Sony a68 vs Nikon D5200 – A Detailed Comparison

Imagine being a newbie in the world of photography, and having to choose between two pretty similar entry-level cameras made by two of the biggest brands in the game.

You already know that is going to be a tough choice to make; this is pretty much the case with the Sony a68 vs Nikon D5200 comparison. However, we are here today to make the decision making process a lot easier for you, so, come with us!

In this Sony a68 vs Nikon D5200 comparison article, we will be taking you through the specifications, features, and functions of each of these cameras.

We will also be showing you how each of them does when compared to the other. So, if you want to find out which camera is a better pick for you, stick with us all the way to the end.

Anyway, if you need to make a really quick decision, the next three sections of this article will be helping you do just that. Let us get straight into it!

Comparison Overview — Sony a68 vs Nikon D5200

In comparing the Sony a68 vs Nikon D5200, we are pitting two really big names in the manufacturing industry against each other – Sony vs Nikon.

These companies are not only some of the more popular names in the world of photography, they are also known to deliver cameras and camera accessories of really good quality.

Nikon is known to make cameras with large LCD screens, long lasting batteries, and pretty bulky bodies; especially when compared to Sony products. On the other hand, Sony cameras are known to be quite affordable, and they usually come in pretty compact bodies.

These two companies have been around for many decades, however, Nikon is the only centurion. Therefore, when it comes to experience, Nikon surely carries the day; and also has a stronger market strength than Sony.

Anyway, these two cameras we are comparing today – Sony a68 vs Nikon D5200 – do not exactly follow the pattern of Sony and Nikon cameras that we stated above. The Nikon camera is the more compact and the more affordable of the two cameras; pretty unusual.

On the other hand, the Sony camera is the one with the longer lasting battery, which is also not very common to see, as Sony cameras are generally known to have pretty poor batteries. However, the Nikon camera still retains its large screen status; its LCD screen is 0.3 inches larger than that of the Sony a68.

Now, if you want a camera for creative photography, it really could be either of these two cameras – Sony a68 vs Nikon D5200 – depending on what creative side you are looking to explore.

While the Sony a68 allows you take different photos and stitch them together to make one with panorama, the Nikon D5200 allows you manipulate time a little bit in your video recordings with the time-lapse feature.

Furthermore, in our opinion, you will be getting better value for your money with the Sony a68. Although this camera will be costing you a few more bucks than the Nikon D5200, you will be getting a few more really interesting features and functions with the Sony camera, and that does make up for the price gap.

However, this is not to say that the Nikon D5200 does not have a good price-value ratio in itself; as a matter of fact, it will be giving you a lot of value for your money spent. It is affordable, and does pretty well for an entry-level camera.

Now, if you want to see more ways in which these two cameras – Sony a68 vs Nikon D5200 – compare, check out the table below which compares their basic specifications and features.

Comparison Table — Sony a68 vs Nikon D5200

	Sony a68	Nikon D5200
Camera weight	1.345 pounds (610 grams)	1.224 pounds (555 grams)
Camera dimensions	5.63 by 3.19 by 4.09 inches	5.08 by 3.07 by 3.86 inches
Screen size	2.7 inches	3.0 inches
ISO range	100 to 25600	100 to 6400 (expandable to 25600)
Burst mode speed	8 frames per second	5 frames per second
Image stabilization	Yes	No
Time-lapse	No	Yes
Top side LCD screen	Yes	No
Battery capacity	510 shots per full charge	500 shots per full charge
Screen resolution	461k dots	921k dots
Panorama	Yes	No
Remote control function	Yes	No
Focus points	79	39

Which Is Better Under What Circumstance?

