• APS-C 369.7mm2
  • 16.1 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 16,000
  • 1 inch 116.2mm2
  • 20.8 megapixels
  • ISO 160 - 12,800
  • Detailed specifications
  • Sony Alpha SLT-A37
  • Nikon J5
Links
Prices:   Compare Prices
Manufacturer URL: Manufacturer website Manufacturer website
Predecessor:   Nikon J4
J4 vs J5
Successor:    
General
Model Number: A37 J5
Alternate Model Number(s):    
Camera Format: SLR Compact System Camera
Currently Manufactured: No No
Retail Price: $599.99 $499.95
Street Price:   $496.95
Date Available: 2012-06-15 2015-04-30
Tripod Mount: Yes Yes
Weight: 25.6 oz (726 g)
includes batteries, kit lens
12.2 oz (345 g)
includes batteries, kit lens
Size: 4.9 x 3.6 x 3.3 in.
(124 x 92 x 85 mm)
3.9 x 2.4 x 1.2 in.
(98 x 60 x 32 mm)
Waterproof: No No
Waterproof Depth: n/a n/a
Image Sensor
Sensor Type: CMOS CMOS
Sensor Manufacturer: Sony  
Effective Megapixels: 16.1 20.8
Sensor Format: APS-C 1 inch
Sensor size: 369.72mm2 (23.7mm x 15.6mm) 116.16mm2 (13.20mm x 8.80mm)
Approximate Pixel Pitch: 4.82 microns 2.37 microns
Focal Length Multiplier: 1.5x 2.7x
Aspect Ratio: 3:2 3:2
Color Filter Type: RGBG RGBG
Anti Aliasing Filter: Fixed None
Self-Cleaning: Yes Yes
Sensor shift image stabilization: Yes No
On-Sensor Phase Detect: No Yes
DxO Sensor Score: 75 65
DxO Color Depth Score (bits): 23.3 21.1
DxO Dynamic Range Score (evs): 12.9 12.0
DxO Maximum Effective ISO Score (iso): 799 479
Image Capture
Image Resolution: 4912 x 3264 (16.0 MP, 3:2),
4912 x 2760 (13.6 MP, 16:9),
3568 x 2368 (8.4 MP, Other),
3568 x 2000 (7.1 MP, 16:9),
2448 x 1624 (4.0 MP, Other),
2448 x 1376 (3.4 MP, 16:9),
12416 x 1856 (23.0 MP, Other),
5536 x 2160 (12.0 MP, Other),
8192 x 1856 (15.2 MP, Other),
3872 x 2160 (8.4 MP, Other),
7152 x 1080 (7.7 MP, Other),
4912 x 1080 (5.3 MP, Other),
1920 x 1080 (2.1 MP, 16:9)
5568 x 3712 (20.7 MP, 3:2),
4176 x 2784 (11.6 MP, 3:2),
2784 x 1856 (5.2 MP, 3:2),
9600 x 920 (8.8 MP, Other),
1536 x 9600 (14.7 MP, Other),
4800 x 920 (4.4 MP, Other),
1536 x 4800 (7.4 MP, Other)
Image File Format: JPEG, MPO, RAW (12-bit ARW 2.3), RAW+JPEG JPEG (EXIF 2.3), Compressed 12-bit NEF RAW, RAW+JPG
Continuous-mode frames/second: 5.5 59.4
Video Capture
Can take movies: Yes Yes
Movie Resolution: 1920x1080 (60i(FH)/​24p(FX)/​24p(FH))
1440x1080 (30p)
640x480 (30p)
3840x2160 (15p)
1920x1080 (60p/​30p)
1280x720 (60p/​30p)
1280x720 (120p)
800x296 (400p)
400x144 (1200p)
Movie File Format: AVCHD 1.0/MP4 (Audio: Dolby Digital (AC-3)/MPEG-4 AAC-LC) MOV H.264/MPEG-4 AVC with PCM audio
Composite Video Out: No No
NTSC/PAL Switchable Video: n/a n/a
Video Usable as Viewfinder: n/a n/a
HD Video Out: Yes Yes
HD Video Connection: HDMI HDMI
Lens & Optics
Lens Mount: Sony Alpha (Minolta A) Nikon 1
Lens: Sony 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 DT SAM 1 Nikkor 10-30mm f/3.5-5.6 VR PD-Zoom
Focal Length (35mm equivalent): 27 - 83mm 27 - 81mm
Focal Length (actual): 18 - 55mm 10 - 30mm
Zoom Ratio: 3.06x 3.00x
Aperture Range: f/3.5 - 22 (W), f/5.6 - 36 (T) f/3.5 (W)- f/5.6 (T) - f/16 with 7-blade rounded aperture
Integrated ND Filter: No No
Normal Focus Range: 25 cm to Infinity
9.8 in to Infinity
20 cm to Infinity
7.9 in to Infinity
Macro Focus Range:    
Filter Thread: 55.0mm n/a
Thread Type: n/a n/a
Optical Image Stabilization: No Yes
Digital Zoom: Yes
Digital Zoom Values: Up to 2x Precision, Up to 2x Clear Image Zoom, 1.4x (8.4MP) or 2.0x (4MP) Smart Zoom  
