Nikon D5000 vs Sony A57

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Nikon D5000 vs Sony A57

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APS-C 372.9mm²
12.3 megapixels
ISO 200 - 3200

Go in depth with our full Nikon D5000 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the D5000.

APS-C 369.7mm²
16.1 megapixels
ISO 100 - 16,000

Go in depth with our full Sony A57 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the A57.

Succeeded by the Nikon D5100
Compare D5000 vs D5100
Compare Nikon D5100 vs Sony A57

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Differences

Nikon D5000 advantages over Sony A57

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
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.
D5000 test data on DxO Mark A57 test data on DxO Mark

868 vs 785 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
Bigger JPEG buffer
100 vs 25 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

Sony A57 advantages over Nikon D5000

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
More cross-type AF points
3 vs 1
Cross-type AF points improve autofocus performance
More dots on screen
922k vs 230k dots
Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
Shoots 1080p video
Yes vs No
You'll want this if you shoot video
More viewfinder magnification
0.69x vs 0.52x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
16.1 vs 12.3 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Shoots 60p video
Yes vs No
A faster framerate can give you more editing options
More AF points
15 vs 11
More AF points improve autofocus
Faster JPEG shooting
10.0 fps vs 4.0 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Higher extended ISO
25600 vs 6400 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Tiltable Screen
Both provide
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
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

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 D5000 Full Review

We haven’t finished our review of the Sony A57, but we have extensive sample photos and a hands-on report.
See our Sony A57 First Shots

The Competition

Compared to Sony DSLR-A350

Nikon D5000

Sony DSLR-A350

$850
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

$900
APS-C

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Longer stills battery life

Compare Nikon D5000 vs Sony DSLR-A350

Sony A57

Sony DSLR-A350

$800
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-camera panoramas

$900
APS-C

Longer stills battery life
More telephoto lens reach

Compare Sony A57 vs Sony DSLR-A350

Compared to Sony DSLR-A300

Nikon D5000

Sony DSLR-A300

$850
APS-C

Lens selection
Higher effective ISO

$563
APS-C

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Longer stills battery life

Compare Nikon D5000 vs Sony DSLR-A300

Sony A57

Sony DSLR-A300

$800
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-camera panoramas

$563
APS-C

Bigger pixels
Longer stills battery life

Compare Sony A57 vs Sony DSLR-A300

Compared to Sony DSLR-A390

Nikon D5000

Sony DSLR-A390

$850
APS-C

Lens selection
Higher effective ISO

$507
APS-C

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D5000 vs Sony DSLR-A390

Sony A57

Sony DSLR-A390

$800
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-camera panoramas

$507
APS-C

Less expensive

Compare Sony A57 vs Sony DSLR-A390

Compared to Nikon D5100

Nikon D5000

Nikon D5100

$850
APS-C

$650
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Higher effective ISO

Compare Nikon D5000 vs Nikon D5100

Sony A57

Nikon D5100

$800
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$650
APS-C

Lens selection
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Sony A57 vs Nikon D5100

Compared to Pentax K-5 IIs

Nikon D5000

Pentax K-5 IIs

$850
APS-C

Less expensive
Tiltable Screen

$497
APS-C

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Higher effective ISO

Compare Nikon D5000 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Sony A57

Pentax K-5 IIs

$800
APS-C

Less expensive
Focus peaking

$497
APS-C

Lens selection
Higher effective ISO

Compare Sony A57 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

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