Sony a68	Nikon D5200
If you need a camera for a concert, for example, the camera we would recommend to you would be the Sony a68. Now, in a concert, you might have to move a lot of times, or the steadiness of your camera might be disturbed by other attendees at the concert. In a situation like this, what you need is a camera that will be getting you sharp images in spite of all those constraints; and the only one of these two cameras that can do that is the Sony a68. The Sony a68 is the only one with image stabilization, therefore, it is the only camera that can neutralize the effects that shakes and movements of the camera during shoot usually have on the eventual images.	If you want more detail and better focus judgement, then the Nikon D5200 camera is the one you ought to be shooting with. This camera boasts of a very impressive 921k dots in screen resolution, which is higher than what you get with many entry-level cameras in the market. Specifically, the screen resolution of the Nikon D5200 is nearly a hundred per cent higher than that of the Sony a68. Very impressive indeed!
If you are looking to be involved in amateur sports or wildlife photography, then the Sony a68 is the camera to consider getting. With an 8 frames per second speed in burst mode, this camera will be doing pretty well in continuous shooting. So, basically, if you would be needing to get photos of people in motion, the Sony a68 would be your better option to do that with.	If you want to go into nature photography, then the Nikon D5200 is your better option of these two cameras – Sony a68 vs Nikon D5200. This camera will be helping you express really long occurrences in not so long videos. This is possible as a result of the time-lapse recording feature that is unique to just this camera. So, if, for example, you want to show the blooming of a plant in a video, time-lapse would be helping you do that in a more attractive and more interesting way.
If what you are after is fun and convenience while you shoot, the Sony a68 is just the one for you. This camera is the only of the two in comparison today that allows you operate it by using a smartphone as a remote controlling device. In addition to that, this camera comes with a top side LCD screen which makes shooting a lot more convenient, as you can change and monitor your camera’s settings without any hassle whatsoever.	If you want more flexible shooting, the Nikon D5200 would be the one to do that for you. While the screen of both the cameras in comparison today – Sony a68 vs Nikon D5200 – are pretty flexible, the Nikon D5200 has a far more flexible screen than its counterpart, and so, will be helping you shoot better from rather difficult angles.

Common Features — Sony a68 vs Nikon D5200

In this section, we will be showing you how similar these cameras are; and we will be starting from the most fundamental similarities that exist between them – they are both DSLR and entry-level cameras.

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Entry-Level Cameras

Entry-level cameras are cameras made for amateur photography, or unprofessional usage. These cameras are made easy to use, and without too many complications, so that people with little or no photography experience could get along using them.

Anyway, it is important to note that entry-level cameras do not have very durable bodies – especially when compared to pro cameras – because they are not expected to undergo so much intense usage.

Furthermore, these cameras are usually affordable and lightweight, this is why they are great to take with on vacations and tours; they won’t be hurting your hands, nor would they be hurting your pocket.

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DSLR Cameras

A digital single lens reflex (DSLR) camera is one made with a mirror mechanism. What this means is that a camera like this will normally come with mirrors and an optical viewfinder.

The lens of this camera will capture light and send it to the mirrors which bounce the light off to the sensors and the optical viewfinder. This optical viewfinder then gives you an exact image of what your camera’s lens is capturing, and also helps you frame your photos.

Because of this mirror mechanism, DSLR cameras are generally expected to have bulky bodies, and long lasting batteries. Their rivals – mirrorless cameras – sacrificed this mirror mechanism for more compact bodies, but in the process, had to also trade battery capacity.

Now, if you want to know just how a DSLR camera works, the videos below will be giving you all the information you desire. In this video, you will be seeing how the lens, mirrors, optical viewfinder, and sensors, all work in a DSLR camera to help you take amazing photos. Watch it here!

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Articulating Screen

An articulating screen is a type of camera LCD screen which is not fixed. It can be a flip out screen, a tilting screen, or a fully articulated screen; whichever one it is, it is referred to as an articulating screen, provided it is movable.

Now, the screen of the Sony a68 is a tilting screen, while that of the Nikon D5200 is a fully articulated one. What this means is that although these two cameras – Sony a68 vs Nikon D5200 – with their articulating screens will be helping you shoot flexibly, the Nikon D5200 guarantees more shooting flexibility, because its screen is able to swivel and tilt, compared to that of the Sony a68 which can only tilt.

Also, just in case it is an important question in your head, the Nikon D5200 is the better camera for selfies and vlogging, again because of its fully articulated LCD screen.

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Viewfinder

The viewfinder is a feature we have already made mention of in this Sony a68 vs Nikon D5200 comparison article. This feature is important because it puts you in control of your shooting, and makes the entire shooting process even more convenient. With a viewfinder, you can preview your images, and also properly frame them before the shots are taken.