Auto Focus
Auto Focus: Yes Yes
Auto Focus Type: Phase Detection: 15 points (3 points cross type); Wide (auto, 15 points), Zone, Spot, Local; Enhanced Object Tracking Hybrid AF (phase detection/contrast-detect AF): Single-point AF: 171 focus areas, the center 105 areas support phase-detection AF; Auto-area AF: 41 focus areas; Subject tracking; Face-priority AF
Auto Focus Assist Light? Yes Yes
Manual Focus: Yes Yes
Viewfinder
Viewfinder: EVF / LCD No / LCD
Viewfinder Type: EVF type; 1.1cm (0.43") 1.15M-dot LCD (380K-dot time-multiplexed RGB), 100% coverage, 1.1x magnification, 19mm eyepoint, -4 to +4 diopter  
Focus Peaking: Yes No
EVF Resolution:   n/a
Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent): 0.73x  
Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed): 1.10x  
Display
Eye-level Viewfinder: Yes No
Rear Display: Yes Yes
Rear Display Size (inches): 2.6 3.0
Rear Display Resolution: 230,400 dots (76,800 px) 1,036,800 dots (345,600 px)
Touchscreen: No Yes
Articulating Screen: Yes Yes
Tilt Swivel Screen: No
Selfie Screen: Yes
Max Playback Zoom: 11.8x  
Top Deck Display: No No
Exposure
Maximum ISO (native): 16000 12800
Minimum ISO (native): 100 160
ISO Settings: Auto (100-3200), 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400, 12800, 16000; (Multi-frame NR mode up to ISO 25600) Auto, 160 - 12800
Auto ISO Mode: Yes Yes
White Balance Settings: Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Incandescent, Fluorescent (Warm, Cool, Day, Daylight), Flash, Custom, Color Temp/Filter (2500-9900K with 15-step Magenta/Green compensation) Auto, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Direct Sunlight, Flash, Cloudy, Shade, Preset Manual (custom); All except preset manual with fine tuning
Shutter Speed Range: 1/4000 - 30 sec 1/16000 - 30 sec
Bulb Mode: Yes Yes
Exposure Compensation: +/- 3.0EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 3.0EV in 0.3EV steps
Metering Modes: 1200-zone Evaluative, Center-weighted, Spot Matrix, Center-weighted (4.5mm), Spot (2mm centered on selected AF area)
Program Auto Exposure: Yes Yes
Aperture Priority: Yes Yes
Shutter Priority: Yes Yes
Full Manual Exposure: Yes Yes
Creative Exposure Modes: Sweep Panorama, 3D Sweep Panorama, Portrait, SportsAction, Macro, Landscape, Sunset, Night view, Hand-held Twilight (6 shot layering), Night Portrait, Picture Effect (Posterization (color/B/W), Pop Color, Retro Photo, Partial color (R/G/B/Y), High Contrast Monochrome, Toy Camera (Normal/Cool), Soft High-key, Soft Focus (Hi/Mid/Lo), HDR Painting (Hi/Mid/Lo), Miniature (7 Settings)) Scene Mode: Sports, Portrait, Night Landscape, Landscape, Night Portrait, Close-up; HDR, Easy Panorama, Soft, Miniature Effect, Selective Color, Cross Process, Toy Camera Effect, Nostalgic Sepia, Pop, Retro, High-contrast Monochrome, Fisheye, Skin softening and Cross Screen; Best Moment Capture (Active Selection, Slow View and Smart Photo Selector); Motion Snapshot
Self Timer: 2 or 10 seconds 2, 10 seconds
Time Lapse (intervalometer):   Yes
High Resolution Composite: No No
Flash
Built-in Flash: Yes Yes
Flash Modes: Auto, Off, Fill-flash, Rear sync, Wireless, High-Speed sync, Slow sync, Red-eye reduction: On/Off Auto, auto + red-eye reduction, fill flash, fill flash + slow sync, red-eye reduction, red-eye reduction + slow sync, rear-curtain sync, rear curtain + slow sync, off
Flash Guide Number (ISO 100): 10.0 m / 32.8 ft. 5.0 m / 16.4 ft.
