Photographers, which camera would you choose?
Just play along, if you HAD to use this camera and ONLY this one for All of oyur camera shoots which would you pick and why?
1. The Nikon D7100
or…
2. The Sony NEX 5R
A nikon is always a nikon!
The Nikon.
It's a DSLR. It offers better image quality and better versatility, among other things.
Both of these cameras will take equally good photos. The big difference here is mirrorless vs a true SLR.
But let's back up a few notches here.
If you don't have a collection of Nikon lenses, and you don't particularly need the many autofocus points, data LCD, and body focus motor of the D7100, you will get photos from the much more affordable D3200 that are every bit as good. It even supports wi-fi with the same optional upgrade.
The NEX is vastly more compact, which means you'll be more likely to have it with you when an opportunity arises. But it will not be as responsive as the D7100 when you need to take a quick shot, like a laughing baby or a jumping frisbee dog. There's a bit of delay in the viewfinder, and the sparse compact controls on the NEX do not allow rapid-fire changes in settings the way a full-sized SLR will. (Both cameras have nearly the same delay between pressing the shutter release and actually taking a photo.)
LCD viewfinders are not easy to use in sunlight, and SLR viewfinders are not easy to use in near-darkness. The SLR will give you the option of a split glass, which you can't get on the mirrorless, but the mirrorless will give you focus peaking, which you can't get on the SLR (except, perhaps, by using live view; but don't quote me. I don't know if the 7100 supports it).
The NEX has a shorter flange distance, meaning it will adapt to more lenses than the Nikon, but the Nikon has an enormous back-catalog of lenses that will work electronically and mechanically without adapters. The former is favored by astrophotographers, and the latter is an extremely popular backup camera for pros shooting with the D300/500/800 and even their pro models.
Bottom line, to answer your question:
If I had to use either camera to shoot a wedding, the photos would look equally great, because I know how to handle a camera. However, I prefer a real viewfinder and buttons, and I have large hands, so I would definitely pick the D7100 (which is still on the small side when it comes to SLRs).
The D7100 for sure.
I'm a Canon shooter and I also own a compact P&S, and would consider something like the NEX for a travel camera, but there are things you can't do with the NEX (like sports photography and super telephoto) that is easy to do with the Nikon.