Furthermore, this feature will also be allowing you much ease and convenience while shooting outdoors in the summer. Using your camera’s LCD screen to conduct a shoot outdoors when the sun is out is usually a very difficult task.

The very bright light from the sun would be bouncing off on the camera’s screen, and that would make it nearly impossible to see whatever is on the screen.

However, this light – no matter how bright – will not be affecting the viewfinder; you will still be getting a clear image of what your camera’s lens is picking, and that will be helping you shoot more easily.

So, you probably can already see that a viewfinder is a pretty important camera feature for any photographer, but perhaps even more important for photographers who will be doing a lot of their shooting outdoors.

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Auto Exposure Bracketing

Now, here is another feature that will be coming off as very important to you if you will be doing many outdoor shoots. Auto exposure bracketing is a feature that helps you shoot conveniently and efficiently in tough lighting situations.

You know, sometimes, the lighting in a particular area could be so complicated that you would not be able to easily find the exact exposure setting that would be getting you the best shots. In such a case as this, your best shot at getting a good image would be to shoot using auto exposure bracketing.

With auto exposure bracketing, you can just click the shutter button, and your camera will go on to take a number of different shots, each having a different exposure setting from the other.

So, you can choose any one of the shots you feel does it for you, or you could just go on to use all the images (HDR photography). Either way, this feature is sure to give you some really amazing results when you shoot, so, why not explore it?!

Well, if you do not know much about this feature and how to use it on a camera, watch the video below. This video will be directing you on how to set up auto exposure bracketing on the Nikon D5200. Check it out here!

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Built-In Flash

So, while auto exposure bracketing helps you get good photos when the lighting in the area is complicated, a built-in flash helps you get good and bright enough images in low light areas.

With a burst of light, the built-in flash is able to lighten up the place and produce bright images, even in the dark. Therefore, if you were unprepared for a shoot, and you just found out that you had to do it in a place where light is pretty low, you would not have to panic at all, because with a built-in flash, your shoot will be going on smoothly, and you will be getting good enough results.

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External Flash Hot Shoe

So, if you know beforehand that you have to shoot in a low light area, you will have to go prepared, right? Well, with these two cameras – Sony a68 vs Nikon D5200 – one major way you can properly prepare for a shoot in a low light area is by getting an external flash.

Now, the truth is that a built-in flash won’t always be giving you the brightest of photos in lowlight, because there is really a limit to its reach and efficiency.

Anyway, Sony and Nikon, with these cameras – Sony a68 vs Nikon D5200 – did make sure that you are not left without options when the built-in flash does not deliver the best results.

Each of these cameras comes with an external flash hot shoe, and what that means is that you will be able to improve on what the built-in flash offers with the help of an external flash.

Therefore, if you are shooting with either one of these cameras in comparison today – Sony a68 vs Nikon D5200 – and you have to take photos in a pretty dark area, then an external flash is something you would need to be able to get the brightest images possible. And you will be able to use this on any one of them, thanks to the external flash hot shoe they each are made with.

Also, with a flash mounted on the external flash hot shoe of each of these cameras, a photographer will be able to shoot better flash photographs.

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Face Detection Focus

So, just as the external flash hot shoe is pertinent to flash photography, the face detection focus feature is pretty important for portrait photography, too.

Now, from the name of this feature, you probably have a little (if not the entire) idea of how it works. This feature is made with a technology that allows your camera detect human faces in its frame, and then focus on them. When your camera does this, it sharpens the faces, and you will be getting all the details you need on those faces.

This feature will not only be doing well when there is one human face in the photo, though. Even if it is a group photograph, face detection will be detecting and focusing on all the faces in that photo, making them look very sharp, and the image, very professional.

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RAW Support  

Now, face detection is not the only feature necessary for professional looking photos; another really important feature for that is RAW support. This is the feature that presents you with the option of saving your images without doing any harm to their quality.

Images taken with a camera are normally compressed to the JPEG format, in order for them not to take up so much of the camera’s storage space. But then, this compression usually serves a major blow to the quality of the image produced, and this is so not good, especially if these images are to be used on very large scales.

Anyway, with RAW support, you can decide to take photos and have them store in the RAW format. This format preserves all the details in the images, and does not tamper with their quality at all.

