Sony a5000 Vs Nikon D3200 – Detailed Comparison

Right here is another mirrorless-DSLR comparison. However, this time, we are doing a Sony a5000 vs Nikon D3200 comparison. The idea is to help you decide which camera will suit you depending on your camera needs.

What Camera

Sony a5000 Vs Nikon D3200
Get the Sony a5000 now!Get the Nikon D3200 now!

As a result, we’ve put together the features of both cameras and compared the performance of one camera features to that of the other. This way, you know the areas where one camera does better than the other.

Now, because we know this article could be a bit of a read, we’ve compressed the basic things you need to know in bite-sized information. This is contained in the comparison overview and the comparison table sections. Read those two sections and you’ll be ready to make a quick decision.

However, if you need all the information possible, we recommend you read the entire article. We also recommend you check out some of our other Sony-Nikon comparison articles like the Sony a7 vs Nikon D750 and the Sony a6000 vs Nikon D5500.

Sony a5000 Vs Nikon D3200 – Comparison Overview

Here is a quick rundown of what this article is about

Overall Rating Of The Sony a5000 Vs Nikon D3200

While the Sony a5000 isn’t exactly one of Sony’s best works, it is a decent camera with its uses. And same goes for the Nikon D3200. However, we understand that both cameras have been around for a while and so, cannot exactly be up to date with certain technological advancements.

Nonetheless, we did say that they both have their uses. The Sony a5000 allows for more creativity with its articulating screen and smartphone control while the Nikon D3200 is the better camera for recording videos because an external microphone can be attached to it. All in all, decent cameras.

Rating Of The Features Of The Sony a5000 Vs Nikon D3200

While the Sony a5000 is a mirrorless camera, the Nikon D3200 is a DSLR. So, you already know that the Nikon D3200 has an optical viewfinder. The Sony a5000 doesn’t have a viewfinder at all, so, you’ll have to make do with the LCD screen. However, that screen does not have a very good resolution (461k dots).

Furthermore, both cameras are pretty lightweight. However, the Sony a5000 is about 0.5 pound lighter than the Nikon D3200. The Sony a5000 is also the camera with the wider ISO range (100 to 16000 vs 100 to 100 to 6400 which can be expanded to 12800).

Other features that give the Sony a5000 an upper-hand are its inbuilt wireless connection, NFC connection, smartphone control and articulating screen.

Nonetheless, the Nikon D3200 does some one-upping of its own. It has a flash she and a microphone shoe too. It also has the better screen resolution and a slightly better battery life (540 shots against 420 shots). Then there is the fact that it supports the UHS-I memory card.

However, both cameras share a number of absent features like the image stabilization, weather sealing and 4k video recording.

Price/Value Ratio – Sony a5000 Vs Nikon D3200

There is a slight difference in price between these two cameras with the Sony a5000 being the more affordable one. However, we consider both cameras pretty affordable.

There is nothing exactly fancy about either of the cameras and what they go for is OK for what you’ll get out of them in our opinion.

About The Brands

Sony

We’ll be hard pressed to believe you’ve never heard the brand name Sony. And that is because this brand has a stake in a number of different features. There is entertainment, electronics, gaming and even financial service.

The electronics venture, which is more relevant to our review, is doing favorably in the market. Much so that Sony can be considered one of the forces in the electronics market.

Nikon

Nikon is a Japanese company with products in the very specific imaging and optics market. While Nikon might not be popular in all circles, it sure is popular among people interested in imaging and optics, especially cameras and lenses.

Sony a5000 Vs Nikon D3200 – Comparison Table

 

Sony a5000

Nikon D3200

Weight 0.6 pound 1.1 pounds
Dimensions 4.3 by 2.5 by 1.4 inches 4.9 by 3.7 by 3.03 inches
Wireless Connection Yes No
Viewfinder None Optical
Sensor Resolution 20 megapixels 24 megapixels
Continuous Shooting 4 frames per second (fps) 4 frames per second (fps)
Battery Life 420 shots per charge 540 shots per charge
External Flash Port No Yes
Screen Type Tilting Screen Fixed Screen
ISO Range 100 to 16000 100 to 6400 and can be expanded to 12800
What Camera

Sony a5000 Vs Nikon D3200
Get the Sony a5000 now!Get the Nikon D3200 now!

Sony a5000 Vs Nikon D3200 – Which Is Better For What?

