Do you want to know what's better Sony Alpha a5100 or Nikon D3300? SpecsPRO has compared Sony Alpha a5100 vs Nikon D3300: weight, battery, sensor, resolution, ISO, dynamic range and other important specifications.

Nikon D3300 vs Sony Alpha a5100

  • Main

  • Model

  • Price

  • Advantages

  • launch

  • Announced

  • Body type

  • Camera subcategory

  • Sensor

  • Effective pixels

  • Max resolution

  • Sensor size

  • Sensor type

  • Processor

  • Image ratio w:h

  • Other resolutions

  • Sensor photo detectors

  • Image

  • ISO

  • Boosted ISO (maximum)

  • White balance presets

  • Custom white balance

  • Image stabilization

  • Uncompressed format

  • JPEG quality levels

  • Photography features

  • Minimum shutter speed

  • Maximum shutter speed

  • Aperture priority

  • Shutter priority

  • Manual exposure mode

  • Subject / scene modes

  • Built-in flash

  • Flash range

  • External flash

  • Flash modes

  • Continuous drive

  • Self-timer

  • Metering modes

  • Exposure compensation

  • WB Bracketing

  • AE Bracketing

  • Screen / viewfinder

  • Articulated LCD

  • Screen size

  • Screen dots

  • Touch screen

  • Screen type

  • Live view

  • Viewfinder type

  • Viewfinder coverage

  • Viewfinder magnification

  • Videography features

  • Resolutions

  • File Format

  • Microphone

  • Speaker

  • Videography notes

  • Optics & Focus

  • Autofocus

  • Digital zoom

  • Manual focus

  • Number of focus points

  • Lens mount

  • Focal length multiplier

  • Physical

  • Weight (inc. batteries)

  • Dimensions

  • Environmentally sealed

  • Battery

  • Battery details

  • Battery Life (CIPA)

  • Storage

  • Storage types

  • Storage included

  • Connectivity

  • USB

  • HDMI

  • Wireless

  • Wireless notes

  • Remote control

  • Microphone port

  • Headphone port

  • Other features

  • Orientation sensor

  • Timelapse recording

  • GPS

  • GPS notes

  • Samples

  • Videos

  • Main

  • Model

    Nikon D3300

  • Price

  • Advantages

  • PHOTOGRAPHY FEATURES Flash range: 12.00 m (at ISO 100)

    PHOTOGRAPHY FEATURES External flash: Yes (via hot shoe or wireless)

    PHYSICAL Battery Life (CIPA): 700

    OTHER FEATURES GPS: Optional

    Go to the Summary

  • Main

  • Model

    Sony Alpha a5100

  • Price

  • Advantages

  • PHOTOGRAPHY FEATURES Continuous drive: 6.0 fps

    PHOTOGRAPHY FEATURES WB Bracketing: Yes (3 frames, high/low settings)

    SCREEN / VIEWFINDER Articulated LCD: Tilting

    SCREEN / VIEWFINDER Screen dots: 921,600

    SCREEN / VIEWFINDER Touch screen: Yes

    VIDEOGRAPHY FEATURES Microphone: Stereo

    OPTICS & FOCUS Digital zoom: Yes (2X (Clear Image Zoom), 4X (digital zoom))

    OPTICS & FOCUS Number of focus points: 179

    PHYSICAL Weight (inc. batteries): 283 g (0.62 lb / 9.98 oz)

    CONNECTIVITY Wireless: Built-In

    OTHER FEATURES Timelapse recording: Yes (via optional app)

    Go to the Summary

  • launch

  • Announced

    Jan 7, 2014

  • Body type

  • Camera subcategory

    Compact SLR

  • Sensor

  • Effective pixels

    24 megapixels

  • Max resolution

    6000 x 4000

  • Sensor size

    APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm)

  • Sensor type

    CMOS

  • Processor

    Expeed 4

  • Image ratio w:h

    3:2

  • Other resolutions

    4512 x 3000, 3008 x 2000

  • Sensor photo detectors

    25 megapixels

  • Image

  • ISO

    Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400, 12800, 25600 (with boost)

  • Boosted ISO (maximum)

