Sony Alpha a77 vs Nikon D5300 – Detailed Comparison

Hello there! Today, we will be looking at two well-functioning DSLR cameras made by different companies – Sony Alpha a77 vs Nikon D5300. In this article, we will be taking you through all there is to know about these two cameras, and hopefully, you will be able to make a well informed decision about which of them to get.

The Sony Alpha a77 vs Nikon D5300 battle is a pretty tight one, as these two cameras have a number of things in common, so, hang on for a thorough side by side comparison. Anyway, if you will not be able to make it all the way to the end, the next 3 sections will be helping make a quick, and equally informed decision, too. Come with us!

Comparison Overview — Sony Alpha a77 vs Nikon D5300

Before anything else, you probably first noticed that what we are comparing today are cameras from two “big boys in the game”.

Sony and Nikon are Japanese companies that have been around for decades, and over those many years, have been known to deliver great quality cameras. Perhaps this is the reason that these two companies are considered big players in the camera producing industry.

Anyway though, Nikon has proven to be the bigger brand of the two. This company has a stronger market presence, and the cameras they make are known to have some of the best batteries and auto focus systems in the market.

Sony, on the other hand, is a much younger company than Nikon. Sony cameras are known to be pretty affordable, and come in pretty compact bodies. However, the Sony camera in today’s comparison – the Sony Alpha a77 – seems to be a break from the norm, considering Sony’s antecedence, and you will be finding out why we say that soon.

Now, bear in mind that in comparing the Sony Alpha a77 vs Nikon D530, we are doing a semi-pro vs entry level comparison. More specifically, the Sony camera is a semi-professional one, and so, is expected to have more features and perhaps better functions than the Nikon one, which is an entry-level camera.

Anyway, in spite of this distinction we just stated, we do think that the Sony Alpha a77 was a bit overpriced (this is the break from the norm we talked about earlier). Sony cameras are known to be affordable, but going for more than 1500 bucks in the market, this semi-pro Sony camera is far from being affordable.

Now, there is no doubt that each of these cameras will be giving you a lot of value. However, when we talk of the price-value ratio, we think the Nikon D5300 carries the day.

This camera is an entry-level camera with a lot of features and function, coming in a compact body, and going for a very affordable price (less than 400 dollars), surely this is a really good bargain.

However, if you are not concerned about the price, then the Sony Alpha a77 could still be an awesome option for you.  This camera comes with some awesome features that the Nikon D5300 does not come with.

For example, the image stabilization feature, a top side LCD screen, weather sealing, are some of the features you will only be getting with the Sony camera. The Nikon D5300, however, does better at wireless connectivity, focusing, and battery life.

Moving on, the next section will be giving you a quick run through of how the major features and specifications of these cameras compare when placed side by side with each other. Check it out.

Comparison Table — Sony Alpha a77 vs Nikon D5300

	Sony Alpha a77	Nikon D5300
Camera weight	1.614 pounds (732 grams)	1.058 pounds (480 grams)
Camera dimensions	5.63 by 3.19 by 4.09 inches	4.92 by 2.99 by 3.86 inches
Screen size	3 inches	3.2 inches
ISO range	50 to 1600 (expandable to 25600)	100 to 12800 (expandable to 25600)
Burst mode speed	12 frames per second	5 frames per second
Built-in Wi-Fi	No	Yes
Remote control	No	Yes
Screen resolution	921k dots	1.037k dots
Time-lapse	No	Yes
Image stabilization	Yes	No
Top side LCD display	Yes	No
Battery	470 shots per full charge	600 shots per full charge
PC sync port for flash	Yes	No
Weather sealing	Yes	No

Which Is Better Under What Circumstance?

