This is the Nikon raw file treated basically in the same way as the Alpha, but in order to prevent the entire file being too bright, the exposure correction needed to be -0.75 EV. The raw data, assuming the 'Camera Raw Standard' profile used for each camera is consistent, has more midtone gain and a Brightness setting of -10 was needed to bring the gamma of the file into line with the Alpha.

It is worth bearing in mind that Sony 'rate' the sensor at ISO200 base and Nikon at ISO100. The difference of -0.35EV and -10 brightness needed to align the output of the Nikon more or less with the Alpha can possibly be explained by this difference. It seems that the sensors used are not so very different, but Nikon has chosen to see the 'native' sensitivity (around ISO 140 according to some test labs) as 100 and expose 'to the right', while Sony has decided to call it 200 and 'expose to the left'.

After you have viewed both images at the same size, just use the Previous and Next buttons to flick between them. You will see that in this extremely flat, almost unprocessed state the Sony Alpha 900 and Nikon D3X are very closely related. It is Nikon's image processing, and the tuning of the exposure, which makes such a big difference to real-world output.