    25600

  • White balance presets

    12

  • Custom white balance

    Yes

  • Image stabilization

    No

  • Uncompressed format

    RAW

  • JPEG quality levels

    Fine, Normal, Basic

  • Photography features

  • Minimum shutter speed

    30 sec

  • Maximum shutter speed

    1/4000 sec

  • Aperture priority

    Yes

  • Shutter priority

    Yes

  • Manual exposure mode

    Yes

  • Subject / scene modes

    Yes

  • Built-in flash

    Yes (Pop-up)

  • Flash range

    12.00 m (at ISO 100)

  • External flash

    Yes (via hot shoe or wireless)

  • Flash modes

    Auto, Auto slow sync, Auto slow sync with red-eye reduction, Auto with red-eye reduction, Fill-flash, Off, Rear-curtain sync, Rear-curtain with slow sync, Red-eye reduction, Red-eye reduction with slow sync, Slow sync

  • Continuous drive

    5.0 fps

  • Self-timer

    Yes (2, 5, 10, 20 secs (1-9 exposures))

  • Metering modes

    • Multi
    • Center-weighted
    • Spot AF-area

  • Exposure compensation

    ±5 (at 1/3 EV steps)

  • WB Bracketing

    No

  • AE Bracketing

  • Screen / viewfinder

  • Articulated LCD

    Fixed

  • Screen size

    3

  • Screen dots

    921,000

  • Touch screen

    No

  • Screen type

    TFT LCD (160 degree viewing angle)

  • Live view

    Yes

  • Viewfinder type

    Optical (pentamirror)

  • Viewfinder coverage

    95%

  • Viewfinder magnification

    0.85×

  • Videography features

  • Resolutions

    1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps), 640 x 424 (30, 25 fps)

  • File Format

    MPEG-4, H.264

  • Microphone

    Mono

  • Speaker

    Mono

  • Videography notes

  • Optics & Focus

  • Autofocus

    • Contrast Detect (sensor)
    • Phase Detect
    • Multi-area
    • Selective single-point
    • Tracking
    • Single
    • Continuous
    • Face Detection
    • Live View

  • Digital zoom

    No

  • Manual focus

    Yes

  • Number of focus points

    11

  • Lens mount

    Nikon F

  • Focal length multiplier

    1.5×

  • Physical

  • Weight (inc. batteries)

    430 g (0.95 lb / 15.17 oz)

  • Dimensions

    124 x 98 x 76 mm (4.88 x 3.86 x 2.99)

  • Environmentally sealed

    No

  • Battery

    Battery Pack

  • Battery details

    EN-EL14a lithium-ion battery and charger

  • Battery Life (CIPA)

    700

  • Storage

  • Storage types

    SD/SDHC/SDXC

  • Storage included

    None

  • Connectivity

  • USB

    USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)

  • HDMI

    Yes (mini HDMI)

  • Wireless

    Optional

  • Wireless notes

    WU-1a Wireless Mobile Adapter

  • Remote control

    Yes (Optional)

  • Microphone port

  • Headphone port

  • Other features

  • Orientation sensor

    Yes

  • Timelapse recording

    No

  • GPS

    Optional

  • GPS notes

    GP-1

  • Watch sample photos

  • Watch video reviews

  • launch

  • Announced

    Aug 18, 2014

  • Body type

  • Camera subcategory

    Rangefinder-style mirrorless

  • Sensor

  • Effective pixels

    24 megapixels

  • Max resolution

    6000 x 4000

  • Sensor size

    APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm)

  • Sensor type

    CMOS

  • Processor

    Bionz X

  • Image ratio w:h

    3:2, 16:9

  • Other resolutions

    6000 x 3376, 4240 x 2832, 4240 x 2400, 3008 x 2000, 3008 x 1688

  • Sensor photo detectors

    25 megapixels

  • Image

  • ISO

    Auto, 100-25600

  • Boosted ISO (maximum)

  • White balance presets

    10

  • Custom white balance

    Yes

  • Image stabilization

    No

  • Uncompressed format

    RAW

  • JPEG quality levels

    Extra fine, fine, normal

  • Photography features

  • Minimum shutter speed

    30 sec

  • Maximum shutter speed

    1/4000 sec

  • Aperture priority

    Yes

  • Shutter priority

    Yes

  • Manual exposure mode

    Yes

  • Subject / scene modes

    Yes

  • Built-in flash

    Yes

  • Flash range

    4.00 m (at ISO 100)

