Canon EOS
7D
 vs
Nikon
D5100

Updated (October, 2012): Compare the Canon EOS 7D vs Nikon D5200

Canon EOS 7D

65

  
Nikon D5100

57

  
Winner

Canon EOS 7D

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 7D

Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
8 fps
External mic jack
 External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
131 ms shutter lag
Cross type focus points
 Many cross-type focus points
19
Viewfinder coverage
 Great viewfinder coverage
100%
 
Runner-up

Nikon D5100

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5100

Overall image quality
 Great image quality
80.0
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
13 EV
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
External mic jack
 External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
 

differences

Advantages of the Canon 7D
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
 Sealed to shoot in the rain
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag 131 ms vs 273 ms
Help
 2.1x less delay when taking photos
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.62x vs 0.51x
Help
 Around 50% larger viewfinder
Cross type focus points Significantly more cross-type focus points 19 vs 1
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 8 fps vs 4 fps
Help
 2x faster continuous shooting
Viewfinder coverage Much better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 95%
Help
 Around 10% better viewfinder coverage
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
 Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
True resolution Higher true resolution 17.9 MP vs 16.1 MP
Help
 Capture more than 10% more detail in your photos
Focus points More focus points 19 vs 11
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Battery life Longer battery life 800 shots vs 660 shots
Help
 More than 20% more shots per battery charge
Fastest shutter speed Significantly faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Thickness Thinner 2.9" vs 3.1"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 400 ms vs 500 ms
Help
 20% less delay when turning on
Canon EOS 7D Learn more about
the Canon 7D

Advantages of the Nikon D5100
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 80.0 vs 66.0
Help
 More than 20% better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13 EV vs 11.7 EV
Help
 1.3 f-stops more dynamic range
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
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
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,183 ISO vs 854 ISO
Help
 The D5100 has a slight edge (0.5 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Color depth Better color depth 23.5 bits vs 22 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.5 more bits of color
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Size Smaller 127x96x78 mm vs 148x111x74 mm
Help
 More than 20% smaller
Weight Lighter 560 g vs 860 g
Help
 More than 30% lighter
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 162 lenses
Help
 Almost the same
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.6mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
 More than 10% larger sensor
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 12,800 ISO
Help
 The D5100's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Lowest price Cheaper $496.95 vs $1,499.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $1,002 cheaper (3x less)
Nikon D5100 Learn more about
the Nikon D5100
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 7D Canon EOS 7D
65 vs 57
Explain scores
Nikon D5100 Nikon D5100
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS 7D. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a pro DSLR with a entry-level DSLR.

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
7D:162 lenses
D5100:169 lenses
Built-in flash Each has a built-in flash Help
External flash not needed
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
6,400 ISO
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus Help
7D:None
D5100:Contrast detection
Sensor size Very small sensors Help
7D:APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
D5100:APS-C 23.6x15.6mm
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D3200 vs the EOS 7D
Compare the D3200 vs the D5100
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$599 - $649 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the EOS 7D
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D5100
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,279 with 18-135mm lens
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 7D
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D5100
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Focus points Has slightly more focus points
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D7000 vs the EOS 7D
Compare the D7000 vs the D5100
Nikon D5200

Nikon D5200

Entry-level DSLR

$697 body only

$797 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Focus points Has slightly more focus points
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5200 vs the EOS 7D
Compare the D5200 vs the D5100
Canon Rebel T4i

Canon Rebel T4i

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $800 body only

$699 - $749 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the EOS 7D
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the D5100
Nikon D7100

Nikon D7100

Entry-level DSLR

$1,197 body only

$1,497 with 18-105mm lens
Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Compare the D7100 vs the EOS 7D
Compare the D7100 vs the D5100

Canon EOS 7D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 6D

Canon EOS 6D

Pro DSLR

$1,999 body only

$2,599 with 24-105mm lens
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Shutter lag Significantly more shutter lag
Cross type focus points Significantly fewer cross-type focus points
Compare the EOS 6D vs the EOS 7D
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,479 body only

$2,699 - $3,000 with 24-105mm lens
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Cross type focus points Significantly fewer cross-type focus points
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly slower
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the EOS 7D
Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Pro DSLR

$3,250 - $3,499 body only

$3,800 - $4,099 with 24-105mm lens
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Lens availability Fewer lenses available
Continuous shooting Shoots slower
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the EOS 7D

Nikon D5100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Thickness Thinner
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the D3100 vs the D5100

appearance

Canon EOS 7D Nikon D5100
Canon EOS 7D Nikon D5100
Canon EOS 7D Nikon D5100

discussion

Showing 18 comments

Ian (4:07 AM, November 30, 2012)
did you even look at their review they recommended the 7D. Sometimes I wonder about people. I mean there are some real dumb ones out there.
 