So, if the photos from your shoot are going to be used for large scale productions, then we would advise that you shoot in the RAW format. And well, provided you are ready to trade storage space for high quality images, RAW support on either of these cameras – Sony a68 vs Nikon D5200 – has got you covered.

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External Microphone Jack

Still speaking of high quality, these cameras – Sony a68 vs Nikon D5200 – are also able to deliver high quality audio recordings to you.

So, we have already established these cameras’ abilities to produce images of really high quality in different conditions, so, what about high audio quality? Well, that is covered, too.

These cameras do not leave you to rely only on the quality of sound that the internal microphone is able to produce, they also each give you an option to further improve on what you can get from them.

The Sony a68 and the Nikon D5200 each come with an external microphone jack, which means that if you ever desire better audio quality than what you are getting with the internal microphone, you can always get an external one and attach it to the camera via this jack.

Now, you would more likely need an external microphone when it is compulsory, or absolutely necessary that you record sound in a really noisy area.

Cameras’ internal microphones are known to be pretty bad at canceling out background noise (which you surely do not want in your recording). But external microphones, on the other hand, are known to be really good at this (of course this is still subject to the brand of external microphones you go for).

Essentially, whether you are a vlogger, a wildlife photographer, a YouTuber, a photojournalist, or you are involved in any branch of photography that involves video and/or audio recording, the external microphone jack is a feature you would be really grateful for in each of these cameras.

And this is mainly because the quality of sound in a recording is very paramount. So, just like RAW support has you covered on image quality, the external microphone jack has got you covered on audio quality.

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HDMI Output

Each of these cameras comes with an HDMI output, which means that, with an HDMI cable, you can very conveniently extend or duplicate the display of any one of them.

Unique Features — Sony a68 vs Nikon D5200

The features we will be discussing in this section are those features that can only be found in one of these cameras – Sony a68 vs Nikon D5200. Let us dive straight into it!

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Image Stabilization

In the course of owning and using a camera, there is a really huge likelihood that you would need this feature a couple of times. You see, you will not always be able to get your camera to be completely steady before getting a shot.

Sony understood this and decided to make the Sony a68 with the image stabilization feature, so that even if your camera shakes or moves a little while you shoot, you will still be able to get still and steady images with very little to no blur.

This feature is quite an important one if you are an events photographer or paparazzo, for example. Basically, if you are involved in any type of photography that requires that you move a lot while shooting, a camera with the image stabilization feature would be pretty much a necessity for you.

This is why for such types of photography, we recommend the Sony a68, because it is the only one of the two cameras in comparison today – Sony a68 vs Nikon D5200 – with image stabilization.

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Time-Lapse

So, if you would like to make videos of occurrences that take very long to complete, time-lapse is pretty much the way to go. With this feature, you can cut down on the time, and your hour long occurrence, for example, can then be expressed in only a few minutes.

This feature is very often used by photographers who capture nature, and perhaps wildlife, too. It might be a hell of a bore watching every second of the sun rising and setting, but with time-lapse, you do not have to go the entire length of time, but you still won’t be missing a thing. Isn’t that just so awesome?!

Well, time-lapse can be used in many aspects of photography. So, if this is a feature you are looking to explore, then the Nikon D5200 is just your better option of the two cameras here today.

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Panorama

This is yet another feature that lets you harness your creative side in photography. With the panorama feature, you can take different photos, and your camera will stitch them together to make one really lovely panoramic one.

This feature can only be gotten with the Sony a68, and so, if you want this, you know where to look.

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Top Side LCD Screen

This is a screen smaller than a camera’s regular LCD screen, which can be found on the top side of a few cameras. This screen is there to help the photographer easily monitor his settings while he takes photos, thereby making shooting really convenient.

Anyway, of these two cameras – Sony a68 vs Nikon D5200 – only the Sony a68 will be affording you this much convenience, as it is the only one with a top side LCD display.

Unique Pros — Sony a68 vs Nikon D5200

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Unique Pros Of The Sony a68

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More Stabilized Images

Like we have mentioned a couple of times already, the Sony a68 comes with the image stabilization feature, and that makes it possible for you to get clear and steady images, even if the camera was shaking while the photos were being taken.