  • External flash

    No

  • Flash modes

    Flash off, auto, fill-flaw, slow sync, redeye reduction

  • Continuous drive

    6.0 fps

  • Self-timer

    Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous (3-5 shot))

  • Metering modes

    • Multi
    • Center-weighted
    • Spot

  • Exposure compensation

    ±3 (at 1/3 EV steps)

  • WB Bracketing

    Yes (3 frames, high/low settings)

  • AE Bracketing

    ±3 (3, 5 frames at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV, 2/3 EV, 1 EV, 2 EV steps)

  • Screen / viewfinder

  • Articulated LCD

    Tilting

  • Screen size

    3

  • Screen dots

    921,600

  • Touch screen

    Yes

  • Screen type

    TFT LCD

  • Live view

    Yes

  • Viewfinder type

    None

  • Viewfinder coverage

  • Viewfinder magnification

  • Videography features

  • Resolutions

    1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (120p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)

  • File Format

    MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S

  • Microphone

    Stereo

  • Speaker

    Mono

  • Videography notes

    Supports XAVC S, AVCHD, MP4

  • Optics & Focus

  • Autofocus

    • Contrast Detect (sensor)
    • Phase Detect
    • Multi-area
    • Center
    • Selective single-point
    • Tracking
    • Single
    • Continuous
    • Touch
    • Face Detection
    • Live View

  • Digital zoom

    Yes (2X (Clear Image Zoom), 4X (digital zoom))

  • Manual focus

    Yes

  • Number of focus points

    179

  • Lens mount

    Sony E

  • Focal length multiplier

    1.5×

  • Physical

  • Weight (inc. batteries)

    283 g (0.62 lb / 9.98 oz)

  • Dimensions

    110 x 63 x 36 mm (4.33 x 2.48 x 1.42)

  • Environmentally sealed

    No

  • Battery

    Battery Pack

  • Battery details

    NP-FW50 lithium-ion battery and USB charger

  • Battery Life (CIPA)

    400

  • Storage

  • Storage types

    SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo

  • Storage included

  • Connectivity

  • USB

    USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)

  • HDMI

    Yes (micro-HDMI)

  • Wireless

    Built-In

  • Wireless notes

    802.11b/g/n with NFC

  • Remote control

    Yes (wired or PC)

  • Microphone port

    No

  • Headphone port

    No

  • Other features

  • Orientation sensor

    Yes

  • Timelapse recording

    Yes (via optional app)

  • GPS

    None

  • GPS notes

  • Watch sample photos

  • Watch video reviews

  • Summary

    The Sony Alpha a5100 offers more focus points in compare with the Nikon D3300: 179 vs 11. More number of focus points means less risk of losing focus lock while tracking a moving object.

    The Alpha a5100 has tilting display which will let the camera owner to capture photos from any interesting perspective. The Sony Alpha a5100 screen is better as it offers more screen dots 921,600 in comparison to 921,000 dots of the Nikon D3300 display. The higher dot count screen is better for reviewing images on your camera. The Alpha a5100 has a touch screen.

    The Nikon D3300 supports external flash. It provides superior control over the exposure and lighting of the object in dim light and in bright light conditions when the photographer needs to fill-flash. The Alpha a5100 is equipped with built-in Wi-Fi which will help the photographer to transfer photos wirelessly from a camera to a laptop. The Nikon D3300 battery life is better in compare to the Sony Alpha a5100 battery life. In accordance with CIPA standards the camera owner will be able to produce 700 photos with the D3300 and only 400 with the Alpha a5100. The Alpha a5100 weighs 283g that is 147g lighter in comparison with the weight of the Nikon D3300. The Nikon D3300 can utilize optional accessory GPS devices. This feature can be useful if the camera owner is a traveller, to be able to check the photo metadata and see exactly where a picture was shot.

    Considering the above differences the Sony Alpha a5100 will be the best buy. Get the lowest price on Amazon.