginning February, while the global announcement is dated 29 JanuarySony Hong Kong specifies April 2008 for the single- and double-lens kits. Japan launched the body and single-lens kit on 17 July 2008; April is the earliest maker retail precision found.
Recording mediaOne SD/SDHC card slot; MMC unsupportedCompactFlash Type I/II and Microdrive; Memory Stick Duo, PRO Duo and PRO-HG Duo require a separately sold CompactFlash-slot adaptor
PortsHi-Speed USB with MTP/PTP and NTSC/PAL video output; optional ML-L3 infrared remoteUSB 2.0 Hi-Speed with NTSC/PAL video output; wired remote-release connector and DC input; no HDMI
Battery life detailEN-EL9 rechargeable lithium-ion battery; approximately 500 photographs per charge under CIPA conditions with AF-S DX 18–55mm f/3.5–5.6G VR lens, as specified in the global announcement and US product pageNP-FM500H, 7.2 V and 11.8 Wh (1650 mAh); maker CIPA claim approximately 730 photographs with optical finder or 410 in live view, with built-in flash used for half the shots; optional VG-B30AM grip holds two packs
ChargingExternal MH-23 quick charger; optional EH-5a mains adapter with EP-5 power connectorSupplied BC-VM10 external charger; optional AC-VQ900AM adaptor/charger
DimensionsApproximately 126 × 94 × 64 mmApproximately 130.8 × 98.5 × 74.7 mm (width × height × depth), excluding protrusions
Weight detailApproximately 495 g excluding battery, memory card and body capApproximately 582 g without battery, memory card, lens or accessories; no loaded weight published in the maker table
Materials–Plastic outer body (PhotographyBlog and Cameralabs)
ColoursBlackBlack; Silky Gold lens kit also released in Japan
In the boxEN-EL9 battery, MH-23 charger, UC-E4 USB cable, AN-DC1 strap, body cap, DK-5 eyepiece cap, DK-20 eyecup and Software Suite CD-ROM; regional accessories may differNP-FM500H battery, BC-VM10 charger, power cord, USB and video cables, shoulder strap, eyepiece cover and cup, body cap and software CD
Video
Video detailNo live movie recording or live-view composition. Stop-motion editing assembles up to 100 existing JPEG photographs into an animation; NTSC/PAL output is for playbackStill-image camera with no movie recording (PhotographyBlog); Quick AF Live View uses a dedicated secondary sensor with a pentamirror switching mechanism, rather than the main image sensor. It shows 90% coverage and has no magnified manual-focus-check mode.

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