Sony Alpha a77	Nikon D5300
For events photography, you might want to lean towards the Sony Alpha a77. This camera comes with a PC sync port for flash which opens a whole new world of possibilities in flash photography. So, if you want the best flash photography results at that upcoming wedding party, then you ought to seriously be considering getting this camera.	If you are into nature or street photography, then this might just be the better buy for you. With the Nikon D5300, you can focus on more points at the same time than with the Sony camera. Also, you can easily make time-lapse videos, and that can come in handy for those videos that will take a really long time to record.
Are you into sports photography? If yes, then the Sony Alpha a77 is the camera we would recommend to you. Why? Well, simply because this camera is able to take an impressive 12 shots in just one second when you shoot on burst mode. And we all know that sports photography requires that you take a lot of pictures of people in motion, and with a 12 frames per second burst mode camera, you will be getting very amazing shots. Also, for sports that are played outdoors; football, for example, you might need a camera with a weather sealing, because the weather won’t always be friendly. This is another reason to go for this camera; it is the only one of the two cameras we are comparing today with a weather sealing, meaning that taking shots with the Sony Alpha a77 at a football match on a cloudy day wouldn’t be posing any harm to the camera’s body; this cannot be said of the Nikon camera.	So, let’s see, you are going on a vacation soon, and you plan to take lots of pictures there, but you do not trust your smartphone to do an amazing job. Well, what you need is a handy camera that is easy to use, easy to carry around, and is affordable, too – basically, you need the Nikon D5300. This camera is all of those things we have mentioned, and this is why we think this would be the better bet of the two cameras to get for a vacation or a tourist visit.
If you are one who finds it difficult to hold your hands still while you take pictures, then what you need is a camera that can help you get great photos in spite of those shakes. Of these two cameras in comparison today – Sony Alpha a77 vs Nikon D5300 – only the Sony Alpha a77 can do that for you. This camera is the only one with image stabilization, so, even if your hands shake while you take photos, this feature in this camera is sure to make sure your photos still come out clean.	If what you are after is convenience, then the Nikon D5300 might be the one to do the trick for you. This camera, unlike its Sony counterpart, comes with a built-in Wi-Fi, which allows you transfer files very easily, without need for cables or any other hardware. Furthermore, thanks to the built-in Wi-Fi, you can now shoot with your camera, even when you are meters away from it. All you would have to do is to wirelessly connect a smartphone to the Nikon D5300, and with the remote control function, you can go ahead to shoot using your smartphone. How convenient!

Common Features — Sony Alpha a77 vs Nikon D5300

So far, in this Sony Alpha a77 vs Nikon D5300 comparison, we have compared the features and functions of these two cameras. But in this section, what we will be looking at are the similarities that exist between these two cameras. And of course, we will begin with the most fundamental similarity – these cameras are both DSLR cameras.

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DSLR Cameras

A digital single lens reflex (DSLR) camera is a camera that is made with a reflex design. Therefore, a typical DSLR camera comes with mirrors and an optical viewfinder.

The mirrors bounce the light that the camera’s lens is receiving, to the sensors, and feeds an exact image to the optical viewfinder, where the photo can be previewed and framed, before it is captured.

This mirror mechanism is unique to this such cameras, and it is the major reason that DSLR cameras are expected to be a bit weighty, especially when compared to their fast rising rivals – the mirroless cameras.

Mirrorless cameras are the newer camera type that sacrifice the mirror mechanism for slimmer and more compact bodies. In these cameras, you get an electronic viewfinder which gives you the digital image of what the camera’s lens is capturing, as against an exact image that the optical viewfinder offers.

As you might have already noticed, it is a lot easier to understand the workings of DSLR cameras (otherwise called mirrored cameras) when they are compared to their rivals; the mirrorless cameras.

So, this is why we have attached a video below which compares DSLR cameras to mirrorless ones. This video also goes ahead to address some common misconceptions about these different camera types. Check it out here!

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Articulating Screen

This is one of the most noticeable features common to both of these cameras – Sony Alpha a77 vs Nikon D5300. An articulating screen is a type of LCD screen that can be tilted and/or rotated to certain angles to make shooting more flexible.

The articulating screens of these cameras are even more amazing than normal because they are fully articulated. Now, that this means is that the LCD screens of these cameras can not only be tilted upward and downward, but they can also be rotated and swiveled.

So, basically, compared to many other entry-level and semi-pro cameras in the market, these cameras will be allowing you shoot more flexibly.

Therefore, taking overhead shots, shots from really low angles, chest-level shots, shots from really high angles, and even selfies, with any one of these cameras – Sony Alpha a77 vs Nikon D5300 – will all be a breeze, thanks to their articulating screens.

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Face Detection Focus

Portraits are very important components of photography. Virtually every photographer has had reason to take portrait photos, at least, once before. This is, therefore, the reason that face detection focus is a very important feature in cameras; it is what helps photographers get the best portrait photos possible.

