Sony a5100 vs Nikon D5300

This is a full comparison between the cameras Sony a5100 and Nikon D5300. We compare them by looking at the categories you see below.

Manufacturing

Sony a5100 is manufacturered by Sony but Nikon D5300 is from Nikon. Both Sony and Nikon are well known brands though.

Type of camera

Sony a5100 is a Mirrorless camera while Nikon D5300 is a DSLR camera. More information about their differences will come soon.

Sensors / crop factor

These cameras have different sensors. Sony a5100 has a "Sony APS-C"-sensor while Nikon D5300 has a "Nikon DX"-sensor, and their difference in sensors will also affect the crop factor and experience focal length. See the table below.

** Experienced focal length when using a lens such as a common "50mm f/1.8"

Learn more about crop factor and focal length multiplier here:
Camera selection can affect the focal length (Sony)
Camera selection can affect the focal length (Nikon)

Resolution

Both these cameras have the exact same resolution. Sony a5100 has a 24 MP (Megapixels) resolution while Nikon D5300 has 24 MP. If we break down this in more detail this is the data behind the numbers:

ISO range

Sony a5100 has a larger ISO-range than Nikon D5300. Sony a5100 has an ISO range that stretches from 100 to 25600 while Nikon D5300 has 100 to 12800.

Autofocus and lens compatibility

There is a big difference between these two cameras. Sony a5100 has a built-in autofocus motor but Nikon D5300 does not. If you want to be able to use autofocus on Nikon D5300 there is a need for having an autofocus motor inside the lens. We really encourage you to look closely at our lens compatibility charts at the links below.

Here is a complete overview of which lenses work with each camera:
Lens compatibility chart for Sony a5100
Lens compatibility chart for Nikon D5300

Pictures per second

Depending on what you are shooting the FPS, or frames/pictures per second, can definitely be of interest. Sony a5100 can shoot up to 6 pictures per seconds and Nikon D5300 can shoot up to 5 pictures per seconds.

Ability to record movies

It is becoming more and more popular to record movies with digital cameras.

In this case, both Sony a5100 and Nikon D5300 can shoot movies.

Weight

The weight of the camera can be an extremely important factor, especially if the camera is about to be used, or carried around, for several hours at a time.

Nikon D5300 weighs 480 gr (equal to 1.06 lb) which is 70% heavier than Sony a5100 and its 283 gr (or 0.62 lb).

Sony a5100 vs Nikon D5300 Specs

Below you will find the complete and detailed technical specs for both Sony a5100 and Nikon D5300, next to each other. Each category of data is a link to an article covering the subject, giving you a deeper understanding so you can better understand the strengths and weaknesses of the two camera models.

Product	Sony a5100	Nikon D5300
Name	Sony a5100	Nikon D5300
Manufacturer	Sony	Nikon
Release Date and Price	Sony a5100	Nikon D5300
Release Year	2014	2013
Release Date	2014-08-18	2013-10-17
MSRP	549 USD	729 USD
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Camera Type	Sony a5100	Nikon D5300
Camera Type	Mirrorless	DSLR
Sensor	Sony a5100	Nikon D5300
Sensor Size	APS-C (approx 23.5 x 15.6 mm)	APS-C (approx 23.7 x 15.5 mm) Also known as "DX"
Sensor Type	CMOS	CMOS
Resolution	6000 x 4000 pixels	6000 x 4000 pixels
Megapixels	24 MP	24 MP
Image Processor	Bionz X	EXPEED 4
Image	Sony a5100	Nikon D5300
ISO Range	100 - 25600	100 - 12800
White Balance Presets	10	12
Custom White Balance	Yes	Yes
Image Stabilization	No	No
Image Stabilization CIPA Rating	0 stops	0 stops
Uncompressed format	RAW	RAW
Optics & Focus	Sony a5100	Nikon D5300
Autofocus Motor	Yes	No
Autofocus	Contract Detect (sensor) Phase Detect Multi Area Center Selective Single Point Tracking Single Continuous Touch Face Detection LiveView	Contract Detect (sensor) Phase Detect Multi Area Center Selective Single Point Tracking Single Continuous Face Detection LiveView
Focus Points	179	39
Lens Mount	Sony E See Compatible Lenses	Nikon F See Compatible Lenses
Focal Length Multiplier	APS-C Sensor (1.5x) 1.5x multiplier Example: 24 mm becomes 36 mm 50 mm becomes 75 mm 100 mm becomes 150 mm 200 mm becomes 300 mm	DX / APS-C (1.5x) 1.5x multiplier Example: 24 mm becomes 36 mm 50 mm becomes 75 mm 100 mm becomes 150 mm 200 mm becomes 300 mm
Screen & Viewfinder	Sony a5100	Nikon D5300
Articulated LCD	Tilting	Fully articulated
Screen size	3”	3,2”
Screen dots	921600	1037000
Touch screen	Yes	No
Screen type	TFT LCD	TFT LCD monitor
Live view	Yes	Yes
Viewfinder Type	No Viewfinder	Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder Coverage		95%
Viewfinder Magnification		0.82× (0.55× 35mm equiv.)
Viewfinder Resolution	0	N/A
Photography features	Sony a5100	Nikon D5300
Frames per second	6 fps	5 fps
Minimum Shutter Speed	30 seconds	30 seconds
Maximum Shutter Speed	1/4000 seconds	1/4000 seconds
Built-in Flash	Yes	Yes
Built-in Flash Range	4 meters	12 meters
External Flash	No	Yes
Self-Timer	Yes	Yes
Time-lapse	Yes	Yes
Metering modes	Multi Center Weighted Spot	Multi Center Weighted Spot
Exposure Compensation	+/- 3 (at 1/3 EV steps)	+/- 5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps)
Videography features	Sony a5100	Nikon D5300
Video recording	Yes	Yes
Video format	MPEG4 XF-AVC AVCHD	MPEG4 H.264
Video resolution	1440 x 1080 1920 x 1080	1280 x 720 1920 x 1080
Built-in Microphone	Yes	Yes
Built-in Speakers	Yes	Yes
Storage	Sony a5100	Nikon D5300
Memory Card	Memory Stick Pro Duo SD/SDHC	Compact Flash
Connectivity	Sony a5100	Nikon D5300
HDMI Output	Yes	Yes
Microphone Port	No	Yes
Headphone Port	No	No
Wireless	Yes Built-in (802.11b/g/n with NFC)	Yes Built-In
Remote Control	Yes (wired or PC)	Optional with ML-L3 or WR-R10
GPS	No	Yes Built-in
Body & Dimensions	Sony a5100	Nikon D5300
Enviromentally sealed	Yes	No
Battery	Battery Pack	Battery Pack
Battery Details	NP-FW50 lithium-ion battery and USB charger	Lithium-Ion EN-EL14a or EN-EL14 rechargeable battery & charger
Battery Life (CIPA)	400 shots	600 shots
Width	110 mm	125 mm
Height	63 mm	98 mm
Depth	36 mm	76 mm
Weight	283 gram	480 gram