Nikon D5000 vs Sony RX100 VI

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Nikon D5000 vs Sony RX100 VI

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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.

1 inch 116.2mm²
20.1 megapixels
24.00mm - 200.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Sony RX100 VI Review.
See real-world photos taken with the RX100 VI.

Succeeded by the Nikon D5100
Compare D5000 vs D5100

Succeeded by the Sony RX100 VII
Compare RX100 VI vs RX100 VII

Compare NIKON D5100 vs SONY RX100 VII

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Differences

Nikon D5000 advantages over Sony RX100 VI

Larger sensor
APS-C vs 1 inch
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Bigger pixels
~ 5.50 vs 2.41 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Fast startup
~0.40 vs 2.0 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

510 vs 240 shots
Capture more photos
Hot shoe
Hot shoe vs None
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities

Sony RX100 VI 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
Shoot 4K video
4K (UHD) vs 720p
Make sure you have a fast computer
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
Built-in Bluetooth
Yes vs No
Always-on wireless connectivity
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Thinner
42 mm vs 80 mm
Thinner
Higher max flash sync
1/2000 vs 1/200 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
Newer
6 years vs 16 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
Lighter weight
301g vs 588g
Lighter weight
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
Less shutter lag
0.12 vs 0.28 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
More viewfinder magnification
0.59x vs 0.52x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
20.1 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
23.8 fps vs 4.0 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
229 vs 100 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
23.8 fps vs 4.0 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
109 vs 10 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Faster shutter
1/32000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
25600 vs 6400 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Rear display
Both provide
Review photos on the back of the camera
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
RAW file ability
Both provide
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Manual focus
Both provide
AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
Top deck display
Neither provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
Integrated ND filter
Neither provide
Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
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

User reviews

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Review Excerpt

Read our Nikon D5000 Full Review

We haven’t finished our review of the Sony RX100 VI, but we have extensive sample photos and a hands-on report.
Read our Sony RX100 VI Shooter's Report

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 RX100 VI

Sony DSLR-A350

$1062
1 inch

Focus peaking
Shoot 4K video

$900
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Sony RX100 VI 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 RX100 VI

Sony DSLR-A300

$1062
1 inch

Focus peaking
Shoot 4K video

$563
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Sony RX100 VI 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 RX100 VI

Sony DSLR-A390

$1062
1 inch

Focus peaking
Shoot 4K video

$507
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Sony RX100 VI vs Sony DSLR-A390

Compared to Panasonic ZS100

Nikon D5000

Panasonic ZS100

$850
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$498
1 inch

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D5000 vs Panasonic ZS100

Sony RX100 VI

Panasonic ZS100

$1062
1 inch

Slower slow-motion
Tiltable Screen

$498
1 inch

Less expensive
More telephoto lens reach

Compare Sony RX100 VI vs Panasonic ZS100

Compared to Sony RX100 VII

Nikon D5000

Sony RX100 VII

$850
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$1298
1 inch

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D5000 vs Sony RX100 VII

Sony RX100 VI

Sony RX100 VII

$1062
1 inch

Less expensive
Faster JPEG shooting

$1298
1 inch

External Mic Jack

Compare Sony RX100 VI vs Sony RX100 VII

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