Face detection focus enables your camera identify and focus on the human faces in the picture. With this feature, you will be getting all the details and emphasis you need on the human faces, and what else do a photographer require in a portrait photo?

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RAW Support

RAW support is simply the feature that ensures that you can take photos and have them store in the highest quality the camera can manage.

Basically, if you decide to shoot in the RAW format, it simply means that your camera will be taking photos in the highest quality, and will not be messing with their quality by compressing them.

This feature is a very important one if you intend to use your photos on large scales. For example, if you want to take pictures that will feature on billboards, or magazines, it would be best for you to take RAW images. JPEG photos would reduce the quality of the images, and a lot of details would be lost in the compression process, this is the reason the RAW support feature is a very important one.

Anyway though, it is important to note that RAW images do take up a lot of storage space, because they are uncompressed. So, for those high quality images, you would have to sacrifice a huge chunk of your camera’s storage space.

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Built-In Flash

If you have to shoot in an area where lighting is pretty poor, a built-in flash is one of the things that could help you get pretty bright photos. You do not get this feature with every camera in the market, and that makes it even more special in each of these cameras – Sony Alpha a77 vs Nikon D5300.

So, if, for example, you are taking pictures at an indoor event where lights are really low, just by popping up the built-in flash of your camera, you can get the burst of light you need to get bright enough images.

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External Flash Hot Shoe

Now, in a case where the built-in flash does not give you the results that you desire in that low light area, each of these cameras – Sony Alpha a77 vs Nikon D5300 – gives you yet another option of getting bright images, even brighter in this case; and that is the option of using an external flash.

An external flash cannot be used on a camera except that camera comes with an external flash hot shoe. This feature is found on the top side of the camera, and it is where the external flash will be mounted.

Basically, external flashes give you brighter images, and a lot better results in flash photography. So, if you are an events photographer, for example, getting an external flash and mounting it on the external flash hot shoe of any of these cameras will be very beneficial, especially when you plan to do a lot of flash photography.

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Auto Exposure Bracketing

Already, we have established that flashes help you get good results when shooting in low light. So, now, what of when there is too much light, or perhaps the lighting is just complicated? This is where the auto exposure bracketing becomes useful.

Auto exposure bracketing is a feature that helps you get great shots when the lighting in the area is pretty complicated. With this feature, you can take different photos of the scene with just one click of a button. And the interesting thing is that those different photos will each have a different exposure setting.  

Furthermore, this feature is what helps you take awesome HDR photos. And hey, no matter how complicated this feature sounds, it is one pretty easy one to use, and the video below will show you that.

In this video, you will be seeing how you can setup auto exposure bracketing on the Nikon D5300, as well as the Nikon D5200 and D5100. Check it out here!

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External Microphone Jack

Whether very often or only occasionally, as a photographer, you would surely need to record video and audio. And of course, being able to get the best sound quality in that instance would be a priority. This is why the external microphone jack is an important feature on each of these cameras – Sony Alpha a77 vs Nikon D5300.

These cameras come with internal microphones, however, those microphones, sincerely, would not always give the best results, especially if you are recording in areas where there is a lot of noise. In cases such as this, all you would need to do is to get an external microphone and connect it to the camera through the external microphone jack.

An external microphone will be giving you audio quality superior to what you can get from an internal microphone. So, if you are a photojournalist, a YouTuber, or you are into any other type of photography that would require you to record videos (especially in noisy places), the external microphone jack is a feature you would be really relieved and excited about.

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Viewfinder

This is one feature that we have already made mention of in this Sony Alpha a77 vs Nikon D5300 comparison article. A viewfinder is a miniature display on which photos can be previewed before they are captured. This feature also makes it possible for these photos to be properly framed, also before they are captured.

More so, these cameras – Sony Alpha a77 vs Nikon D5300 – each coming with a viewfinder means that you can avoid having to shoot with your camera’s LCD screen in direct sunlight. When very bright light hits a screen, it becomes impossible to see what is on that screen, and that is no different with the LCD screen of your camera.

So, when sunlight is hitting the camera’s screen during an outdoor shoot, you can still conveniently – and even more efficiently – shoot using the camera’s viewfinder.

