• APS-C 368.2mm2
  • 16.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 35mm 849.7mm2
  • 61.0 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 32,000

Buy From

Differences

Nikon D5100 advantages over Sony A7R IV

  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Good
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Tilt-swivel vs tilt-only
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 4.79 vs 3.76 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Fast startup
    ~0.50 vs 1.3 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Internal flash
    Internal flash vs None
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Has anti-aliasing filter
    Filter vs No Filter
    Reduces unsightly moiré in photos

Sony A7R IV advantages over Nikon D5100

  • 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
    4K (UHD) vs 1080p
    Make sure you have a fast computer
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • High resolution composite
    Yes vs No
    Combine multiple shots to form a super hi-res version
  • 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
  • Better color depth
    26.0 vs 23.5 bits
    Capture richer, more accurate colors
  • Higher effective ISO
    3,344 vs 1,183 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Yes vs No
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Newer
    5 years vs 13 years old
    Newer cameras often support more advanced features
  • More dots on screen
    1440k vs 922k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • More viewfinder magnification
    0.78x vs 0.52x
    Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
  • More pixels
    61.0 vs 16.2 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
    10.0 fps vs 3.9 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Faster RAW shooting
    7.2 fps vs 4.0 fps
    Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
  • Bigger RAW buffer
    32 vs 13 shots
    Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos
  • Faster shutter
    1/8000 vs 1/4000 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
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

  • In-camera panoramas
    Neither provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • Top deck display
    Neither provide
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera

User reviews

Buy From

Review Excerpt

  • Side-mounted tilt / swivel LCD screen; same sensor and processing as the Nikon D7000; good speed and battery life; in-camera HDR and filter effects; Full HD video capture with aperture control; audio levels control and external microphone jack.

  • AF-S lens mount doesn't offer autofocus with screw-drive lenses; popup flash isn't the greatest; no built-in wireless flash control; HDR function doesn't microalign source images.

  • Outstanding image quality; Excellent high ISOs; Fast AF performance with Eye-AF tracking; 10fps bursts at full-resolution; Improved ergonomics; Dual UHS-II card slots; Higher-res EVF.

  • Expensive; No 4Kp60; Buffer clearing could be faster; Menus are still frustrating; Touchscreen underutilized; No built-in flash.

The Competition

Compared to Sony A55

Nikon D5100
Sony A55
  • $650
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • $734
  • APS-C
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • In-camera panoramas
Sony A7R IV
Sony A55
  • $3220
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $734
  • APS-C
  • Bigger pixels
  • In-camera panoramas

Compared to Sony A33

Nikon D5100
Sony A33
  • $650
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • $540
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
Sony A7R IV
Sony A33
  • $3220
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $540
  • APS-C
  • Bigger pixels
  • In-camera panoramas

Compared to Sony A57

Nikon D5100
Sony A57
  • $650
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • $800
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
Sony A7R IV
Sony A57
  • $3220
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Shoot 4K video
  • $800
  • APS-C
  • Bigger pixels
  • In-camera panoramas

Compared to Canon R5

Nikon D5100
Canon R5
  • $650
  • APS-C
  • Longer stills battery life
  • Internal flash
  • $3549
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
Sony A7R IV
Canon R5
  • $3220
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • High resolution composite
  • $3549
  • 35mm
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Bigger pixels

Compared to Nikon Z7 II

Nikon D5100
Nikon Z7 II
  • $650
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • $2730
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
Sony A7R IV
Nikon Z7 II
  • $3220
  • 35mm
  • High resolution composite
  • NFC
  • $2730
  • 35mm
  • Bigger pixels
  • Top deck display
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