Flash Range Description: Lens dependent GN=5m (ISO 100) or 6.3m (ISO 160); Range is lens aperture dependent
Max Flash Sync: 1/160 1/60
Flash Exposure Compensation: +/- 2.0 EV in 0.3EV steps -3 to +1 EV in 0.3EV steps
External Flash Connection: Hot shoe n/a
Built-In Wireless Flash Control:    
Image Storage
Usable Memory Types: MS PRO Duo / SD / SDHC / SDXC microSD / microSDHC / microSDXC
UHS Support:   UHS-I
Other Memory:    
Dual Card Slots: No No
RAW Capture Support: Yes Yes
Uncompressed Format: RAW (12-bit ARW 2.3), RAW+JPEG Compressed 12-bit NEF RAW, RAW+JPG
Movie File Format: AVCHD 1.0/MP4 (Audio: Dolby Digital (AC-3)/MPEG-4 AAC-LC) MOV H.264/MPEG-4 AVC with PCM audio
Included Memory:   No memory included
Included Memory Type:    
Connectivity
Built-In Wi-Fi: No Yes
NFC: No Yes
Bluetooth: No No
Built-In GPS: No No
Microphone Jack: Yes No
Headphone Jack: No No
External Connections: USB 2.0 High Speed USB 2.0 High Speed,WiFi
PictBridge Compliant: Yes Yes
DPOF Compliant: Yes Yes
Remote Control: Yes Yes
Remote Control Type: Optional Wired (RM-S1AM/RM-L1AM) Via Wi-Fi
Connections (extended): Type-C Mini HDMI (BRAVIA Sync, PhotoTV HD); Wired Remote Terminal, 3.5mm External Stereo Micophone Jack, DC Input Micro (Type D) HDMI
Performance Timing
Cycle time for JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame, max resolution): 0.47 <0.3
Cycle time for RAW shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame): 0.45  
Buffer size for RAW shooting in single shot mode (frames): 2  
Cycle time for RAW+JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per shot):   <0.3
Camera penalizes early shutter press? No No
JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps, max resolution): 5.5 59.4
Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution): 10 20
RAW shooting speed in burst mode (fps):   59.4
Buffer size for RAW shooting in burst mode (frames):   20
RAW+JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps):   61.3
Buffer Size for RAW+JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames):   20
Shutter lag (full AF, wide/mid): 0.11 seconds 0.07 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, tele):    
Shutter lag (full AF, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter lag (prefocused, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter Lag (manual focus): 0.080 seconds 0.053 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, with flash): 0.32 seconds 0.29 seconds
Shutter Lag (prefocused): 0.057 seconds 0.052 seconds
Shutter Lag (notes): Full AF lag, Wide-area mode = 0.124s  
Startup Time: 0.9 seconds 2.0 seconds
Play -> Record Time: 0.9 seconds 0.4 seconds
Flash cycle time, full power: 2.5 seconds 1.8 seconds
Power
Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View):   250 shots
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF): 450 shots  
Battery Life, Video:    
Battery Form Factor: Proprietary Proprietary EN-EL24
Usable Battery Types: NP-FW50 Lithium-ion rechargeable Lithium-ion rechargeable
Batteries Included: 1 x Proprietary NP-FW50 Lithium-ion rechargeable 1 x Proprietary EN-EL24 Lithium-ion rechargeable
Battery Charger Included (dedicated charger or AC/USB adapter): Yes Yes
Dedicated Battery Charger Included: Yes
Internal Charging Supported: No
Software
Included Software: Sony Software CD-ROM View NX-i
OS Compatibility: Windows XP SP3/Vista SP2/7, Mac OS X (v.10.3 +) Windows 7/8/8.1, 32 or 64-bit; Mac OS X 10.8.5+, 64-bit only
Miscellaneous
Notes & Features: SteadyShot INSIDE Sensor-shift Image Stabilization (up to 4 EV correction), Full HD 1080i60 Video, Up to 7 fps Burst Mode (Tele-zoom Continuous Advance Priority AE), Enhanced Object Tracking AF, 2x Clear Image Digital Zoom, Auto Portrait Framing. New 20.8-megapixel BSI 1-inch CMOS sensor, EXPEED 5A image processor, 20fps burst mode with continuous AF (60fps with AF fixed), 4K video at 15fps, tilting touchscreen LCD, built-in Wi-Fi with NFC. Available in silver and black, silver and white and all black in multiple kit configurations.