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Nikon D5100 vs Sony a7

5.0 in
3.8 in
Nikon D5100 Digital Camera
Nikon D5100
5.0 in
3.72 in
Sony a7 Digital Camera
Sony a7
Available colors
Editiorial reviews
34
4.1 out of 5
17 user ratings
5 stars
41 %
4 stars
41 %
3 stars
11 %
2 stars
5 %
1 stars
0 %
Read editorial reviews
47
4.4 out of 5
21 user ratings
5 stars
57 %
4 stars
42 %
3 stars
0 %
2 stars
0 %
1 stars
0 %
Read editorial reviews
User rating
51
3.9 out of 5
51 user ratings
5 stars
37 %
4 stars
29 %
3 stars
23 %
2 stars
7 %
1 stars
1 %
39
4.2 out of 5
39 user ratings
5 stars
46 %
4 stars
30 %
3 stars
23 %
2 stars
0 %
1 stars
0 %

Video Comparisons (1)

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Full Comparison

Sensor

Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Sony a7Sony a7
Sensor typeCMOSExmor CMOS
Image sensor formatDXFull frame
Sensor size0.93 in1.41 in
Effective pixels16.0 Mpx24.0 Mpx
Image ratio w:h3:23:2
Max resolution4928 x 3264 px6000 x 4000 px
Other resolutions
  • 3696x2448
  • 2464x1632
  • 6000x3376
  • 3936x2624
  • 3936x2216
  • 3008x1688
  • 3008x2000
ProcessorExpeed 2BIONZ X

Image

Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Sony a7Sony a7
ISO
  • 100
  • 6400
  • 12800
  • 25600
  • 100
  • 200
  • 6400
  • 25600
ISO minimum10050
ISO maximum2560025600
Maximum image resolution4928 x 3264 px6000 x 4000 px
White balance presets1210
White balance modes
  • Auto
  • Cloudy
  • Direct sunlight
  • Flash
  • Fluorescent
  • Incandescent
  • Manual
  • Shade
  • Auto
  • Cloudy
  • Custom modes
  • Daylight
  • Flash
  • Fluorescent
  • Fluorescent H
  • Fluorescent L
  • Incandescent
  • Shade
  • Underwater
Custom white balanceyesyes
Supported image file formats
  • JPG
  • RAW
  • EXIF
  • JPEG XR
  • JPG
  • RAW
Photo effects
  • Black&White
  • Neutral
  • Vivid
  • Vivid
  • Neutral
  • Sepia
Image stabilizernono
Image stabilization typeNoNo
Supported aspect ratios16:93:2
Uncompressed formatRAWRAW
HDRyesyes
AEB/HDR supportyesyes

Optics and focus

Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Sony a7Sony a7
Lens mountNikon FSony E-mount
Magnification (Crop factor)1.5 x0.71 x
Maximum aperture2.822
AF assist (auto-focus assist light)LampLamp
Focus adjustmentAutoManual
Contrast autofocusyesyes
Autofocus in recording modeyesyes
Autofocus
  • Continuous Auto Focus
  • Servo Auto Focus
  • Single Auto Focus
  • Centre weighted Auto Focus
  • Continuous Auto Focus
  • Contrast Detection Auto Focus
  • Flexible Spot Auto Focus
Auto Focus (AF) lockyesyes
Manual focusyesyes
Auto Focus (AF) points selectionAutoAuto
Auto Focus (AF) assist beamyesyes
Number of focus points1125
Max number of AF points (incl. assistant)11117
Image stabiliserLens based onlyOptical
Filter diameter2.83 in2.17 in
Phase detection autofocusyesyes

Screen and viewfinder

Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Sony a7Sony a7
Screen size3.0 in3.0 in
Articulated LCDyesyes
Screen technologyLCDLCD
Screen dots9210001230000
Touch screennoyes
Field of view100.0 %100.0 %
Live viewyesyes
ViewfinderOpticalElectronic
Viewfinder coverage95.0 %100.0 %
Viewfinder magnification0.78 x0.71 x
Diopter adjustment (D-D)1.7 - 0.7-4 - 3
Separate info displaynono

