Generally, some of the advantages of the Nikon D5100 compared to pro DSLR competitors include: it records higher quality movies (1080p @ 30fps vs none), has slightly wider dynamic range (13 EV vs 11.9 EV), has a screen which flips out, has in-camera HDR and can focus continuously while recording movies.
However, on average it significantly smaller viewfinder (0.51x vs 0.70x), it's body is not weather sealed, doesn't shoot as fast continuously (4 fps vs 6 fps), has a slightly smaller sensor (APS-C 23.6x15.6mm vs full frame 35.9x24.0mm) and has a lower quality type of viewfinder (pentamirror vs pentaprism).
Canon EOS 60D
7 months older
$699 - $899 (body only)
$999 - $1,279 18-135mm lens
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Significant advantages of the 60D (vs the D5100)
- Weather sealed
- Has a built-in focus motor
- Much faster max shutter speed: 1/8000 of a second vs 1/4000 of a second
Significant disadvantages of the 60D (vs the D5100)
- Significantly worse image quality: 66.0 vs 80.0
- Less dynamic range: 11.5 EV vs 13 EV
- Worse color depth: 22.2 bits vs 23.5 bits
common strengths of the 60D and D5100
- Flip-out screens
- Many lenses available: 162 lenses vs 169 lenses
- Fairly small: Professional size 145x106x79 mm vs Prosumer size 127x96x78 mm
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Canon EOS 7D
1 year older
$1,499 (body only)
$1,699 28-135mm lens
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Significant advantages of the 7D (vs the D5100)
- Weather sealed
- Significantly less shutter lag: 131 ms vs 273 ms
- Larger viewfinder: 0.62x vs 0.51x
Significant disadvantages of the 7D (vs the D5100)
- Significantly worse image quality: 66.0 vs 80.0
- Less dynamic range: 11.7 EV vs 13 EV
- Worse color depth: 22 bits vs 23.5 bits
common strengths of the 7D and D5100
- Many lenses available: 162 lenses vs 169 lenses
- Fairly small: Professional size 148x111x74 mm vs Prosumer size 127x96x78 mm
- Inexpensive: $1,499.00 vs $496.95
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Nikon D600
1 year newer
$1,997 (body only)
$2,397 24-85mm lens
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Significant advantages of the D600 (vs the D5100)
- Much lower noise at high ISO: 2,980 ISO vs 1,183 ISO
- Significantly better image quality: 94.0 vs 80.0
- Significantly larger viewfinder: 0.70x vs 0.51x
Significant disadvantages of the D600 (vs the D5100)
- Screen does not flip out
- Significantly fewer lenses available: 121 lenses vs 169 lenses
- Heavier: 850 g vs 560 g
common strengths of the D600 and D5100
- Focus continuously recording movies
- Fairly small: Professional size 141x113x82 mm vs Prosumer size 127x96x78 mm
- Inexpensive: $1,996.95 vs $496.95
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Nikon D300
3 years older
$1,764 (body only)
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Significant advantages of the D300 (vs the D5100)
- Weather sealed
- Significantly more focus points: 51 vs 11
- Larger viewfinder: 0.62x vs 0.51x
Significant disadvantages of the D300 (vs the D5100)
- Significantly worse image quality: 67.0 vs 80.0
- Does not take movies: None vs 1080p @ 30fps
- Worse color depth: 22.1 bits vs 23.5 bits
common strengths of the D300 and D5100
- Many lenses available: 169 lenses vs 169 lenses
- Fairly small: Professional size 147x114x74 mm vs Prosumer size 127x96x78 mm
- Inexpensive: $1,763.99 vs $496.95
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Nikon D700
2 years older
$3,400 (body only)
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Significant advantages of the D700 (vs the D5100)
- Significantly lower noise at high ISO: 2,303 ISO vs 1,183 ISO
- Much larger viewfinder: 0.72x vs 0.51x
- Weather sealed
Significant disadvantages of the D700 (vs the D5100)
- Does not take movies: None vs 1080p @ 30fps
- Lacks in-camera HDR
- Screen does not flip out
common strengths of the D700 and D5100
- Each has a built-in flash
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Canon EOS 5D Mark II
2 years older
$2,479 (body only)
$2,699 - $3,000 24-105mm lens
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Significant advantages of the 5D Mark II (vs the D5100)
- Much larger viewfinder: 0.71x vs 0.51x
- Weather sealed
- Much larger sensor: Full frame 36.0x24.0mm vs APS-C 23.6x15.6mm
Significant disadvantages of the 5D Mark II (vs the D5100)
- Lacks in-camera HDR
- Screen does not flip out
- Lacks video autofocus: None vs Contrast detection
common strengths of the 5D Mark II and D5100
- Fairly small: Professional size 152x114x75 mm vs Prosumer size 127x96x78 mm
- Inexpensive: $2,069.95 vs $496.95
- Popularity: 26,599,987 vs 81,119,650
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