Nikon D5100 vs Sony A68

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Nikon D5100 vs Sony A68

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APS-C 368.2mm²
16.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 6400

Go in depth with our full Nikon D5100 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the D5100.

APS-C 366.6mm²
24.3 megapixels
ISO 100 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Sony A68 Review.

Succeeded by the Nikon D5200
Compare D5100 vs D5200
Compare Nikon D5200 vs Sony A68

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Differences

Nikon D5100 advantages over Sony A68

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
Tilt-swivel screen
Tilt-swivel vs tilt-only
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Bigger pixels
~ 4.79 vs 3.92 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
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.
D5100 test data on DxO Mark A68 test data on DxO Mark

1,183 vs 701 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
More dots on screen
922k vs 461k dots
Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen

Sony A68 advantages over Nikon D5100

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
Top deck display
Yes vs No
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
More cross-type AF points
15 vs 1
Cross-type AF points improve autofocus performance
Newer
9 years vs 14 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
More viewfinder magnification
0.57x vs 0.52x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
24.3 vs 16.2 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
More AF points
79 vs 11
More AF points improve autofocus
Faster JPEG shooting
5.0 fps vs 3.9 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (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

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
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 D5100 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read A68 User Reviews

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Body Only

All D5100 Deals

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Buy the Sony A68

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 18-55mm lens

All A68 Deals

Review Excerpt

Side-mounted tilt / swivel LCD screen; same sensor and processing as the Nikon D7000; good speed and battery life; in-camera HDR and filter effects; Full HD video capture with aperture control; audio levels control and external microphone jack.
AF-S lens mount doesn't offer autofocus with screw-drive lenses; popup flash isn't the greatest; no built-in wireless flash control; HDR function doesn't microalign source images.
Read our Nikon D5100 Full Review

We haven’t reviewed the Sony A68.
Read our Sony A68 Preview

The Competition

Compared to Sony A55

Nikon D5100

Sony A55

$650
APS-C

Lens selection
Tilt-swivel screen

$734
APS-C

In-Camera Image Stabilization
In-camera panoramas

Compare Nikon D5100 vs Sony A55

Sony A68

Sony A55

$598
APS-C

Focus peaking
Longer stills battery life

$734
APS-C

Bigger pixels
Higher effective ISO

Compare Sony A68 vs Sony A55

Compared to Sony A33

Nikon D5100

Sony A33

$650
APS-C

Lens selection
Tilt-swivel screen

$540
APS-C

In-Camera Image Stabilization
In-camera panoramas

Compare Nikon D5100 vs Sony A33

Sony A68

Sony A33

$598
APS-C

Focus peaking
Higher effective ISO

$540
APS-C

Bigger pixels
More dots on screen

Compare Sony A68 vs Sony A33

Compared to Sony A57

Nikon D5100

Sony A57

$650
APS-C

Lens selection
Tilt-swivel screen

$800
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D5100 vs Sony A57

Sony A68

Sony A57

$598
APS-C

Top deck display
External Mic Jack

$800
APS-C

Bigger pixels
Higher effective ISO

Compare Sony A68 vs Sony A57

Compared to Canon T6s

Nikon D5100

Canon T6s

$650
APS-C

Less expensive
Larger sensor

$619
APS-C

Touchscreen
Built-in Wi-Fi

Compare Nikon D5100 vs Canon T6s

Sony A68

Canon T6s

$598
APS-C

Less expensive
Focus peaking

$619
APS-C

Lens selection
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Sony A68 vs Canon T6s

Compared to Pentax K-3 II

Nikon D5100

Pentax K-3 II

$650
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

$830
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D5100 vs Pentax K-3 II

Sony A68

Pentax K-3 II

$598
APS-C

Less expensive
In-camera panoramas

$830
APS-C

Lens selection
High resolution composite

Compare Sony A68 vs Pentax K-3 II

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