Xvxcfvxcv (7:47 PM, July 21, 2012)
 d5100 has better image quality than 7d, there is too much difference between them. If you can see that, you are really blind.

however, 7d is a serious camera and d5100 its a toy.

7d is, currently, obsolete because his image quality really sucks, converting his advantages in a piece of junk
 
Faizan (8:26 PM, June 05, 2012)
You cant just give your verdict interms of score - There is always difference between theory and practice. There should be an Disclaimer at top of every comparison that snapsort is just an engine - it gives you the score based on certain known factors about a camera and it can be incorrect.

Some example here. 

70D vs 60D - There is tie
http://snapsort.com/compare/Canon_EOS_60D-vs-Canon_EOS_7D

60D vs D5100 - D5100 is winning 
http://snapsort.com/compare/Canon_EOS_60D-vs-Nikon-D5100

70D vs D5100 - 7D is winning 
http://snapsort.com/compare/Canon_EOS_7D-vs-Nikon-D5100
 
Faizan (8:24 PM, June 05, 2012)
You cant just give your verdict interms of score - There is always difference between theory and practice. There should be an Disclaimer at top of every comparison that snapsort is just an engine - it gives you the score based on certain known factors about a camera and it can be incorrect.

Some example here. 

70D vs 60D - There is tie
http://snapsort.com/compare/Canon_EOS_60D-vs-Canon_EOS_7D

60D vs D5100 - D5100 is winning 
http://snapsort.com/compare/Canon_EOS_60D-vs-Nikon-D5100

70D vs D5100 - 7D is winning 
http://snapsort.com/compare/Canon_EOS_7D-vs-Nikon-D5100
 
Vithya (7:35 PM, January 18, 2012)
Hiokokok i want lasat result.so wich the Best? D5100 or EOS 7D
 
Chetjarvon (2:33 AM, January 18, 2012)
WOW!!! This site is a joke. I tried the D5100 it feels cheap, not that great of a picture, it only has 4 shots per second, how the hell did it get more votes then the 7D at half the fps esp when the 7D has one of the fastest focusing sensors on the market? The Canon 7D might not have as many features as the D5100 but those features such as the HDR image isn't really effective as doing 3 diff exposures. The 7D is MUCH better in every category because it is a prosumer camera vs an entry level camera. Also how is it that the 7D got less votes on build quility when the body is a weather sealed magnesium alloy body vs the poly-carbonate plastic body of the D5100? The brains of the D5100 aren't that good and in test shoots it doesn't even compare as an over all camera then the 7D. How could they when they are on 2 completely different levels? This site is horrid and anybody else notice the leaning toward Nikon side? It's in almost every comparison which leads me to think he's either really stupid, working for Nikon, or a Nikon fanatic. Either way this site has lost ALL credibility with me. If you want real videos try digitalrevcom channel on youtube. They are amazing and have REAL comparisons without the bullshit.
 
Bashkug_17 (11:37 PM, January 16, 2012)
you can buy two D5100's out of 1 7D!  :)
 
F10 (0:26 PM, December 27, 2011)
D5100 wins because of more than 20 points in popularity !!!  LOL  !!!
 
Fil_1790 (0:19 PM, December 27, 2011)
Unbelievable! I can not believe that someone take a -right- decisione after this comparison :)
 
Info (6:31 AM, December 17, 2011)
This site receive some extra buckz from Nikon.... thatz Nikon 5100 over the Canon 7D....
 
Jhever (11:53 PM, December 12, 2011)
if the d5100 sensor is larger than 7D so the still D5100 images are better no mater the 18m vs the 16mp, if both have full hd 24p but D5100 also autofocus, video is better with nikon, that is why i am going to buy the NIkon D5100
 
Avatar for Marco O Marco O (3:10 PM, December 08, 2011)
"has much better image quality" than the 7D. yeah, they asked god and he gave his judgement...
how is this kind of automated reviews supposed to be realistic or even plausible?
 
Amir-Egypt-67 (11:57 PM, November 26, 2011)
Please in english otherwise i will write in Arabic :)
 
Bill8i (8:27 PM, November 24, 2011)
Snapsort recommends the D5100 over the 7D. This website is a joke.
 
Leli (9:43 AM, July 21, 2011)
too much price for d7 -_- shes not that much
 
Jojon (6:27 AM, July 11, 2011)
comparison kutu kupret, 7D Has a built-in focus motor ?
 
Ovexi (7:03 PM, July 09, 2011)
Right, very informative...
 
Ahmad M304 (2:08 AM, June 02, 2011)
kedua kamera ini sangat bagus, aku ingin memiliki salah satu diantaranya.