Well, one could say that a viewfinder gives a photographer much better control over his overall shooting. He can preview, frame, and capture photos more conveniently and efficiently. Awesome, isn’t it?

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Built-In GPS

If you want to be able to track the location where photos were taken or where videos were recorded with your camera, you would be able to do just that with any one of these cameras in comparison today, and that is all thanks to the built-in GPS they each come with.

This GPS is what enables you geo tag your camera’s images, and so, you can always keep track of where each image was captured. Also, it has to be said that this feature is not common to many cameras out there, so, having it in these two cameras is pretty much a big deal.

Unique Features — Sony Alpha a77 vs Nikon D5300

Here, we will be talking about some of those features that can be gotten in only one of these cameras. Let us get into it!

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Built-In Wi-Fi

It is the 21^st century, so, of course, we all know what Wi-Fi is. In fact, it is probably thanks to that that you are reading this article right now. Anyway, the built-in Wi-Fi in a camera functions pretty differently from the one you probably have at home or in the office.

This built-in feature does not connect your camera to the internet; what it does is to help you connect the camera to a nearby Wi-Fi compatible device, and over that connection, transfer files easily.

So, you get to connect your smartphone to your camera like you would to a local hotspot, and then you can transfer as many files as you would like quickly, and very easily, too.

This built-in Wi-Fi, however, is only available on the Nikon D5300, and that ought not to be very surprising as the Nikon camera is the newer of the two – and by 3 years, too.

Now, since only this camera comes with this feature, we have attached a video that reviews the Wi-Fi (alongside the GPS) of the Nikon D5300. Check it out below to see how it does!

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Image Stabilization

Like we mentioned earlier, image stabilization is what helps to erase (or minimize) the effects that shakes or small movements of the camera while shooting could have on the eventual images.

So, if you are in a crowd where there is a lot of movement (and so, it is pretty difficult to steady yourself to get a shot), you could worry less if your camera has the image stabilization feature. And of these two cameras – Sony Alpha a77 vs Nikon D5300 – the only one that will be giving you that sort of confidence is the Sony Alpha a77, because it is the only one that has this feature.

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Time-Lapse

This is a feature that helps you play around with time a little in your recordings. With this feature in your camera, you can show a phenomenon or occurrence that took hours (or even days) to happen in just a few minutes. Basically, what you are doing with this feature is to manipulate time while making really creative videos.

So, if you, for example, want to show the rising of the sun in a video, it would be best to do that using time-lapse. Anyway, you would only be able to achieve that with the Nikon D5300, as it is the only one of the two cameras that comes with this feature.

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Top Side LCD Display

The Sony Alpha a77 comes with a mini screen on its top side. Now, this screen shows the photographer what settings are being made on the camera, just as they are being made. This little display makes shooting more convenient. And it puts you in control, too; you know, being able to easily monitor your camera’s settings just by glancing at a screen atop the camera would surely give you more control of your entire shoot.

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PC Sync Port

This is one feature that offers a photographer a little more than what the regular external flash gives when it comes to lighting. Via this port, you are able to connect an off-camera flash to your camera, and get lighting that is more advanced that what you would get with an external flash.

Commonly, this flash is used for flash photography; yes, we mentioned earlier that a regular external flash will do great in flash photography, but these off-camera flashes that connect to the camera via the PC sync port will actually be giving you even more amazing results.

So, basically, if you plan to do a lot of flash photography with the camera you get, we would advise that you go for the Sony Alpha a77, because this port totally changes the game in terms of lighting, and so, you are sure to get far better results with this camera than with the Nikon D5300.

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Weather Sealing

This is a feature that serves as a protective seal on your cameras body. So, essentially, if your camera has this sealing, you can literally go on shooting even when it seems like the weather is changing, because what this sealing does is to protect the camera from damages that could be caused by elements of these harsh weather conditions.

Unique Pros — Sony Alpha a77 vs Nikon D5300

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Unique Pros Of The Sony Alpha a77

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Stabilized Images

Earlier in this Sony Alpha a77 vs Nikon D5300 comparison article, we talked about the image stabilization feature on the Sony Alpha a77, so, you probably can already see how important this feature can be for you while you shoot.

Basically, with this camera, you will be able to shoot more confidently, because you know that whether or not your camera shakes, you will be getting sharp and steady images. Really comforting news, isn’t it?

