Nikon D5100

76

Winner

Nikon D5100

"Image quality is definitely the D5100's trump card. It offers effectively the same image quality as the higher-end D7000, at a lower cost."
dpreview.com | talking about the D5100's image-quality
"Unintimidating interface, but with plenty of manual control."
dpreview.com | talking about the D5100's button-layout

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
Color depth
Great color depth
23.5 bits
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
Canon Rebel T3

40

Runner-up

Canon Rebel T3

Reasons to buy the Canon Rebel T3

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 T3

Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Battery life Longer battery life 800 shots vs 660 shots
Help
More than 20% more shots per battery charge
Viewfinder size 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 $329.96 vs $499.99
Help
The best price we've seen is $170 cheaper (more than 30% less)
Thickness Slightly thinner 3.1" vs 3.1"
Help
Almost the same
Canon Rebel T3 Learn more about
the Canon T3

Advantages of the Nikon D5100

Low light performance Much 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
Color depth Better color depth 23.5 bits vs 21.9 bits
Help
Distinguishes 1.6 more bits of color
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
More than 10% larger screen
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
4x higher resolution screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
Record high quality audio with an external microphone
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
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.6mm vs APS-C 22.2x14.7mm
Help
More than 10% larger sensor
True resolution Significantly 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
Help
Removes dust from the sensor automatically, avoiding spots in photos
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
Automatically focuses shooting video
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 4 fps vs 3 fps
Help
More than 30% faster continuous shooting
Focus points More focus points 11 vs 9
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
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
Nikon D5100 Learn more about
the Nikon D5100
vs

recommendations

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

Canon Rebel T3 Canon Rebel T3
40 vs 76
Explain scores
Nikon D5100 Nikon D5100
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D5100.

advice

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0
votes
by Nina-Fadzwi this month
Nikon D5100 vs Pentax K-r

I am juz a beginner. I prefer easy to use and friendly user. Need for taking photos on low light...

One person recommends the Nikon D5100:

" One thing most amateurs fail to realize (or yet to have anyone pointing out to them) is that the..."

0
votes
by Peter-defib-Noakes last month
Nikon D5100 vs Pentax K-r

Moving up from a compact. Would like improved image quality & control. Experience of using SLR's...

0
votes
by Hannah-Brett last week
Canon T3 vs Canon Rebel XSi

Im a beginner photography who Is looking to upgrade from a high-end point and shoot. I defiantly...

0
votes
by Olivia-Robinson this month
Canon T3 vs Canon Rebel XSi

-I am a beginner. -I like to take all kinds, I am in a class right now and we practice all th...

0
votes
by lindenberg last week
Canon T3 vs Nikon D3000

I'm a beginner i want a camera with good color quality and that is pretty light weight not looki...

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
T3:162 lenses
D5100:169 lenses
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
T3:$329.96
D5100:$499.99
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
1
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
6,400 ISO
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
T3:3 fps
D5100:4 fps
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Size Is slightly smaller
Thickness Is thinner
Light sensitivity (boost) Slightly lower boost light sensitivity
Light sensitivity Slightly lower maximum light sensitivity
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Light sensitivity (boost) Slightly lower boost light sensitivity
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Size Is significantly smaller
Weight Is slightly heavier
Light sensitivity (boost) Slightly lower boost light sensitivity
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$830 - $897 body only

$1,199 - $1,200 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
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens

Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is much heavier
Nikon D5000

Nikon D5000

Entry-level DSLR

$880 with 18-55mm lens

Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier

Canon Rebel T3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS

Entry-level DSLR

$348 - $595 body only

$439 with 18-55mm lens

Color depth Better color depth
Size Significantly smaller
Autofocus Slower autofocus
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
Nikon D3000

Nikon D3000

Entry-level DSLR

$487 with 18-55mm lens

Screen size Much larger screen
Color depth Better color depth
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Live view No live view

Nikon D5100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Focus points Many more focus points
Weather sealed Weather sealed
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR

appearance

Canon Rebel T3 Nikon D5100
Canon Rebel T3 Nikon D5100
Canon Rebel T3 Nikon D5100

discussion

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