Because of this feature, you won’t have to pay so much attention to making sure that your hands are completely steady before taking those shots. Therefore, with your camera in your hands, you will be able to get still and clear images just like you would if the camera was mounted on a stand.

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Fast Burst Mode Speed

Burst mode shooting is pretty much the most important function for when you have to take shots of people or objects in motion. This is because burst mode is what enables your camera take a series of nonstop shots at a time.

So, now, for example, if you need to take photos of a flying bird, or of a cheetah running at full speed, sincerely, you won’t be able to get good enough photos taking one shot after another; this is where burst mode comes in. By taking continuous shots, you are more likely to get really amazing photos of that bird or cheetah.

How this works is simple! Let us examine the Sony a68 for example. Now, the Sony a68 has a very impressive 8 frames per second burst mode speed; what that means is that when shooting on burst mode with this camera, you will be able to take up to 8 continuous shots in just one second.

So, imagine being able to take up to 8 different shots of that flying bird in every second of your continuous shooting (which is 40 shots in just 5 seconds) with an entry-level camera, this obviously will be giving you a much better chance at getting the amazing shots you desire.

Anyway, it would please you to know that the burst mode speed of the Sony a68 is one of the most impressive in an entry-level camera. So, yes, this is indeed a big deal!

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More Convenient Settings Control

With its top side LCD screen, the Sony a68 allows you monitor, regulate, and better control your camera’s settings. All thanks to this screen, you can very easily see all the settings being made on your camera, just as you make them, and this, therefore, makes shooting more convenient for you.

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Great Focusing

The Sony a68 has 79 focus points, which means that this camera’s lens will be able to focus on 79 different points at the same time. So, thanks to this, you will be getting sharper and better focused images with this camera.

Furthermore, it might interest you to know that there are not very many entry-level cameras in the market with as many focus points as the Sony a68.

As a matter of fact, the Nikon D5200 has about a 100 per cent fewer focus points than the Sony a68. So, it is safe to say that with the Sony a68, you will be getting images with focusing twice as good as that of the Nikon D5200.

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Creative Shooting

Like we earlier said, the Sony a68 allows you take panoramic shots, so, if you want to get creative with your photography, this is one really interesting way to do just that.

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Remote Control

Now, here is one function that takes convenience and fun in shooting with the Sony a68 to a whole new level. Guess what, you can conduct a shoot with the Sony a68 without having to even make physical contact with the camera!

How? Well, by wirelessly connecting a nearby smartphone to your camera, and activating the remote control function, that smartphone can be used to access the features and functions of that camera; pretty much like a remote controlling device.

Thanks to this function, doing a family photoshoot would be a lot less stressful. You can literally be in front of the camera and take all the photos you want, just by hitting a button on your smartphone in your hand.

Also, this will be awesome for wildlife photographers, too. You know, your presence in the scene might cause the animals to be quite uncomfortable, and that will not be good for you nor for the images you plan to get.

But with the remote control function, you will be able to place your camera on a stand, step away, and take awesome photos – perhaps even record videos – using your smartphone.

Now, this function is really easy to use, and the video below is here to prove that to you. This video will be showing you how to use the smart remote control function on a Sony camera (Sony a6300 specifically). It is indeed convenient and a lot of fun, too. Check it out here!

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Unique Pros Of The Nikon D5200

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High Resolution Screen

Like we mentioned early on in this Sony a68 vs Nikon D5200 comparison article, if you are looking to capture a lot of details in your images, then the Nikon D5200 is the better camera of the two for you. The reason we say this is because of this camera’s very impressive screen resolution.

The Nikon D5200, an entry-level camera, boasts of a very impressive 921k dots screen resolution, and this is just as good as you will be getting from many professional cameras in the market.

As a matter of fact, the resolution screen you will be getting with the Nikon D5200 is about a hundred per cent higher then what you will be getting with the Sony a68. So, you can see how very impressive the Nikon D5200 is in this aspect.

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Creative Video Recording

The Nikon D5200 will be allowing you express your creativity in a way that the Sony a68 wouldn’t. The Nikon camera, like we have said, is the only one of the two cameras with the time-lapse feature.