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Convenient Shooting

There is a level of convenience that you will be getting while you shoot with the Sony Alpha a77 that you will not be getting while you shoot with the Nikon D5300; and the feature that makes this difference is the top side LCD screen.

Like we mentioned earlier, this little screen makes sure that while you make and change your camera’s settings during your shoot, you would be able to monitor the entire process very easily, and of course, this makes your all round shooting a lot more convenient.

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Better Flash Photography

In all sincerity, with the Nikon D5300, you will be able to do pretty well in flash photography.

However, if you are looking to go pro in this aspect and get far more advanced results, the Sony Alpha a77, in our opinion, would be a better bet for you. Why? Because, like we have earlier said, it is the only one of these two cameras – Sony Alpha a77 vs Nikon D5300 – with a PC sync port for flash.

Essentially, if your brand of photography is professional (even if only a little), and it would require that you work a lot with the best and brightest of flashes, then you ought to be more interested in the Sony camera.

The PC sync port this camera comes with provides you an option of using off camera flashes which will be giving a lot better results than external flashes in flash photography.

So, summarily, if you are looking to get one of these cameras – Sony Alpha a77 vs Nikon D5300 – strictly for professional flash photography, our advice would be to get the Sony Alpha a77.

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Weather Sealed

The body of the Sony Alpha a77 is weather sealed, and you know what that means – protection against elements of harsh weather conditions.

So, weather it is a humid afternoon, or a rainy evening, this sealing on your camera’s body is sure to keep it protected so that dust, water, or even snow, does not get into the camera. And well, if they stay out, there is no way they would be causing any damage to the camera, now, is there?

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Fast Burst Mode

A couple of times in this article, we have mentioned that the Sony Alpha a77 is the better camera of the two for sports photography. Well, that is, amongst other things, largely due to its really impressive burst mode speed.

Burst mode is what enables you take a streak of photos continuously. This function is very useful when you have to get the best photos of a moving object (or person); and of course, the more shots you are able to get per time, the better your chances of getting amazing photos of that person or object in motion.

Now, the Sony Alpha a77 boasts a really impressive 12 frames per second on burst mode, and that means that in every second of burst mode shooting, you will be getting up to 12 shots. This is really amazing; and even more amazing when you compare it to the Nikon D5300’s 5 frames per second burst mode speed.

So, if you are a sports photographer, paparazzo, wildlife photographer, or you are involved in any other type of photography that requires that you take photos of moving people or objects, then the Sony Alpha a77’s burst mode would be coming as very heartwarming and exciting news to you.

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Unique Pros Of The Nikon D5300

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Easy & Convenient Wireless Connection

The Nikon D5300 is the only one of these two cameras that comes with a built-in Wi-Fi, and so, it is obviously the one that will be allowing you connect more easily to a nearby device.

With this camera’s built-in Wi-Fi, you won’t be having much need for cables or any other type of hardware to transfer files from your camera, well, except the camera’s battery gets really low. Well, generally, one can say that the built-in Wi-Fi has made transfer of files quick, simple, and so convenient.

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Remote Control

Now, the Nikon D5300’s Wi-Fi is not only good for transfer of files, it also offers the possibility of remotely controlling your camera with a smart device.

With the remote control function, you are able to connect a smartphone to the Nikon D5300, and with that smartphone, conduct a shoot, without even having to make contact with your camera.

What we are saying in essence is that, you can connect a smartphone to the Nikon D5300, and have it serve as a remote controlling device for the camera.

This function offers you a whole lot of convenience in your shooting, and it can also be a lot of fun to use; and of these two cameras – Sony Alpha a77 vs Nikon D5300 – it is exclusive to the Nikon D5300.

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Affordable

The Nikon D5300 is a well-functioning camera that won’t be costing so much – amazing deal! If you eventually choose this camera over the Sony one, you will be saving more than a thousand dollars.

So well, if you are on a very tight budget, it goes without saying that the Nikon D5300 is the one you ought to be paying more attention to; it is obviously very pocket friendly.

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Lightweight

The Nikon D5300 could be called the ideal entry-level camera; this is because it is affordable, pretty easy to use, and then it does not weigh so much.

