• APS-C 366.6mm2
  • 24.1 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 35mm 861.6mm2
  • 50.1 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 32,000

Buy From

Differences

Nikon D7100 advantages over Sony A1

  • Less expensive
    $849 vs $4998*
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Good
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 950 vs 530 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Internal flash
    Internal flash vs None
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Top deck display
    Yes vs No
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera

Sony A1 advantages over Nikon D7100

  • 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
  • Shoot 4K video
    No vs 1080p
    Make sure you have a fast computer
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • 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
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Yes vs No
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Higher max flash sync
    1/400 vs 1/250 sec
    Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
  • Newer
    4 years vs 12 years old
    Newer cameras often support more advanced features
  • More viewfinder magnification
    0.90x vs 0.63x
    Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
  • More pixels
    50.1 vs 24.1 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    30.0 fps vs 5.8 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    165 vs 12 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Faster RAW shooting
    20.0 fps vs 5.3 fps
    Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
  • Bigger RAW buffer
    155 vs 5 shots
    Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos
  • Faster shutter
    1/32000 vs 1/8000 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
  • Dual card slots
    Both provide
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Both provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • In-camera panoramas
    Neither provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos

User reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Nikon D7100

Review Excerpt

  • Solid, ergonomic body design; Stunning, highly detailed photos, thanks to 24.1MP sensor upgrade and removal of optical low-pass filter; Cool 1.3x crop mode extends reach to nearly 2x the full-frame equivalent; Records Full 1080p HD video at up to 30fps with full-time AF; Many pro-level features packed into a consumer-friendly body at reasonable price.

  • Shallow buffer that hampers continuous burst shooting; AF slightly slower than average for its class; No real-time aperture control while in Movie mode (among other quirks); More noticeable moire patterns and aliasing artifacts (but only found when shooting fabrics with strong, distinct patterns).

The Competition

Compared to Canon 70D

Nikon D7100
Canon 70D
  • $750
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Fast startup
  • $999
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Touchscreen
Sony A1
Canon 70D
  • $5498
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $999
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Tilt-swivel screen

Compared to Pentax K-3

Nikon D7100
Pentax K-3
  • $750
  • APS-C
  • Fast startup
  • Longer stills battery life
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
Sony A1
Pentax K-3
  • $5498
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Shoot 4K video
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Internal flash

Compared to Nikon D7200

Nikon D7100
Nikon D7200
  • $750
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Fast startup
  • $1021
  • APS-C
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
  • NFC
Sony A1
Nikon D7200
  • $5498
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $1021
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Lens selection

Compared to Sony A7R IV

Nikon D7100
Sony A7R IV
  • $750
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Lens selection
  • $3120
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
Sony A1
Sony A7R IV
  • $5498
  • 35mm
  • Slower slow-motion
  • Longer video battery life
  • $3120
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • High resolution composite

Compared to Canon R5

Nikon D7100
Canon R5
  • $750
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Longer stills battery life
  • $3349
  • 35mm
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Focus peaking
Sony A1
Canon R5
  • $5498
  • 35mm
  • Slower slow-motion
  • NFC
  • $3349
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • Tilt-swivel screen
Compare Other Cameras?