Canon EOS
1100D
 vs
Nikon
D5100

Updated (October, 2012): Compare the Canon EOS 1100D vs Nikon D5200

Nikon D5100

77

  
Canon EOS 1100D

51

  
Winner

Nikon D5100

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5100

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
1,183 ISO
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
80.0
Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
13 EV
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Sensor size
 Large sensor
APS-C 23.6x15.6mm
 
Runner-up

Canon EOS 1100D

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 1100D

Startup delay
 Almost no delay when powering up
100 ms startup delay
Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
110 ms shutter lag
Battery life
 Great battery life
800 shots
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Weight
 Light-weight
459 g
 

differences

Advantages of the Canon 1100D
Shutter lag Much less shutter lag 110 ms vs 273 ms
Help
 2.5x less delay when taking photos
Battery life Longer battery life 800 shots vs 660 shots
Help
 More than 20% more shots per battery charge
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Startup delay Less startup delay 100 ms vs 500 ms
Help
 5x less delay when turning on
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.54x vs 0.51x
Help
 More than 10% larger viewfinder
Weight Lighter 459 g vs 560 g
Help
 Around 20% lighter
Lowest price Cheaper $435.54 vs $496.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $61 cheaper (more than 10% less)
Thickness Slightly thinner 3.1" vs 3.1"
Help
 Almost the same
Canon EOS 1100D Learn more about
the Canon 1100D

Advantages of the Nikon D5100
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 1,183 ISO vs 755 ISO
Help
 The D5100 has a slight edge (0.6 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Overall image quality Much better image quality 80.0 vs 62.0
Help
 Around 30% better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13 EV vs 11 EV
Help
 2 f-stops more dynamic range
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 4x higher resolution screen
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
 More than 10% larger screen
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Sensor size Much larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.6mm vs APS-C 22.2x14.7mm
Help
 More than 10% larger sensor
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
 Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
Color depth Better color depth 23.5 bits vs 21.9 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.6 more bits of color
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
True resolution Higher true resolution 16.1 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
 Capture more than 30% more detail in your photos
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor Yes vs No
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 Removes dust from the sensor automatically, avoiding spots in photos
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 4 fps vs 3 fps
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 More than 30% faster continuous shooting
Size Smaller 127x96x78 mm vs 130x100x78 mm
Help
 Almost the same
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 162 lenses
Help
 Almost the same
Focus points Slightly more focus points 11 vs 9
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Nikon D5100 Learn more about
the Nikon D5100
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent entry-level DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 1100D Canon EOS 1100D
51 vs 77
Explain scores
Nikon D5100 Nikon D5100
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D5100.

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
1100D:162 lenses
D5100:169 lenses
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
1100D:100 ms
D5100:500 ms
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
1100D:$435.54
D5100:$496.95
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
1
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
6,400 ISO
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
1100D:3 fps
D5100:4 fps
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
1100D:12.2 MP
D5100:16.1 MP
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus Help
1100D:None
D5100:Contrast detection
Viewfinder size Below average viewfinder size Help
1100D:0.54x
D5100:0.51x

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 600D

Canon EOS 600D

Entry-level DSLR

$470 - $689 body only

$542 - $927 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Weight Is slightly heavier
Light sensitivity (boost) Slightly lower boost light sensitivity
Compare the EOS 600D vs the EOS 1100D
Compare the EOS 600D vs the D5100
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Size Is slightly smaller
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Light sensitivity (boost) Slightly lower boost light sensitivity
Compare the D3200 vs the EOS 1100D
Compare the D3200 vs the D5100
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Size Is slightly smaller
Thickness Is thinner
Light sensitivity (boost) Slightly lower boost light sensitivity
Shutter lag Has much more shutter lag
Compare the D3100 vs the EOS 1100D
Compare the D3100 vs the D5100
Nikon D5200

Nikon D5200

Entry-level DSLR

$697 body only

$797 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Focus points Has much more focus points
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D5200 vs the EOS 1100D
Compare the D5200 vs the D5100
Canon EOS 650D

Canon EOS 650D

Entry-level DSLR

$580 - $799 body only

$639 - $1,144 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Light sensitivity Significantly higher maximum light sensitivity
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the EOS 650D vs the EOS 1100D
Compare the EOS 650D vs the D5100
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$675 - $899 body only

$799 - $1,099 with 18-105mm lens
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Viewfinder Has higher quality type of viewfinder
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is much heavier
Compare the D90 vs the EOS 1100D
Compare the D90 vs the D5100
Canon EOS 550D

Canon EOS 550D

Entry-level DSLR

$613 body only

$705 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Size Is much smaller
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the EOS 550D vs the EOS 1100D
Compare the EOS 550D vs the D5100

Canon EOS 1100D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3000

Nikon D3000

Entry-level DSLR

$436 with 18-55mm lens
Screen size Much larger screen
Sensor size Much larger sensor
Movie format Does not take movies
Live view No live view
Compare the D3000 vs the EOS 1100D

Nikon D5100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Focus points Many more focus points
Weather sealed Weather sealed
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Compare the D7000 vs the D5100

appearance

Canon EOS 1100D Nikon D5100
Canon EOS 1100D Nikon D5100
Canon EOS 1100D Nikon D5100

discussion

Showing 3 comments

Avatar for billy billy (9:50 PM, March 03, 2013)
yes you should it will give you tons of features for $500 !!
 
Avatar for xD xD (0:07 PM, September 23, 2012)
1100D image quality is better than 5100. but d5100 body and video quality better than 1100D !
 
Nicholas (9:30 AM, August 04, 2012)
I currently use my dad's 1100D. My main interest in photography is portraits, nature shots and close ups. I really want to buy my own DSLR and I'm considering a Nikon. I'm on a budget and can't spend over $650 and want the best value for my money. Should I buy the D5100? Will there be much difference in terms of image quality?