This camera weighs only a little more than a pound, and then has a pretty good grip, too. Therefore, this is one camera we think you wouldn’t mind holding in your hand even for pretty long hours.

So, do you need a camera to take with you on tour, on a vacation, or on a walk? If yes, then your better choice of these two cameras – Sony Alpha a77 vs Nikon D5300 – would be the Nikon D5300, and its light weight and compactness is the major reason.

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Long Lasting Battery

Like we mentioned earlier, Nikon cameras are known to have long lasting batteries, and the Nikon D5300 is no different. You will be able to get up to 600 shots per full charge of this camera’s battery, and that is 130 more than you will be able to get per full charge of that of the Sony Alpha a77’s.

Now, if you recall that the Nikon D5300 is the entry-level camera, while the Sony Alpha a77 is the semi-pro one, you perhaps would even better appreciate the battery of the Nikon D5300.

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Creative Shooting

The Nikon D5300 allows you shoot time-lapse videos, and this is something you won’t be getting with the Sony Alpha a77. With this feature, you can manipulate time, and get really creative with your shooting.

Unique Cons — Sony Alpha a77 vs Nikon D5300

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Unique Cons Of The Sony Alpha a77

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No Built-In Wi-Fi

The Sony Alpha a77, unfortunately, does not come with a built-in Wi-Fi, and what this means is that you will be needing external hardware to be able to transfer files from this camera to any device whatsoever.

Anyway, though without a built-in Wi-Fi, this camera gives you an option of a wireless connection, only that, in this case, you would need an external device – an Eye-Fi card.

This card allows your camera achieve wireless connectivity, but it is sure not as convenient as doing that with a built-in Wi-Fi.

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No Remote Control

Unlike with the Nikon D5300, you will not be able to remotely control the Sony Alpha a77 with a nearby device. Therefore, it is safe to say that you will be missing out on the convenience that comes with being able to shoot without even holding your camera in your hands.

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Average Battery Capacity

For a semi-pro camera, one would have expected that this camera came with a better, longer lasting battery. Anyway, with just 470 shots per full charge, we think the battery of the Sony Alpha a77 is not very impressive, especially for a camera of its level.

Yes, the battery of this camera is definitely not the worst in the market, however, we really do think it could have been better.

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High End

Costing more than 1500 dollars, the Sony Alpha a77 is not one that can be referred to as affordable. If you are on a budget, then you might want to look the other way, because this camera will be causing a dent on your pocket.

To better put this in perspective, you will be able to get 4 Nikon D5300 cameras for the price of one of the Sony Alpha a77. Now, that is one hell of price gap.

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No Time-Lapse

You will not be able to explore your creative side in video recordings with this camera, as it does not come with the time-lapse recording feature.

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Unique Cons Of The Nikon D5300

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No Image Stabilization

If the Nikon D5300 moves or shakes while you take photos with it, you will probably be getting really sketchy images, because it does not come with the image stabilization feature.

This feature is supposed to take care of the effects of these shakes and movements, however, without it, you would have to deal with whatever images you get; which will not always be very appealing to the eyes.

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No Weather Sealing

The body of the Nikon D5300 is not weather sealed, and that means that it will be so much of a risk using this camera outdoors when the weather conditions are not so pleasant. Basically, humidity, rain, snow, could easily get in, and that could damage the electronics of the camera.

So, if you eventually get the Nikon D5300, we would advise that you do not use it once the weather starts acting even a bit funny; this is in order to avoid causing damage to your camera.

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No PC Sync Port

You won’t be getting that extra efficiency in flash photography that the Sony Alpha a77 offers, simply because, unlike the Sony camera, the Nikon D5300 does not come with a PC sync port for off-camera flashes.

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No Top Side LCD Display

The Nikon D5300 does not come with a little screen on its top side for settings display. This simply means that you will be missing out on that convenience of being able to easily monitor the settings being made on this camera.

