Reasons to choose D5200
Released in 2012, D5200 has about 367 mm² of sensor area, 24.1 MP effective resolution, and a 555 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.
Side-by-side comparison
Nikon D5200
vs Sony Alpha NEX-5
VS
Sensor area
367 mm²
D5200365 mm²
Alpha NEX-5- Area ratio
- 1:1
- Absolute difference
- 2 mm²
- Relative difference
- 0.4%
The D5200 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
D5200MetricAlpha NEX-5
24.1 MPEffective pixels14.2 MP
23.5 × 15.6Sensor23.4 × 15.6
3.9 µmPixel pitch5.07 µm
15.21 µm²Pixel area25.71 µm²
6.57 MP/cm²Pixel density3.89 MP/cm²
1.53Crop factor1.54
1,920 × 1,080Maximum video—
555 gWeight287 g
SD/SDHC/SDXCStorageSD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Lithium-Ion EN-EL14 rechargeable battery Li-ion batteryBatteryLithium-Ion NP-FW50 rechargeable battery 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 D5200 has the larger sensor area. The Alpha NEX-5 has the lighter body. The D5200 has the higher effective resolution. The D5200 is the newer release. Also consider the lens system and subjects you shoot.
Reasons to choose Alpha NEX-5
Released in 2010, Alpha NEX-5 has about 365 mm² of sensor area, 14.2 MP effective resolution, and a 287 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.