Reasons to choose D5000
Released in 2009, D5000 has about 373 mm² of sensor area, 12.3 MP effective resolution, and a 590 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.
Side-by-side comparison
Nikon D5000
vs Sony Alpha DSLR-A700
VS
Sensor area
373 mm²
D5000367 mm²
Alpha DSLR-A700- Area ratio
- 1.02:1
- Absolute difference
- 6 mm²
- Relative difference
- 1.7%
The D5000 has the larger sensor area. More area usually means greater light-gathering potential, though real image quality still depends on sensor architecture and generation.
These cameras were released 2 years apart. Consider sensor generation when comparing pixel metrics.
Key specification differences
D5000MetricAlpha DSLR-A700
12.3 MPEffective pixels12.2 MP
23.6 × 15.8Sensor23.5 × 15.6
5.51 µmPixel pitch5.48 µm
30.32 µm²Pixel area30.05 µm²
3.3 MP/cm²Pixel density3.33 MP/cm²
1.52Crop factor1.53
—Maximum video—
590 gWeight768 g
SDHC, Secure DigitalStorageCompact Flash (Type I or II), Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo
Nikon EN-EL9a Lithium-Ion battery Li-ion batteryBatteryLithium-Ion (NP-FM500H) Li-ion battery
Amber marks the value that is generally preferable in this comparison context. It is not an overall camera score.
How to choose between these cameras
The D5000 has the larger sensor area. The D5000 has the lighter body. The D5000 has the higher effective resolution. The D5000 is the newer release. Also consider the lens system and subjects you shoot.
Reasons to choose Alpha DSLR-A700
Released in 2007, Alpha DSLR-A700 has about 367 mm² of sensor area, 12.2 MP effective resolution, and a 768 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.