Common Pros — Sony Alpha a77 vs Nikon D5300

	Sony Alpha a77	Nikon D5300
Good control of shooting	We have already established in this Sony Alpha a77 vs Nikon D5300 comparison article that this camera comes with a viewfinder. This viewfinder is what gives you a preview of the image the camera is about to capture. It also allows you frame the images, and gives you better control of the all-round shooting, especially when you have to shoot in direct sunlight.	We also established that the Nikon D5300 comes with a viewfinder, too. So, just like with the Sony Alpha a77, you will be also be getting better control of your shooting with this camera; all thanks to the viewfinder.
Good portrait photography	The face detection focus feature ensures that the Sony Alpha a77 will be producing the best of results in portrait photography. Like we earlier explained, this feature emphasizes the faces in the picture, and will be giving you every bit of detail you need. Awesome!	The Nikon D5300 is another really great camera for portrait photography, because it, too, comes with the face detection focus feature.
Great primary lighting	With this camera’s built-in flash, you will be able to get lighting enough to produce bright images even in low light.	The Nikon D5300 also comes with a built-in flash, which will be getting you good results in low light.
Good flash photography	With the Sony Alpha a77’s external flash hot shoe, you will be able to mount an external flash and get really lovely flash photos. And well, it gets even better! The PC sync port gives you access to even more advanced lighting with the off-camera flash, and so, this means that you will basically be getting really awesome results in flash photography with the Sony Alpha a77, even better than what you will be getting with many cameras out there.	The Nikon D5300 also has an external flash hot shoe on which you can mount an external flash and get lovely flash photography results. However, you won’t be getting more advanced lighting beyond that, like with the Sony Alpha a77, because, unlike its Sony counterpart, this camera does not come with the PC sync port.
Big prints	The Sony Alpha a77 is a 24 mega pixel APS-C CMOS sensor camera, and that means that the photos this camera will be producing will be containing a lot of details. You will also be able to get really big prints with this camera, which is really good news if you plan to shoot for really large scale productions.	The Nikon D5300 is also a 24 mega pixel APS-C CMOS sensor camera, so, in this aspect, this camera will be giving you pretty much the same advantages as the Sony Alpha a77.
High quality images	Now, here is yet another good news if you plan to use your photos on large scales. So, not only will you be able to get big prints with this camera, you can further choose to shoot in the RAW format, thereby preserving all the details in your images; and consequently, leaving them to store in the highest quality.	You can also choose to shoot in the RAW format with the Nikon D5300. So, just like the Sony camera, you will be able to get images in their highest quality; untouched and uncompressed.
Great HDR photography	With auto exposure bracketing, this camera ensures that you can shoot, and get the best of results in HDR photography.	The Nikon D5300 also comes with auto exposure bracketing, and we already showed you how to use it on this camera earlier in this Sony Alpha a77 vs Nikon D5300 comparison article. Anyway, thanks to this feature, you will now be able to shoot more efficiently in tough lighting conditions.
Flexible shooting	The LCD screen of this camera is fully articulated, and what that means is that you can tilt, rotate, swivel, and flip it to different angles in order to get the best of shots from those angles, without much stress.	The screen of the Nikon D5300 is also fully articulated, so, with this one, shooting can be just as flexible as with the Sony Alpha a77.
Great vlogging camera	Still thanks to the articulating screen, this camera is a lovely camera to shoot vlogging videos with. The LCD screen of this camera is selfie friendly, and what that means is that you will be able to take photos, and make videos of yourself by yourself without needing the assistance of anyone else, and we are sure that there is nothing a vlogger or YouTuber would love more than this.	The Nikon D5300 also comes with a selfie friendly screen, so, vloggers will enjoy shooting with camera just as much as they would with the Sony Alpha a77.
Lovely audio quality	The Sony Alpha a77 has an external microphone jack, and that means that you will be able to get awesome audio quality in your recordings using an external microphone.	You will also be able to get awesome audio quality in your recordings using an external microphone with the Nikon D5300, because it also comes with an external microphone jack.
Track images easily	The Sony Alpha a77 comes with a built-in GPS, which allows you geo tag your camera’s images, and keep track of where they were taken.	You also will be able to geo tag images with the Nikon D5300, because it is a camera with a built-in GPS, too.

