• APS-C 372.9mm2
  • 12.3 megapixels
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • APS-C 369.7mm2
  • 16.1 megapixels
  •  

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Differences

Nikon D5000 advantages over Sony NEX-5N

  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Good
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Eye-level vs Rear display only
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Fast startup
    ~0.40 vs 1.9 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Internal flash
    Internal flash vs None
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    100 vs 7 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

Sony NEX-5N advantages over Nikon D5000

  • Less expensive
    $700 vs $850 (MSRP)
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Higher effective ISO
    1,079 vs 868 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • Thinner
    38 mm vs 80 mm
    Thinner
  • 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 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
  • 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

  • Tiltable Screen
    Both provide
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • 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

  • 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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Buy the Nikon D5000

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Buy the Sony NEX-5N

Review Excerpt

  • Fast autofocus and prefocused shutter lag; Quieter shutter sound; Captures 10 frames per second; Supports AVCHD 2.0.

  • Limited first-party lens selection; Slow and confusing on-screen user interface; top-mounted, proprietary accessories are quite pricey.

  • Read our Sony NEX-5N Review

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 NEX-5N
Sony DSLR-A350
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $900
  • APS-C
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Sony NEX-5N 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 NEX-5N
Sony DSLR-A300
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • In-camera panoramas
  • Higher effective ISO
  • $563
  • APS-C
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Sony NEX-5N 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 NEX-5N
Sony DSLR-A390
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • In-camera panoramas
  • Higher effective ISO
  • $507
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Sony NEX-5N vs Sony DSLR-A390

Compared to Sony NEX-C3

Nikon D5000
Sony NEX-C3
  • $850
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • $559
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • In-camera panoramas

Compare Nikon D5000 vs Sony NEX-C3

Sony NEX-5N
Sony NEX-C3
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Shoots 24p video
  • Shoots 1080p video
  • $559
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Fast startup

Compare Sony NEX-5N vs Sony NEX-C3

Compared to Sony NEX-5R

Nikon D5000
Sony NEX-5R
  • $850
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Touchscreen

Compare Nikon D5000 vs Sony NEX-5R

Sony NEX-5N
Sony NEX-5R
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Higher effective ISO
  • Longer stills battery life
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Touchscreen

Compare Sony NEX-5N vs Sony NEX-5R

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