• 35mm 861.6mm2
  • 36.3 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • APS-C 357.3mm2
  • 20.1 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 16,000

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Differences

Nikon D800 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
    ~0.30 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
    14.4 vs 13.0 evs
    Retain detail in highlight and shadows
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 900 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
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    4.0 fps vs 3.3 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    54 vs 15 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Faster RAW shooting
    4.0 fps vs 2.5 fps
    Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
  • Bigger RAW buffer
    18 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
    25600 vs 16000 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Sony A5000 advantages over Nikon D800

  • 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

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

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Sony A5000

Review Excerpt

  • Rugged build; Excellent controls; Extremely high resolution; Dual cards; Surprising high ISO performance.

  • Very large files; Slower frame rate; Custom white balance gives a greenish tint; Battery life lower than D700.

The Competition

Compared to Canon 5D Mark III

Nikon D800
Canon 5D Mark III
  • $1850
  • 35mm
  • Fast startup
  • Higher effective ISO
  • $2139
  • 35mm
  • Bigger pixels
  • More cross-type AF points
Sony A5000
Canon 5D Mark III
  • $298
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Focus peaking
  • $2139
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor

Compared to Nikon D800E

Nikon D800
Nikon D800E
  • $1850
  • 35mm
  • Has anti-aliasing filter
  • $2212
  • 35mm
  • Lacks anti-aliasing filter
Sony A5000
Nikon D800E
  • $298
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $2212
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor

Compared to Sony NEX-5T

Nikon D800
Sony NEX-5T
  • $1850
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor
  • $299
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Less expensive
Sony A5000
Sony NEX-5T
  • $298
  • APS-C
  • Longer stills battery life
  • Internal flash
  • $299
  • APS-C
  • Touchscreen
  • On-sensor phase detect

Compared to Nikon D810

Nikon D800
Nikon D810
  • $1850
  • 35mm
  • Fast startup
  • Has anti-aliasing filter
  • $2363
  • 35mm
  • Longer stills battery life
  • Lacks anti-aliasing filter
Sony A5000
Nikon D810
  • $298
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Focus peaking
  • $2363
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor

Compared to Sony A5100

Nikon D800
Sony A5100
  • $1850
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor
  • $348
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Touchscreen
Sony A5000
Sony A5100
  • $298
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • $348
  • APS-C
  • Touchscreen
  • Higher effective ISO
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