Sony a5000

Nikon D3200

The Sony a5000 is the lighter of the two cameras. So, it would be easier to move this camera about. On the other hand, the Nikon D3200 has a viewfinder. So, focusing will be easier with this camera than with the Sony a5000.
Also, the Sony a5000 has an inbuilt wireless connection and NFC connection which will allow for swift transfer of files. Also, this camera has a microphone port which will make for better audio quality.
What Camera

Sony a5000 Vs Nikon D3200
Get the Sony a5000 now!Get the Nikon D3200 now!

Sony a5000 Vs Nikon D3200 – Common Features

Right in this section is where we get to see how similar the Sony a5000 and the Nikon D3200 are. To do that, we’ve compiled the features that you are sure to find with both cameras. Some of these features will be exactly alike while some others will have slight differences.

1. Continuous Shooting

When we talk about continuous shooting or the burst mode, we refer to a mode that allows the camera take more than one shot in one second and with one click of the shutter button.

If you take a lot of pictures of people that move around a lot, like toddlers, you’ll really find this feature really useful.

This is because instead of focusing and snapping individual pictures which will take time, you could take as many pictures as you need in a short time, cut your subject loose and then calm down and make your choice of the many shots you’ve taken.

Of course, the higher the continuous shooting rate, the better for everybody. However, this is not just about how many pictures you can take but also about how long the camera’s buffer will need to recover.

Apparently, a good number of cameras that have a shot continuous shooting rate also take long to recover from all the buffering.

That said, we are not exactly excited about the continuous shooting rate of both cameras. They both can take 4 frames per shot which isn’t the most impressive. However, they both have been around for a bit, so, that could explain things.

2. Flash

Both the Sony a5000 and the Nikon D3200 have an inbuilt flash. You know how you put on the flash on your phone when you want to take a picture but the area isn’t bright enough? Well, that is basically how it works with a camera.

Furthermore, just like with your phone, nobody would ever say the inbuilt flash is the solution for all the low light problems. However, it does solve some and it sure doesn’t hurt to have it just in case.

3. Sensor Resolution

This is a very important factor in the quality of photo a camera is able to take. The higher the resolution in megapixels, the better detailed the photos will be. Furthermore, a high sensor resolution allows for more room for creativity in that you can print picture in large print and can even crop them.

That said, the sensor resolution is one of those factors we said were slightly different. While the Nikon D3200 has a 24 megapixel resolution, the Sony a5000 has 20 megapixels.

There is a 4 megapixel difference between them and that definitely counts for better quality and detailing. However, with both cameras, you can take what we call basic editing moves like cropping and such. Any camera with a sensor resolution of, at least, 20 megapixels will do that. So, there you have it!

4. RAW Support

This is another factor that is responsible for the quality of photos taken. So basically, the photos you take can either get stored as jpeg (which basically all cameras allow for) or RAW (which not all cameras allow for, hence in part, the big deal).

Photos that get stored in jpeg do not take up so much space which is a good thing. However, the reason people shy away from this format, especially people who are into more serious photography stuff, is that these photos usually do not retain their original quality when they get saved.

On the other hand, while RAW photos take up a bit of space, people are getting behind this format because the photos retain their quality. If we had a choice, we would definitely choose good quality over the other option, despite the space thing. Thankfully, both cameras support the RAW format.

5. Face Detection

Both the Sony a5000 and the Nikon D3200 have the face detection feature. What this means is that both cameras are able to detect and lock on faces as you get ready to a shot. This makes both cameras good for taking portraits.

Sony a5000 Vs Nikon D3200 – A Sony a5000 Demonstration Video

Sony a5000 Vs Nikon D3200 – Unique Features

The aim here is to appreciate how different the Sony a5000 and the Nikon D3200 are from each other. As a result, we’ve put together those features that are in one camera but not the other. We’ve also included those that are in both cameras but are largely different.

1. Mirrorless Vs DSLR

Basically, digital cameras can be classified into mirrorless and DSLR cameras (well, aside the classification according to professionalism level). This classification is very defining and this is probably due to the fact that a mirrorless camera works kinda different from a DSLR.

Now, before we go into the working, you need to know that the basic difference between a mirrorless camera and a DSLR is the absence/presence of a mirror and an optical viewfinder. Mirrorless cameras come without while DSLRs come with.

The absence/presence of these features is what affects the basic running of either kind of camera. Looking at a DSLR, because it has a mirror, when light passes through the lens attached to the camera, it first hits the mirror.

Then from the mirror, the light splits; part of it goes to the optical viewfinder while the other part goes to the Autofocus Sensor while the other part hits the optical viewfinder.

On the other hand, because mirrorless cameras do not have that mirror, light passes through the lens and hits the sensor straight up. The sensor then sends a digital image (not light anymore) to the electronic viewfinder or the LCD screen as the case may be.

