• APS-C 357.3mm2
  • 20.1 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 16,000
  • 35mm 861.6mm2
  • 36.3 megapixels
  • ISO 64 - 12,800

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Differences

Sony A5000 advantages over Nikon D810

  • Less expensive
    $298 vs $2079
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • 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
  • Thinner
    35 mm vs 81 mm
    Thinner
  • Has anti-aliasing filter
    Filter vs No Filter
    Reduces unsightly moiré in photos

Nikon D810 advantages over Sony A5000

  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Good
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • Larger sensor
    35mm vs APS-C
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Eye-level vs Rear display only
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Fast startup
    ~0.50 vs 2.0 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Higher effective ISO
    2,853 vs 1,089 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • More dynamic range
    14.8 vs 13.0 evs
    Retain detail in highlight and shadows
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 1200 vs 420 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Top deck display
    Yes vs No
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • External Mic Jack
    Jack vs No jack
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Higher max flash sync
    1/250 vs 1/160 sec
    Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
  • Higher-res screen
    307k vs 154k pixels
    More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
  • Hot shoe
    Hot shoe vs None
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Less shutter lag
    0.21 vs 0.30 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • More pixels
    36.3 vs 20.1 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
  • Lacks anti-aliasing filter
    No Filter vs Filter
    Enjoy sharper photos
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    5.1 fps vs 3.3 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    57 vs 15 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Faster RAW shooting
    5.1 fps vs 2.5 fps
    Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
  • Bigger RAW buffer
    23 vs 9 shots
    Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
  • Faster shutter
    1/8000 vs 1/4000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light
  • Higher extended ISO
    51200 vs 16000 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review 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 Image Stabilization
    Neither provide
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • 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
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Slow-motion videos
    Neither provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

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Your purchases support this site

Buy the Sony A5000

Review Excerpt

  • Handles even better than its predecessors; Absolutely spectacular images from the 36-megapixel image sensor; Unusually wide sensitivity range for its resolution; Improved performance and buffer depths; Improved video feature set; Impressive low-light autofocus

  • Prone to moire and false color with some subjects; No longer available with a low-pass filter; Demands excellent lenses for the best detail; White balance tends warm under tungsten lighting

The Competition

Compared to Canon 5D Mark IV

Sony A5000
Canon 5D Mark IV
  • $298
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Focus peaking
  • $2249
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor
Nikon D810
Canon 5D Mark IV
  • $2997
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • Longer stills battery life
  • $2249
  • 35mm
  • Shoot 4K video
  • Touchscreen

Compared to Nikon D800

Sony A5000
Nikon D800
  • $298
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $1850
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor
Nikon D810
Nikon D800
  • $2997
  • 35mm
  • Longer stills battery life
  • Lacks anti-aliasing filter
  • $1850
  • 35mm
  • Fast startup
  • Has anti-aliasing filter

Compared to Nikon D800E

Sony A5000
Nikon D800E
  • $298
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $2212
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor
Nikon D810
Nikon D800E
  • $2997
  • 35mm
  • Longer stills battery life
  • Faster JPEG shooting
  • $2212
  • 35mm
  • Fast startup

Compared to Samsung NX1100

Sony A5000
Samsung NX1100
  • $298
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Focus peaking
  • $450
  • APS-C
  • Higher-res screen
  • Hot shoe
Nikon D810
Samsung NX1100
  • $2997
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor
  • $450
  • APS-C
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
  • Thinner

Compared to Sony NEX-5T

Sony A5000
Sony NEX-5T
  • $298
  • APS-C
  • Longer stills battery life
  • Internal flash
  • $299
  • APS-C
  • Touchscreen
  • On-sensor phase detect
Nikon D810
Sony NEX-5T
  • $2997
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor
  • $299
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Touchscreen
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