SONY NEX-5N vs NIKON D5100

[EchoingWhisper]

Which one will you recommend to a person who don't have any kits yet?
Nikon D5100 vs Sony NEX-5N

 

[Drake]

Anything we should know about your expectations, the types of photography you are interested in etc? These are two totally different cameras, more information is needed for this kind of advice.

 

[MTVision]

Did you read any reviews? Didn't you just post a thread like this - d5100 vs d7000?

Just get the d5100. It works fine for a beginner!

 

[KmH]

Lets see....

The NEX-5N is $699.99. If you want a viewfinder, which helps to hold the camera steadier for less camera shake blurring of your photos, add $349.99, so we are now at $1049.98.

There aren't many Sony E-mount lenses for the NEX-5N, but there is a good selection of A-mount lenses, so add the adapter for another $349, so now we are at $1399.97 ($1400).

What kind of external flash units are available for the NEX-5N? It doesn't have an industry standard hot shoe. It doesn't even have the odd-ball iISO hot shoe Sony got by buying Konica/Minoltas camera business 5 years ago.
Oh, and $80 for a spare battery.

 

[BJF]

I recommend Nikon D5100

 

[nickzou]

It REALLY depends on the kind of photography you want to do. But I gather that you are a beginner so I'd recommend the D5100. The thing about starting photography is that when people ask you want you want out of your camera, you have no clue what you want so it is a question you can't possibly answer. Or at least that's how I felt. So my answer is safest choice would be a DSLR. At this point, I think what I enjoy out of photography is the act of taking the pictures, and occasionally looking at them. I don't enjoy post-processing all that much. So ideally, I would want a Leica M9, or a new Fujifilm X10 (it looks so sexy and small), or what I'm actually probably gonna get the Leica Digilux 2. I like the experience of shooting more than the images. And that's kind of a counter intuitive concept when you are just starting out. The reason I always recommend a DSLR is because they are versatile. They can do it all. You can shoot sports, you can shoot nature, you can shoot portraits. And maybe the D5100 isn't the best are any of those things but it will get the job done.

But I strongly believe that a DSLR is not the end all be all to photography. Especially as a hobby. As much as I love my D7000, sometimes I find it big and intrusive and would like a smaller camera that handles better.

 

[EchoingWhisper]

This is actually not a thread of asking what I should buy, because I chose D7000. Just comparing them because D5100 with kit lens and NEX-5N with twin lens kit cost about the same.

 

[EchoingWhisper]

And yes, I'm a beginner.

 

[usayit]

It depends... On so many things..

Person's needs drive the purchasing decisions.... not just the brand and model.

 

[EchoingWhisper]

I really like the design of the Fujifilm X100 and Leica M9 but their price killed it. The Sony with lens weights about 500g while the D5100 weights more than Sony even without lens and battery. Does the benefits of D5100 outweighs Sony's benefits?

 

[usayit]

The biggest disadv of the sony is the lack of a good selection of lenses.

The reason why you are getting vague responses is because both cameras are aimed at different markets and consumers. Which one a particular person belong to is highly dependent .... well.. on so many things.

If your priority is IQ, then a DSLR is most likely the best fit.

If your priority is a balance between size and IQ than consider mirrorless

If your priority is size then a high end PS should be considered.

The terms you use is so subjective .. one would say yes another say no... for different reasons.

 

[EchoingWhisper]

The same sensor will produce different IQ on different cameras?

 

[usayit]

Lens contributes.... kinda pointless since your decision has already been made.

 

[usayit]

Look at samples and decide for yourself...


Imaging Resource

 

[EchoingWhisper]

Just curious. I think that even if I buy a mirrorless, it would be at DX or CX, never 4/3 because 4/3 are too large. CX is perfect but is still too large, Nikon need to work on its size.