Therefore, if you think you would love quick and easy access to this feature when you record videos with your camera, then the Nikon D5200 is just the camera you would prefer to have.

Unique Cons — Sony a68 vs Nikon D5200

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Unique Cons Of The Sony a68

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Low Resolution Screen

The Sony a68 has a screen resolution of 461k dots, which is not very impressive, especially considering that the Nikon D5200 offers nearly times two of what you get with the Sony camera in this aspect.

Basically, this means that when it comes to the general quality of images you get, details those images contain, focus judgement, and all of that, what you will be getting with the Sony a68 will be inferior to what you will be getting with the Nikon D5200. Not good!

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No Time-Lapse

This camera does not come with an in-camera app that allows you manipulate time in your recordings. So, if you are a photographer who sees time-lapse as a very important feature, you might have to look away from the Sony a68.

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Unique Cons Of The Nikon D5200

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No Image Stabilization

In this Sony a68 vs Nikon D5200 comparison, you must have already seen how important the image stabilization can be for you as a photographer. So, you also would have been able to see how much you will be missing out on with the Nikon D5200 because of its lack of this feature.

Image stabilization generally helps you shoot with more confidence, and get more awesome results. Shakes and movements of your camera while you shoot can have your images looking really sketchy, and we are pretty sure no photographer wants that.

Anyway, if you plan to get the Nikon D5200, this is one thing you would have to get used to, and that is because it does not have a built-in image stabilization feature.

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No Top Side LCD Screen

The little screen that displays a camera’s settings is not present in the Nikon D5200. This means that this camera will not be affording you that extra bit of control over your shooting by being able to easily monitor your camera’s settings.

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No Remote Control

Unlike with the Sony a68, you won’t be able to control the Nikon D5200 with a smartphone, because this camera does not have the remote control function.

So, basically, with the Nikon D5200, you won’t be getting any of that fun and convenience that you would be getting with the Sony a68 as a result of this function. Not very exciting news, is it?