Furthermore, it has been said that because mirrorless cameras do not have a mirror, they are able to come more compact and lighter than their DSLR counterparts.

2. Viewfinder

We’ve pointed out that DSLRs have an optical viewfinder. And we already said something about an electronic viewfinder or the LCD screen doing the job of the optical viewfinder, howbeit, in a mirrorless camera.

First off, we’ll tell you that the viewfinder is a little screen through which you can see what field of vision your camera is covering. Looking through the viewfinder, you’ll able to make adjustments to the positioning and focus your camera properly before you take a shot.

Now let’s explain the electronic viewfinder/LCD screen thing. Typically, a mirrorless camera’s replacement for the optical viewfinder is the electronic viewfinder. However, some mirrorless cameras do not come with a viewfinder at all and the Sony a5000 is one of those.

There are usually two kinds of mirrorless cameras that do not have a viewfinder. Some of them have a provision for a viewfinder to be attached. If you ever get that kind, you basically just need to get you an external electronic viewfinder, fix it up and you’re good to go.

However, the Sony a5000 is in the category of mirrorless cameras that do not have a viewfinder and also do not have a port for an external one. As a result, you’ll have to make do with the LCD screen.

The LCD screen will actually be a good fit. Well, up until you want to take shots out in the sun or in very bright light and you can’t see what’s on the screen.

3. Weight

We already mentioned that because of the absence of a mirror, mirrorless cameras tend to be lighter than their DSLR cameras. Now, while this cannot be said of all mirrorless and/or DSLR cameras, it is definitely true for the Sony a5000 vs Nikon D3200.

The Sony a5000 weighs 0.6 pound while the Nikon D3200 weighs 1.1 pounds and that 0.5 pound difference is pretty significant. However, it isn’t time to draw our conclusions yet as we haven’t included the weight of the lenses.

Now, because we are comparing cameras, we won’t bore you with the weight of the lenses. What you do need to know is that both cameras have the same APS-C sensor size. What this means is that for a similar aperture and focal length, both cameras will use the lenses of a similar size and weight.

The implication of this is that the lenses cannot be the deal breaker as regards the size and weight of the cameras. So, you can go back to considering the weight of the bodies.

4. Articulating Screen

An articulating screen is a screen that can be turned in certain directions independent of the camera body. There are basically two kinds of articulating screen; the tilting kind which can be angled up and then back down and the full-flex screen which can be rotated.

The basic idea of having an articulating screen is to be able to take shots of the same subject from different angles. That is sure to get anybody’s creative juices flowing.

That said, of the two cameras in this review, only the Sony a5000 has an articulating screen which is a tilting screen. The Nikon D5000 has a fixed screen which you’ll have to make do with.

There is something else you need to know about the screen and that is the screen resolution. The screen resolution of the Nikon D3200 is 921k dots which is OK.

However, that of the Sony a5000 is only 461k dots. This is a really poor screen resolution and it is even worse because you have to depend on this screen to do your focusing and adjusting seeing as the Sony a5000 does not have a viewfinder.

5. Wireless Connection

This is an interesting one. The world is practically a global village, so, it isn’t strange to see manufacturers of devices putting in features to ensure that users are able to connect with other people in this global village. However, because this globalization is a process, it isn’t also strange to see devices that do not make provision for all these.

What are we trying to say? The Sony a5000 has an inbuilt wireless connection while the Nikon D3200 doesn’t.

What this implies is that while you can connect the Sony a5000 to the internet and via this connection, transfer files from your camera to a connected device, you can’t do that with the Nikon D3200.

Furthermore, the Sony a5000 has the Near Field Communication connection while the Nikon D3200 does not. The NFC connection is meant to help you connect your camera to other NFC enabled devices and transfer files via this connection. And you already know that you can’t do this with the Nikon D3200.

Finally, the Sony a5000 can be controlled with a smartphone. To be able to do this you need to download the right app and then make the camera-smartphone connection. Once said connection is established, you can change settings and generally control the camera from your smartphone.

What Camera

Sony a5000 Vs Nikon D3200
Get the Sony a5000 now!Get the Nikon D3200 now!

6. ISO Range

While the ISO tells us in numbers how sensitive a camera is to light (i.e. how much light it can let it at a particular time), the ISO range tells us the upper and lower limits of a camera’s light sensitivity.

Now, the higher the ISO number you set your camera too, the better the camera is able to let in light. While this would be a terrible idea if the light in your area is just too much, this would be an awesome idea if you are in a low light situation.

