Nikon D5200 vs Sony A7R II

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Nikon D5200 vs Sony A7R II

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APS-C 366.6mm²
24.1 megapixels
ISO 100 - 6400

Go in depth with our full Nikon D5200 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the D5200.

35mm 861.6mm²
42.4 megapixels
ISO 100 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Sony A7R II Review.
How does it shoot? Sony A7R II in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the A7R II.
Compare Sony A7R II image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Sony A7R II conclusion.

Succeeded by the Nikon D5300
Compare D5200 vs D5300

Succeeded by the Sony A7R III
Compare A7R II vs A7R III

Compare NIKON D5300 vs SONY A7R III

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Differences

Nikon D5200 advantages over Sony A7R II

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
Less expensive
$695 vs $1798*
Save money for lenses or accessories
Tilt-swivel screen
Tilt-swivel vs tilt-only
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Fast startup
~0.50 vs 1.5 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

500 vs 340 shots
Capture more photos
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Has anti-aliasing filter
Filter vs No Filter
Reduces unsightly moiré in photos
Bigger JPEG buffer
Unlimited vs 23 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

Sony A7R II advantages over Nikon D5200

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
~ 4.51 vs 3.92 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Shoot 4K video
4K (UHD) vs 1080p
Make sure you have a fast computer
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
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
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.
A7R II test data on DxO Mark D5200 test data on DxO Mark

3,434 vs 1,284 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Less shutter lag
0.21 vs 0.30 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
More viewfinder magnification
0.78x vs 0.52x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
42.4 vs 24.1 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Headphone jack
Yes vs No
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Lacks anti-aliasing filter
No Filter vs Filter
Enjoy sharper photos
Bigger RAW buffer
23 vs 7 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Faster shutter
1/8000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
102400 vs 25600 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
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 Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
Top deck display
Neither provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read D5200 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read A7R II User Reviews

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Kit with 18-55mm Lens

Kit with 18-55mm Lens
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Kit with 18-140mm Lens

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Review Excerpt

Captures sharp, detailed photos with its new 24.1-megapixel CMOS sensor, even at higher ISOs; Features a familiar (D5100) but refined body design; Records Full HD video with full-time autofocus tracking; Packs a ton of advanced features into a consumer-friendly body at a great price.
Autofocuses a little slowly for its class and struggles at times in low light; Changing some basic settings takes more time and effort than it should; Mediocre kit lens.
Read our Nikon D5200 Review

Superb image quality; Very high resolution; Surprisingly good high ISO performance; Fast autofocus; Compact, comfortable body with lots of customization potential; Bright, roomy and clear viewfinder; Tilting LCD display; Five-axis stabilization; Intuitive Wi-Fi / NFC connectivity
Movie button is poorly located; No touch screen; Not as fast to start up or shoot photos as a similarly-priced SLR; Rather slow buffer clearing; No built-in flash; Single card slot; Not weather-sealed to the same degree as some rivals
Read our Sony A7R II Review

The Competition

Compared to Sony A65

Nikon D5200

Sony A65

$590
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

$798
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D5200 vs Sony A65

Sony A7R II

Sony A65

$2348
35mm

Larger sensor
Shoot 4K video

$798
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Built-in GPS

Compare Sony A7R II vs Sony A65

Compared to Nikon D3200

Nikon D5200

Nikon D3200

$590
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Higher effective ISO

$477
APS-C

Less expensive
Bigger RAW buffer

Compare Nikon D5200 vs Nikon D3200

Sony A7R II

Nikon D3200

$2348
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$477
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

Compare Sony A7R II vs Nikon D3200

Compared to Sony A58

Nikon D5200

Sony A58

$590
APS-C

Lens selection
Tilt-swivel screen

$598
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D5200 vs Sony A58

Sony A7R II

Sony A58

$2348
35mm

Larger sensor
Shoot 4K video

$598
APS-C

Longer stills battery life
Internal flash

Compare Sony A7R II vs Sony A58

Compared to Sony A9

Nikon D5200

Sony A9

$590
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

$2997
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Nikon D5200 vs Sony A9

Sony A7R II

Sony A9

$2348
35mm

Less expensive
In-camera panoramas

$2997
35mm

Bigger pixels
Touchscreen

Compare Sony A7R II vs Sony A9

Compared to Sony A7R III

Nikon D5200

Sony A7R III

$590
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

$2151
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Nikon D5200 vs Sony A7R III

Sony A7R II

Sony A7R III

$2348
35mm

In-camera panoramas

$2151
35mm

Touchscreen
High resolution composite

Compare Sony A7R II vs Sony A7R III

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