Common Cons — Sony Alpha a77 vs Nikon D5300

	Sony Alpha a77	Nikon D5300
No Bluetooth	The Sony Alpha a77 does not come with a built-in Bluetooth, so, you won’t be getting that extra convenience in connectivity that Bluetooth offers.	This camera also does not come with a built-in Bluetooth, so, wireless connectivity would be totally limited to the built-in Wi-Fi, which, unlike Bluetooth, does not run when the camera’s battery is low.
No touch screen	A touch screen makes it a lot easier for you to access your camera’s functions. In fact, with a touch screen, you can operate your camera like you do your smartphone. Anyway, you won’t be getting any of that with the Sony Alpha a77, as it does not come with a touch screen.	The Nikon D5300 also does not come with a touch screen, so, you won’t be able to operate this one as easily and conveniently as you might have loved.
No headphone jack	Headphones, when connected to your camera, help you properly regulate your sound while you record audio. The Sony Alpha a77, however, does not come with a headphone jack, so, you won’t be able to use headphones with this camera.	You also will not be able to use headphones with this camera, as it does not have a headphone jack.
No near field communication	The Sony Alpha a77 does not have near field communication (NFC). So, this camera will not be allowing you to do a wireless connection with just a touch of a button.	You also will not be getting the convenience of doing a one touch wireless connection with the Nikon D5300, as it also does not come with near field communication (NFC).
No slow motion	You will not be able to record slow motion videos with the Sony Alpha a77.	Same as the Sony Alpha a77.

What Do People Think About Both Cameras?

Sony Alpha a77	Nikon D5300
First of all, people seem to be in awe of the viewfinder of the Sony Alpha a77. It uses new technology, and for them, this one trumps the performance of an optical viewfinder. Furthermore, people seem to really love and appreciate the quality of images they get with this camera.	A certain customer called the image quality they get with the Nikon D5300 camera phenomenal; and that seems to be a consistent theme amongst customers who have used this one. More so, a lot of people appear to be quite impressed by the auto focus system.
A number of customers have complimented the Sony Alpha a77’s performance in low light. However, many did not seem very impressed by its auto focus system.	Now, photographers are not just happy with the performance of this camera, they apparently also love the feel of it. They have said that this camera is compact, lightweight, and has a really good grip; great for street photography, and vacations, among other things.
One other thing about this camera that photographers seem to love is the fact that it has a weather sealed body. This feature, according to them, makes it possible to use this camera in any weather condition whatsoever. In addition to that, people who do a lot of flash photography have recommended this camera for that purpose.	For an entry-level camera, people think Nikon could have made this one with a touch screen. According to them, it would have made it a whole lot easier for beginner photographers to operate. The battery capacity, however, has got a lot of people really excited. 600 shots per full charge seems to be a pretty big deal for many; especially for an entry-level camera.
Anyway, not many customers seemed to appreciate that this camera costs as much as it does. Yes, it does pretty well, but they think that Sony could have made this one more affordable.	The price of the Nikon D5300 is one thing that got a lot of people to fall in love with it. It is very functional, and on top of that, really affordable, and what customer does not like a good bargain?!

Our Take — Sony Alpha a77 vs Nikon D5300

Sony Alpha a77	Nikon D5300
We love that the Sony Alpha a77 will be getting steady and clean images, whether or not it shakes in the course of shooting. However, we do not love the auto focus system very much.	We love that this camera comes with a built-in Wi-Fi, and will be allowing really easy transfer of files, as well as giving access to the remote control function. However, we do not love that this camera does not come with image stabilization.
We love that the body of this camera is weather sealed, and therefore, durable. Anyway, what we do not like very much is that it costs so much, and is far from being a budget friendly camera.	Also, we love that this camera is compact, has a good grip, and does not cost so much. Anyway, we would have loved if this camera had a touch screen, it would have made for easier access to its features – especially considering that the target market for this camera is beginner photographers.
Furthermore, this camera’s burst mode performance is pretty amazing; more than twice the speed of that of the Nikon D5300. In our opinion, this is the better performing camera of the two today. We would recommend this camera to wild-life photographers, paparazzi, sports photographers, events photographers, and other semi-professional photographers who can afford a camera worth over a thousand five hundred dollars.	We would recommend this camera to street photographers, tourists and vacationers, nature photographer, and any person who is looking to just start a career in photography. Although this camera might not have done so well as the Sony Alpha a77 in terms of features and specifications, we do think that it is the one that will be giving you more value for your money. So, if you are on a very tight budget, the Nikon D5300 is just the one for you.

PS: if you want to see how the Nikon D5300 compares with another Sony camera, check out our Sony a68 vs D5300 comparison article.