Common Pros — Sony a68 vs Nikon D5200

	Sony a68	Nikon D5200
Better control of shoot	This camera comes with a viewfinder, and like we have already established, a viewfinder puts you in total control of your all round shooting. With this feature, you are able to preview and then frame your camera’s photos just before you capture them. Also, a viewfinder saves you from having to shoot with your camera’s LCD screen in direct sunlight.	The Nikon D5200 also comes with a viewfinder, which will be giving you just as much control over your shoot as you would be getting with the Sony a68.
Flexible shooting	Thanks to the articulating screen of this camera, you will be able to conveniently take shots from rather difficult angles. So, just by tilting its LCD screen, you can be a little more flexible while you shoot with the Sony a68.	The Nikon D5200 also comes with an articulating screen. But the screen of this camera allows for even more flexible shooting than the Sony a68. Why? Well, while the LCD screen of the Sony a68 is just a tilting screen, that of the Nikon D5200 is a fully articulated one. This means that not only will you be able to tilt the screen of the Nikon D5200, you will also be able to rotate it, too. This obviously allows for more flexibility, and because of this, is obviously the better option for vloggers and YouTubers.
High quality images	With a maximum sensor resolution of 24 mega pixels, the Sony a68 is one camera that is sure to be giving you high quality images. With this camera, you will be able to capture big prints, and a lot of details in your images.	You will also be able to capture big prints and a lot of details in the photos you take with the Nikon D5200, because just like the Sony a68, this camera boasts of a very impressive 24 mega pixel APS-C CMOS sensor.
Preserve image quality	So, after getting awesome images from this camera (thanks to its sensor), the Sony a68 further allows you the option of storing those images without having to tamper with their quality at all. Shooting in the RAW format means that your photos are taken and stored without their quality being reduced through compression. Yes, compression might save you storage space, but they sacrifice image quality to achieve that. So, if you feel like you need to get your images with all the details intact, the Sony a68 grants you that liberty, thanks to the RAW support feature it comes with.	RAW support is a feature also present in the Nikon D5200. So, this means that you will also be able to take photos and have them store in their untouched and uncompressed RAW format.
Good portrait photography	Because of the face detection focus feature that the Sony a68 comes with, you will be able to get really lovely portrait photos with it. This feature, as you know, emphasizes the details on the human faces, and therefore, portraits are sure to be looking really good with this camera. Furthermore, the face detection focus feature will also be getting you good results in group photography, too.	You will also be getting great portrait photos and group photos with the Nikon D5200, because just like the Sony a68, this camera also comes with face detection focus.
Good HDR photography	Thanks to the auto exposure bracketing feature on this camera, you will be able to shoot better in difficult lighting conditions. Also, you will be able to get awesome results in HDR photography when shooting with the Sony a68.	Earlier in this Sony a68 vs Nikon D5200 comparison article, we discussed the auto exposure bracketing feature, and even went further to show you how to use it on this camera. So, you already know how useful this feature is for HDR photography, and also, how easy it is to use.
Good lighting	The built-in flash of this camera will be giving you just the right amount of light you would need to get bright photos in low light areas. This feature is one really convenient one to use, and it gives pretty great results, too.	The Nikon D5200 also comes with a built-in flash which will be helping you get bright photos in low light, too.
Great option for more advanced lighting	So, if you ever need to further advance your camera’s lighting beyond what the built-in flash offers, the external flash hot shoe is the feature on the Sony a68 that presents you with yet another option. So, just by mounting an external flash on this hot shoe, you can get even brighter images in low light. More so, if you will be doing a lot of flash photography, the external flash hot shoe would be a pretty important feature for you, because an external flash is very essential for any level of flash photography.	You will also be able to advance the lighting of the built-in flash of this camera by mounting an external flash on its external flash hot shoe. Also, with an external flash mounted on it, the Nikon D5200 will be doing just as well in flash photography as the Sony a68.
Great option for high sound quality	The Sony a68 comes with an external microphone jack, which is awesome news if you intend to do a lot of video and audio recording with your camera. The capabilities of the camera’s built-in microphone are indeed very limited, so, if you are looking for really high quality sound in your recordings, your best bet would be to get an external microphone and connect it to your camera via its external microphone jack.	By coming with an external microphone jack, the Nikon D5200 also gives you an option to get higher sound quality than what the built-in microphone offers. So, you really could just get an external microphone and connect it to your Nikon camera for optimum audio quality – that easy!
Great option for larger display	The Sony a68 comes with an HDMI output, and so, with an HDMI cable, you can easily connect this camera to a television screen, or a monitor, and extend the camera’s display. So, if you need to show your camera’s images to a large number of people – perhaps at a conference – with an HDMI cable, you can quickly and easily create a connection between your camera and a screen, and extend your camera’s display unto that screen.	You will also be able to extend the display of the Nikon D5200 to a larger screen with an HDMI cable, as this camera also comes with an HMDI output.
Affordable	The Sony a68 is pretty affordable, so, if you are on a budget, this is one camera that would be doing a lot of good to your pocket.	The Nikon D5200 is even more affordable than the Sony a68. There is about a 150 dollar difference between the prices of these two cameras, so, we could say that the Nikon D5200 is the even more budget friendly one of the two.
Compact body	Weighing only 1.345 pounds (610 grams), the Sony a68 is a camera that would be easy for you to carry all around with you. In addition to this, this camera also has a really good grip, so, yes, this is just the right camera to hold in your hands for long periods of time.	At 1.224 pounds (555 grams), the Nikon D5200 weighs even less than the Sony a68. So, if you would be comfortable holding the Sony camera in your hands for long periods of time, how much more the Nikon D5200?