The reason is when set to a high ISO, the camera basically tries to let in as much light as it can. If there is too much light in your surroundings, a high ISO will just let in all that light which you don’t need. However, when the light is low, a high ISO balances things. And of course, vice versa applies for the low ISO.

Having known all these, you’ll agree with us that a wide ISO range is necessary. Who knows what light one will have to work with, right?

That said, the Sony a5000 does one up on the Nikon D3200 when it comes to the ISO range. That of the Sony a5000 is between 100 and 16000 while that of the Nikon D3200 is between 100 and 6400.

Granted, that of the Nikon D3200 can be expanded to 12800, however, it still is not as wide as that of the Sony a5000. And the Sony a5000 doesn’t even have the widest ISO range out there, so, it isn’t really a huge feat to beat.

7. Battery Life

The battery life of a camera is seen as the number of shots you can take before the camera needs to be charged. Mirrorless cameras are kinda known for their not very impressive battery life.so, we are not exactly surprised by the Sony a5000’s 420 shots per charge.

On the other hand, the Nikon D3200 can give you 540 shots before it needs to be charged. And while this is 120 shots more than what you’ll get with the Sony a5000, we are not exactly excited about this battery life. However, we’ve perked up a little remembering that both cameras are entry-level.

If you don’t have much use for your camera or you’re still puttering around and trying your hands on stuff, you might actually find that the battery life of either camera is quite satisfactory. The trick is in your activities.

8. Flash Shoe

We already pointed out that both cameras have an inbuilt flash and that flash can only solve a few of your low light problems. Now, a couple of steps higher than the inbuilt flash is the external flash. With the external flash you can solve even more of your low light issues and even do flash photography.

However, of the two cameras, only the Nikon D3200 has a flash shoe. So, you can use an external flash only with this camera.

9. Microphone Port

Cameras have their own inbuilt microphone which you’ll need if you decide to record videos with your camera. However, the inbuilt microphone is usually not the best idea if you are looking to record good quality audio. It has the habit of recording more than you bargained for, leading to poor quality audio.

This is the reason you’ll need an external microphone. But, of course, if you’ll be using an external microphone on a camera, said camera has to have a provision for one, like a port. That said, of the two cameras in this review, only the Nikon D3200 comes with a microphone port.

10. Memory Card Support

You know how digital cameras store their photos in a memory card that you slot in? Well, there are different kinds of memory cards and not all of them are compatible with all cameras. The SD card is compatible with a wide range of digital cameras, though.

That said, the kind of memory card we are interested in here is the Ultra High Speed memory card. Why? The UHS memory card allows for speedy transfer of files and who doesn’t want that? That said, of the two cameras in this review, only the Nikon D3200 is compatible with the UHS-I memory card.

11. Available Lenses

Finally, it is imperative for us to look out how many lenses each camera has available to it. The Sony a5000 has 102 lenses while the Nikon D3200 has 302 lenses available with it.

Furthermore, neither camera has an inbuilt image stabilization feature. The result of this is blurry photos if you take shots with the camera in motion. However, you can balance things out by getting any of the Sony a5000’s 23 or the Nikon D3200’s 88 optical stabilization lenses.

Sony a5000 Vs Nikon D3200 – A Nikon D3200 Demonstration Video

Sony a5000 Vs Nikon D3200 – Unique Pros

Sony a5000 Vs Nikon D3200 – Pros Of The Sony a5000

  • First off, the Sony a5000 has a wireless connection via which you can connect to the internet and other devices.
  • Furthermore, the Sony a5000 has the Near Field Communication connection that also allows it connect with other devices and transfer files. Those other devices must be NFC enabled also.
  • Also, the Sony a5000 can be controlled via a connected smartphone.
  • The Sony a5000 has the wider ISO range of the two cameras.
  • Furthermore, the Sony a5000 has more focus points than the Nikon D3200.
  • Also, the Sony a5000 is significantly lighter than the Nikon D3200.
  • Finally, the Sony a5000 is slightly more affordable than the Nikon D3200.

Sony a500 Vs Nikon D3200 – Pros Of the Nikon D3200

  • First off, the Nikon D3200 actually comes with its own viewfinder.
  • Furthermore, the Nikon D3200 has a flash shoe to which you can attach an external flash which provides better light than the inbuilt flash.
  • The Nikon D3200’s flash has an 8 meter longer coverage than that of the Sony a5000.
  • Furthermore, the Nikon D3200 has a microphone port, making it the better camera for recording videos.
  • Also, the Nikon D3200 has the longer battery life of the two cameras.
  • The Nikon D3200 has a higher screen resolution than the Sony a5000.
  • It also supports the use of the UHS-I memory card which allows for swift transfer of files.
  • Finally, the Nikon D3200 has more lenses available to it than the Sony a5000.

