Nikon D2Xs vs Sony Alpha 100 — Which Is Better?

The Nikon D2Xs and the Sony Alpha 100 are 2006 DSLRs announced days apart, and they differ sharply in scale. The D2Xs measures 158 x 150 x 86 mm and weighs 1200 g, while the Alpha 100 is far smaller at 133 x 95 x 71 mm and 638 g, roughly half the weight, which suits travel and everyday carry.

The lens mounts differ: the D2Xs uses Nikon F DX and the Alpha 100 uses Sony Alpha DT, two separate native systems. Buy alongside the lenses you actually want to own.

The D2Xs is the stronger choice for fast action and heavy cropping. Its 8 fps rate runs 5 fps faster than the Alpha 100's 3 fps, catching peak moments in sports and wildlife, and its 12.2 megapixels, against 10, leave more room to crop a distant subject. Its 1/8000 second top shutter permits a shorter exposure than the Sony's 1/4000 second, and eleven autofocus points, against nine, add two placements for off-centre subjects.

The Alpha 100 is the better match for handheld shooting in dim interiors. It offers in-body stabilisation, which the D2Xs lacks, steadying every mounted lens at slower handheld shutter speeds. Its standard ISO range reaches 1600, double the D2Xs's 800 ceiling, while the Nikon's expanded range extends to 3200. Both use APS-C-format sensors, so neither gains a focal-length advantage.

Neither camera records video, so motion clips are not an option on either body. The useful difference is timelapse: the D2Xs supports built-in interval shooting for projects such as a sunrise or a receding tide, while the Alpha 100 does not.

The Alpha 100 is the more convenient camera for casual light and awkward angles. Its built-in flash gives instant fill for backlit portraits without extra gear, while the D2Xs relies on an external flash unit. Its tilting screen also frames shots overhead or low to the ground, which the D2Xs's fixed screen cannot.

Both cameras review images on a 2.5-inch LCD, with 235000 dots on the Nikon and 230000 on the Sony, a 5000-dot difference. Both support external flash, and neither offers GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or weather sealing, so neither handles wireless transfer or geotagging.

Storage is simple and shared: both write to CompactFlash Type I or II cards in a single slot, so one stock of cards serves either body. Neither has a second slot for backup, and neither charges over USB.

Battery ratings favour the D2Xs. Its EN-EL4a battery is rated at 2000 shots, against 750 for the Alpha 100's NP-FM55H, a 1250-shot difference. For a long event away from a charger, that rating points to the Nikon.