Photography features

Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Sony a7Sony a7
Shooting modes
  • Aperture priority
  • Auto
  • Manual
  • Movie
  • Program
  • Scene
  • Shutter priority
  • Aperture priority
  • Auto
  • Manual
  • Movie
  • Program
  • Scene
  • Sensitivity priority
  • Shutter priority
Camera shutter typeElectronicElectronic
Minimum shutter speed30.0 s30.0 s
Maximum shutter speed1.0 s1.0 s
Shutter priorityyesyes
Aperture priorityyesyes
Manual exposure modeyesyes
Number of exposures33
Exposure compensation plus55
Exposure compensation minus-5-5
Expousure compensation steps
  • 1/3
  • 1/2
  • 1/3
  • 1/2
Auto exposure lockyesyes
AE EV steps
  • 1/3
  • 1/2
  • 1/3
  • 1/2
  • 2/3
  • 1
  • 2
Continuous shootingyesyes
Self-timer delay
  • 2
  • 5
  • 10
  • 20
3.0 s
Histogramyesyes
AE frames3
  • 3
  • 5
WB Bracketing
Yes
Yes
Subject / scene modesyesyes
Flash sync speed1/200s1/250s
Built-in flashyesyes
Flash modes
  • Flash OFF
  • Redeye Reduction
  • Slow Sync
  • Auto
  • Fill-in
  • Flash OFF
  • Flash ON
  • High-speed Sync
  • Pre-flash
  • Redeye Reduction
  • Slow Sync
External flash connectionHot shoeHot shoe
External flashyesyes
Continuous drive4.0 fps5.0 fps
Scene modes
  • Backlight
  • Beach
  • Candlelight
  • Children
  • Close-up
  • Dawn
  • Dusk
  • Food
  • Landscape
  • Night landscape
  • Night portrait
  • Party
  • Pet
  • Portrait
  • Snow
  • Sports
  • Sunset
  • Portrait
  • Sunset
  • Night portrait
  • Landscape
Self-timeryesyes
Metering modes
  • Multi
  • Center-weighted
  • Spot
  • Multi
  • Center-weighted
  • Spot
Manual settingsyesyes
Self-timer options
  • 2
  • 5
  • 10
  • 20
  • 2
  • 10
Speed (JPEG)4.0 fps5.0 fps
Speed (RAW)4.0 fps5.0 fps
Exposure bracketing0.3 - 0.5±EV0.3 - 2.0±EV

Videography features

Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Sony a7Sony a7
Maximum resolution1920 x 1080 px1920 x 1080 px
Video recordingyesyes
Recording resolutions
  • 640 x 424
  • 1280 x 720
  • 1920 x 1080
  • 640 x 480
  • 1280 x 720
  • 1440 x 1080
  • 1920 x 1080
HD typeFull HDFull HD
Supported video file formats
  • H.264
  • MOV
  • MPEG-4
  • AVC
  • AVCHD
  • H.264
  • MP4
  • MPEG-4
Analog signal format systemNTSC
  • NTSC
  • PAL
Camera playback
  • Highlights
  • Movie
  • Single image
  • Slide show
  • Thumbnails
  • Highlights
  • Movie
  • Single image
  • Slide show
Max resolution (highest frame rate)1920 x 10801920 x 1080
Max frame rate (highest resolution)30.0 fps60.0 fps
Max frame rate (regardless of res.)30.0 fps60.0 fps
Motion JPEG frame rate30.0 fps30.0 fps

Audio features

Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Sony a7Sony a7
Built-in microphoneyesyes
Microphone typeMonoStereo
Voice recordingyesyes
Audio systemStereoStereo
Supported audio file formatsLPCMAAC
Noise reductionyesyes

Design

Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Sony a7Sony a7
Body typeSLRMILC
Body materialPlasticMagnesium alloy
Colour of productBlackBlack
Anti-dust systemyesyes
Environmentally sealednoyes

Dimensions

Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Sony a7Sony a7
Weight17.99 oz14.67 oz
Width5.0 in5.0 in
Height3.8 in3.72 in
Depth3.1 in1.9 in

Storage

Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Sony a7Sony a7
Compatible memory cards
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
  • MS Pro Duo
  • MS Pro-HG Duo
  • MS XC-HG Duo
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
Dual memory card slotsyesyes
Memory slots11
Storage types
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
  • Memory Stick Pro Duo
  • Memory Stick Duo
  • Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Camera file system
  • DCF 2.0
  • DPOF
  • Exif 2.3
  • DPOF 1.1
  • Exif 2.3
  • RAW

Power

Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Sony a7Sony a7
Power source typeBattery
  • AC
  • Battery
Battery life (CIPA)660270
Battery technology
Lithium-Ion
Lithium-Ion
Number of batteries supported11
AC adapter includedyesyes

Connectivity

Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Sony a7Sony a7
HDMIyesyes
HDMI connector typeMiniMicro
USB version2.02.0
Microphone portyesyes
WirelessEye-Fi ConnectedBuilt-In
DC-in jackyesyes
Remote controlyesyes
PictBridgeyesno
NFCnoyes
Wireless network (Wi-Fi)yesyes
Firewirenono

Other features

Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Sony a7Sony a7
Timelapse recordingyesno
GPSnono
Orientation sensoryesyes
Energy Star certifiednono

Pros & Cons

Pros
      Cons

          Often compared with Nikon D5100

          Often compared with Sony a7