Common Cons — Sony a68 vs Nikon D5200

	Sony a68	Nikon D5200
No touch screen	For an entry-level camera, we were pretty surprised that the Sony a68 did not come with a touch screen. A touch screen, of course, would have made it a lot easier to get around using this camera, and it is one feature you might miss, because of the extra convenience it offers any device.	The LCD screen of the Nikon D5200 is not touch sensitive, either. So, you won’t be getting that convenience of being able to operate your camera like a smartphone.
No built-in Wi-Fi	The Sony a68 does not come with a built-in Wi-Fi. A built-in Wi-Fi on a camera is what enables you connect it to a Wi-Fi enabled device nearby and transfer files from that camera to that smart device. Anyway, to make up for its lack of a built-in Wi-Fi, the Sony a68 makes provision for you to use an Eye-Fi card to access wireless connectivity. This, though, is not as convenient to use as a built-in Wi-Fi.	Just like the Sony a68, the Nikon D5200 also does not come with a built-in Wi-Fi. Anyway, it does give you an option of achieving wireless connectivity with the use of an external device.
No near field communication (NFC)	Near field communication (NFC) is a feature that allows you wirelessly connect a camera to a Wi-Fi compatible device with just one touch of a button. This feature usually works hand in hand with a built-in Wi-Fi. So, seeing as this camera does not have that, it won’t, therefore, not be very surprising that it also does not come with near field communication.	The Nikon D5200 also does not come with near field communication.
No Built-In Bluetooth	This camera does not come with a built-in Bluetooth, which is another medium of wireless connectivity you will be missing out on.	The Nikon D5200 also does not come with a built-in Bluetooth.
No headphone jack	This camera does not come with a headphone jack. This means that you will not be able to use headphones to regulate sound while you record audio with the Sony a68.	The Nikon D5200 also does not come with headphone jack.
No built-in GPS	There is no built-in GPS on the Sony a68, so, you will not be able to geo-tag images taken with this camera.	The Nikon D5200 also will not be letting you geo-tag photos and videos, as it also does not come with a built-in GPS.
No slow motion	There is no in-camera app on the Sony a68 that allows you record slow motion videos.	Same as the Sony a68.
No weather sealing	The body of the Sony a68 is not weather sealed, which means that this camera is not safe to use in harsh weather conditions. A weather sealing is what keeps harsh weather elements from getting into the camera. So, seeing as this camera does not have one, it might not be your best option for outdoor shooting on rainy, very humid, or really windy days.	The body of the Nikon D5200 is also not weather sealed, which means that using this camera outdoors in harsh weather conditions might be causing great damage to it.

What Do People Think About Both Cameras?

Sony a68	Nikon D5200
A lot of customers have had good things to say about the Sony a68. The most common comment, however, has been about its light weight and compactness. This camera, according to many people who have used it, has a really lovely grip, and is really easy to carry around. They have recommended this one for vacations, hikes, and all those types of activities.	Many amateur photographers seem to have been really impressed by this camera. This one, according to them, gives really good results even when you are shooting just on automatic mode. People have also commended this camera’s grip and compactness; they have said that it feels just right in their palms.
Photographers also seem to be happy with the awesome image quality of this camera. They have said that the Sony a68 has a lovely auto focus system, and has an amazing senor resolution, too. However, not many customers were very happy about this camera’s lack of a built-in Wi-Fi, because, according to them, it limits their connectivity options.	Customers are also not happy that the Nikon D5200 does not come with a built-in Wi-Fi. However, a lot of photographers have commended the resolution screen of this camera. They have said that, because of this, they are able to get lovely and high quality photos with the Nikon D5200.
Basically, many are of the opinion that the Sony a68 is a good bargain. It gives good results, does not weigh so much, has a pretty decent battery life, even comes with image stabilization, and still does not cost so much. These have made many customers very fond of the Sony a68.	People also love this camera, because of how well it does, and how affordable it is, too.

Our Take — Sony a68 vs Nikon D5200

Sony a68	Nikon D5200
The Sony a68 is such a good camera. It is made primarily for amateur usage, but it has proven to be really good even on a semi-professional level. Its burst mode speed is more than impressive for an entry-level camera. It does pretty well in low light. It also does really well in flash photography, portrait photography, and HDR photography.	Nikon did such a good job with the Nikon D5200. This camera has a very impressive resolution screen, and that is one thing we love so much. We also love that you can get creative with this camera, as it comes with the time-lapse feature.
Not only is this camera really efficient, it is also budget friendly. So, getting the Sony a68 is sure to be a really good bargain for you.	The Nikon D5200 is also a really good camera which does not cost so much. So, if you are on a tight budget, this camera is surely not a bad idea. Also, if you are looking to get really flexible with your shooting positions, then this is the camera you would love.
We would recommend this camera to events photographers, amateur wildlife and sports photographers, tourists, and all other beginner photographers.	We would recommend this camera to vloggers, YouTubers, vacationers, tourists, and all other amateur photographers.