Sony a55 vs Nikon D3100

[jtyson]

I found a handful of comparisons online from snapsort, a couple terrible bloggers, yahoo, etc. But nothing substantial on here. I currently have a d3100 that I bought secondhand. I like the camera's feel, it takes great pictures for what I use it for, and I like Nikon. However, I wish it had an articulating screen for live view. I am a house hunter and often I take pictures over hedges, fences, around corners, etc that I can't legally gain access to. With my d3100 I'm shooting blind.

There is a guy on craigslist looking to trade his Sony a55 for a Nikon. I just don't want to downgrade. Really, I'd like to have bought a d5300, but they aren't reasonably priced enough for my budget, even on the used market yet.

So, should I consider the trade? I know snapsort says the a55 wins, but I also know that site isn't the be all end all of reviews. So, performance wise, which wins? Low light? Ease of use? I know SLR has been the standard for a while, so is the SLT a poor attempt at being different? I know it shoots faster, but I'm seldom worried about catching candid moments or similar.

Beyond using my camera for work, I like to shoot family pictures, landscapes, and similar. I don't do much video.

I'm pretty new to the whole scene. I appreciate you folks who know far more than me chiming in on this.

 

[KmH]

Except the SLR/SLT aspect and swivel screen the 2 cameras are pretty much equal performance wise.

The Sony has a 2x higher new price than the D3200 so the guy with the a55 may want some money along with the trade.

 

[minicoop1985]

The A55 is a pretty impressive camera with a good feature set. The thing you should really consider, besides the $$ aspect (if that's a part of the deal), is the EVF. My wife loves the EVF on her A55. I hate it, and prefer the real prism on my 7D. Also, what lens/lenses would be included in the deal? If he's got the 18-55 SAM, it's a bit soft for my tastes, but the camera performs VERY well with a better lens.

 

[dxqcanada]

KEH sells the D3100 just a little lower than the A55, for the body only.
Steve Huff thinks the A55 is better than the D3100 ... though that is his opinion.

I found the IQ of the A55 pretty good, when coupled with a good lens. The newer 18-55mm is not bad while the older 18-70mm sucks.

 

[Stevepwns]

I had the A33 and now the A77, love both of them. Great cameras. Im sure the A55 is just as nice as the A33 I had, with a bit more.

 

[jtyson]

I made the trade. Traded my d3100 with the 18-55mm vr lens, bower macro screw on, cheapie 650-1300mm rokinon, remote, bag and tripod for the A55 with 3 lenses and a bag. The stock sony 18-55mm, a minolta 35-70 w/macro and a 50mm minolta.

First impressions, it doesn't feel quite as comfortable in my hands. However, the D3100 wasn't perfect either. I have large hands, so smaller cameras feel a bit awkward. The articulating screen is going to be a huge help. I don't like the EVF near as much as the viewfinder on the Nikon. Overall, this camera feels cheaper. More plasticky I guess.

I'm gonna try it out for a few days and see if I like it. If I don't, I'll trade or sell it off.

 

[minicoop1985]

Oooh, a Baby Beercan! Is that the 50mm 1.7, or 50mm 2.8 Macro?

I agree on the tiny camera thing. I just don't know what to do with my pinky. If you end up keeping it, I THINK there's some third party battery grips out there that may help. I pick up my wife's A55 after handling my 7D and it just feels miniscule. They look terribly amusing with fast glass (think Tamron 17-50 f2.8) mounted on them-the lens is almost larger than the camera... And that's not THAT big of a lens.

 

[jtyson]

Oooh, a Baby Beercan! Is that the 50mm 1.7, or 50mm 2.8 Macro?

I agree on the tiny camera thing. I just don't know what to do with my pinky. If you end up keeping it, I THINK there's some third party battery grips out there that may help. I pick up my wife's A55 after handling my 7D and it just feels miniscule. They look terribly amusing with fast glass (think Tamron 17-50 f2.8) mounted on them-the lens is almost larger than the camera... And that's not THAT big of a lens.

It is the 50mm 1.7. I wish it were just my pinky hanging off this thing. I can squeeze the ring finger on, but then my thumb and pointer finger are sitting on the flash.

 

[dxqcanada]

I thought you would have figured out that the A55 is a short camera (from online comments/reviews).
No Sony grip is made for that model.
If you are OK with woodworking: DIY grip for A55 - Dyxum - Page 3

 

[jtyson]

To be honest, I'm not good at reading reviews. I tend to like specs. Mostly because the people that review these things are way beyond my level of understanding, so it is like reading Latin. While most specs do include body size, I am much like your average ignorant American in that MM means as much to me as the Euro. Without putting it in a measurement converter, I have no idea how big or small it is.

That wood grip was mighty impressive! I'm actually a metal worker by trade. As a rule, when I pick up something wooden, I make something very ugly out of it, unfortunately.

 

[dxqcanada]

Hmm, you could probably replicate that with a block of Aluminum.

 

[jtyson]

Probably so, but I'm not a machinist. The amount of $$$ it would take to have that done would set me back enough to warrant buying a different camera.

 

[minicoop1985]

This one's not wood, nor is it Sony, but it's a grip.

Ownuser Vertical Battery Hand Holder Grip for Sony Alpha A55 A33 A35 A37 | eBay

I'm the same way-I'm better at fixing things than making them.

 

[jtyson]

Yeah I saw those on eBay when I was looking for a grip. Have you used one? They look awfully cheap. Not price wise, but build quality

 

[BGeise]

Probably so, but I'm not a machinist. The amount of $$$ it would take to have that done would set me back enough to warrant buying a different camera.

I am a machinist by trade and a rule of thumb that we always abide by is don't make it if you can buy it. Of course that only applies if you can't make it cheaper than you can by it. And in this case you will not get it made cheap.