Sony a5000 Vs Nikon D3200 – Unique Cons

Sony a5000 Vs Nikon D3200 – Cons Of The Sony a5000

  • First off, the Sony a5000 does not have a viewfinder. And in addition to that, the screen resolution isn’t very impressive.
  • Also, this camera does not have a flash shoe. So, you’ll have to depend on the inbuilt flash which is not always a good thing.
  • We also think that the flash coverage of this camera could have been longer.

Sony a5000 Vs Nikon D3200 – Cons Of The Nikon D3200

  • First off, the Nikon D3200 does not have an inbuilt wireless connection, a Near Field Communication connection or even the Bluetooth feature. As a result, you’ll have to stick to getting out the memory card to transfer your photos and videos.
  • Also, this camera has a fixed screen which might not allow for flexibility in shooting.
  • Finally, this camera doesn’t have a very impressive ISO range.

Sony a5000 Vs Nikon D3200 – Common Pros

 

Sony a5000

Nikon D3200

Sensor Resolution The Sony a5000 has a 24 megapixel sensor resolution which is pretty impressive if you ask us. That of the Nikon D3200 is 20 megapixels but it is still pretty impressive.
Inbuilt Flash Also, the Sony a5000 has an inbuilt flash which will help solve some of your low light issues. Same as the Sony a5000.
RAW Support Photos taken with the Sony a5000 can get saved as RAW which means the photos get to retain their original quality. Same as the Sony a5000.
Face Detection The Sony a5000 can detect and lock on faces which makes it a good camera for taking portraits. Same as the Sony a5000.
What Camera

Sony a5000 Vs Nikon D3200
Get the Sony a5000 now!Get the Nikon D3200 now!

Sony a5000 Vs Nikon D3200 – Common Cons

 

Sony a5000

Nikon D3200

Image Stabilization The Sony a5000 doesn’t have the image stabilization feature and as a result, photos could come out looking blurry. However, this can be corrected by getting optical stabilization lenses. Same as the Sony a5000.
Weather Sealing Also, the Sony a5000 is not weather sealed, i.e. it is not dustproof, water resistant or water proof. So, you’ll have to be careful when and where you use the camera. Same as the Sony a5000.
4K Video The camera cannot record 4k videos. However, this feature is only a con if you are looking for a camera to record serious videos. Same as the Sony a5000.
Headphone Port Finally, this camera does not have a headphone port. As a result, you won’t enjoy good quality audio if you play back the videos you’ve recorded. Same as the Sony a5000.

Sony a5000 Vs Nikon D3200 – What People Think About Both

Sony a5000

Nikon D3200

The first thing that jumped out at us as we tried to gauge the reaction of users was the size. People actually really like that the Sony a5000 is both compact and lightweight. As a result, even when a lens is attached, it is still not so heavy that it is impossible to bear. Also, people like that the interface is user friendly and easy to navigate through. Then there is the picture quality that people also like. The Nikon D3200 has also gotten good reviews of its own. First off, people like the picture quality of this one. In fact, one customer claims this camera is a good one across professional levels board (we don’t know about that one, though). People also like that the camera records decent videos with the aid of an external microphone.
However, there have been a number of complaints from people who were looking to use this camera to record videos. The camera doesn’t have a microphone port and so, getting good audio could be quite difficult. The few complaints are kinda around the absence of a wireless connection and basically any means of wirelessly transferring photos.
What Camera

Sony a5000 Vs Nikon D3200
Get the Sony a5000 now!Get the Nikon D3200 now!

Sony a5000 Vs Nikon D3200 – Our Take

Sony a5000

Nikon D3200

The Sony a5000 is a decent camera and we do believe it has its uses. If you are starting out with the whole photography journey, you’ll probably like this camera. The interface is pretty easy, picture quality is good and the camera is lightweight. We also consider the Nikon D3200 a decent camera. It is significantly heavier than the Sony a5000 and yet not so heavy that it gives you cramps. It has its own viewfinder. Also, it has a microphone port which puts it ahead of its opponent in the video recording department.
There are a few things that you might not like about the camera, especially the absence of a viewfinder. However, if you don’t mind this, get the Sony a5000 now! You already know that transferring your photos from this camera to another device could be an issue because of the absence of a wireless connection, NFC connection or even Bluetooth. However, if you want to go ahead with this camera, get the Nikon D3200 now!

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