Nikon D3000 vs Sony NEX-5

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Nikon D3000 vs Sony NEX-5

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APS-C 372.9mm²
10.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 1600

Go in depth with our full Nikon D3000 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the D3000.

APS-C 369.7mm²
14.2 megapixels

Go in depth with our full Sony NEX-5 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the NEX-5.

Succeeded by the Sony NEX-5N
Compare NEX-5 vs NEX-5N
Compare Nikon D3000 vs Sony NEX-5N

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Differences

Nikon D3000 advantages over Sony NEX-5

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
Less expensive
$600 vs $700 (MSRP)
Save money for lenses or accessories
Eye-level viewfinder
Eye-level vs Rear display only
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Bigger pixels
~ 6.10 vs 5.16 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Fast startup
~0.70 vs 1.0 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

550 vs 330 shots
Capture more photos
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Less shutter lag
0.26 vs 0.44 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
Faster JPEG shooting
3.0 fps vs 2.7 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)

Sony NEX-5 advantages over Nikon D3000

In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
NEX-5 test data on DxO Mark D3000 test data on DxO Mark

796 vs 563 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
Thinner
40 mm vs 64 mm
Thinner
HDMI out
HDMI out vs None
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
More dots on screen
922k vs 230k dots
Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
More pixels
14.2 vs 10.2 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Bigger JPEG buffer
38 vs 16 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Higher extended ISO
12800 vs 3200 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Focus peaking
Neither provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Neither provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Touchscreen
Neither provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Built-in Wi-Fi
Neither provide
Share your photos wirelessly
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Top deck display
Neither provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
External Mic Jack
Neither provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

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Review Excerpt

Read our Nikon D3000 Full Review

Read our Sony NEX-5 Full Review

The Competition

Compared to Sony DSLR-A230

Nikon D3000

Sony DSLR-A230

$450
APS-C

Lens selection
Faster JPEG shooting

$549
APS-C

In-Camera Image Stabilization
HDMI out

Compare Nikon D3000 vs Sony DSLR-A230

Sony NEX-5

Sony DSLR-A230

$700
APS-C

In-camera panoramas
Tiltable Screen

$549
APS-C

Less expensive
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Sony NEX-5 vs Sony DSLR-A230

Compared to Sony DSLR-A330

Nikon D3000

Sony DSLR-A330

$450
APS-C

Lens selection
More viewfinder magnification

$530
APS-C

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Tiltable Screen

Compare Nikon D3000 vs Sony DSLR-A330

Sony NEX-5

Sony DSLR-A330

$700
APS-C

In-camera panoramas
Higher effective ISO

$530
APS-C

Eye-level viewfinder
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Sony NEX-5 vs Sony DSLR-A330

Compared to Pentax K-r

Nikon D3000

Pentax K-r

$450
APS-C

Less expensive

$850
APS-C

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Fast startup

Compare Nikon D3000 vs Pentax K-r

Sony NEX-5

Pentax K-r

$700
APS-C

Less expensive
In-camera panoramas

$850
APS-C

Lens selection
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Sony NEX-5 vs Pentax K-r

Compared to Samsung NX100

Nikon D3000

Samsung NX100

$450
APS-C

Lens selection
Eye-level viewfinder

$799
APS-C

Thinner
HDMI out

Compare Nikon D3000 vs Samsung NX100

Sony NEX-5

Samsung NX100

$700
APS-C

Lens selection
In-camera panoramas

$799
APS-C

Less expensive
Longer stills battery life

Compare Sony NEX-5 vs Samsung NX100

Compared to Sony NEX-C3

Nikon D3000

Sony NEX-C3

$450
APS-C

Lens selection
Eye-level viewfinder

$559
APS-C

In-camera panoramas
Tiltable Screen

Compare Nikon D3000 vs Sony NEX-C3

Sony NEX-5

Sony NEX-C3

$700
APS-C

Bigger JPEG buffer

$559
APS-C

Less expensive
Higher effective ISO

Compare Sony NEX-5 vs Sony NEX-C3

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