Nikon D5100 vs Sony A9

Sony A9 advantages over Nikon D5100

• Focus peaking
  Peaker vs Non-peaker
  Your camera will highlight what's in focus
• Larger sensor
  35mm vs APS-C
  More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
• In-Camera Image Stabilization
  Yes vs No
  Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
• Bigger pixels
  ~ 5.93 vs 4.79 microns
  Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
• Shoot 4K video
  4K (UHD) vs 1080p
  Make sure you have a fast computer
• Touchscreen
  Touch vs No touch
  Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
• Built-in Wi-Fi
  Wi-Fi vs None
  Share your photos wirelessly
• NFC
  Yes vs No
  Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
• Built-in Bluetooth
  Yes vs No
  Always-on wireless connectivity
• 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.

  A9 test data on DxO Mark D5100 test data on DxO Mark
  3,517 vs 1,183 iso
  Take photos in low light with less noise
• On-sensor phase detect
  Yes vs No
  Usually improves live view and video AF performance
• Newer
  8 years vs 14 years old
  Newer cameras often support more advanced features
• More dots on screen
  1440k vs 922k dots
  Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
• More viewfinder magnification
  0.78x vs 0.52x
  Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
• More pixels
  24.2 vs 16.2 megapixels
  Higher resolution photos
• Shoots 60p video
  Yes vs No
  A faster framerate can give you more editing options
• Dual card slots
  Yes vs No
  Gives you more storage flexibility
• Headphone jack
  Yes vs No
  Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
• Faster JPEG shooting
  20.0 fps vs 3.9 fps
  Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
• Bigger JPEG buffer
  364 vs 100 shots
  Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
• Faster RAW shooting
  20.0 fps vs 4.0 fps
  Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
• Bigger RAW buffer
  240 vs 13 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
  204800 vs 25600 ISO
  Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility