Nikon D3200 vs Sony A58

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Nikon D3200 vs Sony A58

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APS-C 357.3mm²
24.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 6400

Go in depth with our full Nikon D3200 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the D3200.

APS-C 366.6mm²
20.1 megapixels
ISO 100 - 16,000

Go in depth with our full Sony A58 Review.
How does it shoot? Sony A58 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the A58.
Compare Sony A58 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Sony A58 conclusion.

Succeeded by the Nikon D3300
Compare D3200 vs D3300

Succeeded by the Sony A68
Compare A58 vs A68

Compare NIKON D3300 vs SONY A68

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Differences

Nikon D3200 advantages over Sony A58

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
Fast startup
~0.40 vs 1.9 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
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.
D3200 test data on DxO Mark A58 test data on DxO Mark

1,131 vs 753 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
Higher-res screen
307k vs 154k pixels
More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
More pixels
24.2 vs 20.1 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Shoots 60p video
Yes vs No
A faster framerate can give you more editing options
Bigger JPEG buffer
100 vs 8 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Bigger RAW buffer
12 vs 6 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)

Sony A58 advantages over Nikon D3200

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
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

700 vs 540 shots
Capture more photos
More cross-type AF points
3 vs 1
Cross-type AF points improve autofocus performance
Less shutter lag
0.13 vs 0.28 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
More AF points
15 vs 11
More AF points improve autofocus
Faster JPEG shooting
4.9 fps vs 4.0 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
4.8 fps vs 4.0 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
External Mic Jack
Both provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Touchscreen
Neither provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Built-in Wi-Fi
Neither provide
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Neither provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
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
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

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read D3200 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read A58 User Reviews

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Buy the Nikon D3200

Kit with 18-55mm Lens

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Buy the Sony A58

Kit with 18-55mm Lens

All A58 Deals

Review Excerpt

High resolution allows cropping; Good performance in low light; Compact and comfortable, highly portable; Fast and responsive, just begs to take pictures; Quiet shutter is great for candids.
Mediocre kit lens; Might be too small for some; No bracketing; Narrow flash coverage; Matrix metering tends to overexpose.
Read our Nikon D3200 Review

Improved 20.1-megapixel resolution; Impressive image quality, especially for its price; Fast and decisive autofocus (in most conditions); Very good battery life; Good video quality (Full HD 1080p, though it doesn't support 60p frame rate).
Plastic lens mount; Slower burst mode speeds and shallower buffer than A57; LCD no longer fully articulating; Mediocre kit lens; Electronic instead of an optical viewfinder may be a turnoff for some.
Read our Sony A58 Review

The Competition

Compared to Sony A65

Nikon D3200

Sony A65

$477
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

$798
APS-C

Focus peaking
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Nikon D3200 vs Sony A65

Sony A58

Sony A65

$598
APS-C

Less expensive
Fast startup

$798
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Built-in GPS

Compare Sony A58 vs Sony A65

Compared to Pentax K-5 IIs

Nikon D3200

Pentax K-5 IIs

$477
APS-C

Fast startup
Shoots 24p video

$497
APS-C

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Bigger pixels

Compare Nikon D3200 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Sony A58

Pentax K-5 IIs

$598
APS-C

Less expensive
Focus peaking

$497
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

Compare Sony A58 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Compared to Nikon D5200

Nikon D3200

Nikon D5200

$477
APS-C

Bigger RAW buffer

$500
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Higher effective ISO

Compare Nikon D3200 vs Nikon D5200

Sony A58

Nikon D5200

$598
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$500
APS-C

Lens selection
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Sony A58 vs Nikon D5200

Compared to Canon T5i

Nikon D3200

Canon T5i

$477
APS-C

Fast startup
Better color depth

$539
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Touchscreen

Compare Nikon D3200 vs Canon T5i

Sony A58

Canon T5i

$598
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$539
APS-C

Lens selection
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Sony A58 vs Canon T5i

Compared to Nikon D3300

Nikon D3200

Nikon D3300

$477
APS-C

Has anti-aliasing filter
Bigger RAW buffer

$206
APS-C

Less expensive
In-camera panoramas

Compare Nikon D3200 vs Nikon D3300

Sony A58

Nikon D3300

$598
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$206
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

Compare Sony A58 vs Nikon D3300

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