Updated (October 2012): Compare the Nikon D5100 vs Nikon D5200

Nikon D5200 vs Nikon D5100

Winner
Nikon D5200

100
Nikon D5100

91

Runner-up

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5200

Full HD
Movie format
1080p @ 60fps
High true resolution
True resolution
24 MP
Many focus points
Focus points
39
Almost no delay when powering up
Startup delay
500 ms startup delay
 

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5100

Startup delay
 Almost no delay when powering up
500 ms startup delay
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
More detailed differences and similarities →

galleries

Explore our gallery of 50 sample photos taken by the Nikon D5100.
Explore our gallery of 49 sample photos taken by the Nikon D5200.

competitors

Nikon D5200 Competitors

Canon EOS Rebel T6

Canon EOS Rebel T6

Entry-level DSLR

$310 - $549 body only

$393 - $399 with 18-55mm lens

Lowest price Cheaper
Weight Lighter
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Compare the EOS Rebel T6 vs the D5200
Nikon D5300

Nikon D5300

Entry-level DSLR

$474 body only

$459 with 18-55mm lens

Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Compare the D5300 vs the D5200
Nikon D7200

Nikon D7200

Entry-level DSLR

$629 - $697 body only

$997 - $1,150 with 18-140mm lens

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Movie continuous focus Doesn't focus continuously recording movies
Compare the D7200 vs the D5200

Nikon D5100 Competitors

Nikon D7200

Nikon D7200

Entry-level DSLR

$629 - $697 body only

$997 - $1,150 with 18-140mm lens

True resolution Much higher true resolution
Movie format Lower frame rate movies
Movie continuous focus Doesn't focus continuously recording movies
Compare the D7200 vs the D5100
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

True resolution Much higher true resolution
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Size Larger
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D5100
Canon EOS 6D

Canon EOS 6D

Pro DSLR

$999 - $1,499 body only

$1,330 - $1,899 with 24-105mm lens

True resolution Much higher true resolution
Viewfinder size Much larger viewfinder
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Compare the EOS 6D vs the D5100
More detailed differences and similarities →

discussion

Nikon D5200
D5200
Nikon

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Nikon D5100
D5100
Nikon

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Showing 24 comments

Avatar for house painters house painters (10:54 PM, April 12, 2020)
I am looking to upgrade from my Nikon D3000 that I got back in college. This is a great post on two comparable options. Thanks for sharing!-Jay | Auto Glass Repair Work
 
Avatar for tech john tech john (11:35 AM, February 18, 2020)
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SV (3:53 PM, December 20, 2014)
No , buy D3300 .
 
Skip (1:05 PM, December 10, 2014)
I have a D3100 and looking to up grade. Is the D5100 that much better?
Will I notice the difference?
 
Avatar for Bahaa Bahaa (6:51 PM, November 23, 2014)
I am an amateur photographer, what are the suitable lenses for D5100 if I am aiming to use it in family events like weddings and outdoor?
 
big long ding-a-ling (6:27 PM, January 03, 2014)
yes
 
Avatar for Vinayak SP Vinayak SP (7:29 AM, September 29, 2013)
LOL... D5100 have AF motor!
pbb.com
 
Avatar for Anthony "stalker6recon" Anthony "stalker6recon" (1:41 PM, August 27, 2013)
I hear a lot about the no focus motor, but dont see how that is a big issue. I bought the D5100, with a 18-55 vr, and the 70-300 package. Along with the D3200 with the 18-55 only. Both sets have lenses with focus motors, and the range covers everything a casual user will ever need. I bought a macro filter set, that works wonders, on either camera/lens combo. The photos of the D5100, are ten times better than my old D100, and I would not trade it the 5100 for 2 D100, ever.

If you are an enthusiast/amateur, the 5100 with the two lens kit, is basically all you will need.
 
Avatar for Ai Ai (7:14 AM, July 28, 2013)
Canon IQ can't even compete with Nikon. 9 Cross type focus points can help you a lot in Low light and 39 focus points also useful in subject tracking. Apart from battery life everything is better on D5200.
 
Anuradha (6:02 AM, July 09, 2013)
Don't get carried away with what's on the paper. Look how it's going to used in practical.
You got 39 focus points on D5200 and 11 on D5100. How often do you expect to see the difference between these two?
Having more cross type focus points is an advantage but worth the extra cost ???? Absolutely no.

About other specs, they are lot closer than you'd expect. Compare with parallel products of Canon and you'll see some improvements in picture quality. That's true because as mentioned, there is a considerable difference. But D5100 and D5200, Not that you're going to notice...
 
Akki (3:07 PM, June 20, 2013)
apart from resolution many other specs also upgraded significantly like better image quality, 39 focus points, 9 cross type focus points whereas in 5100 its only 1, do u think still its not a worth upgrade
 
Avatar for Philosophish Philosophish (6:13 PM, May 24, 2013)
Yes, correct, the comment was directed at the site maintainers, because the d5200 specs claimed "Lens Motor Yes" for the D5200.
 
abdulsami (11:50 AM, April 10, 2013)
i think that d5100 is better because d5200 has only minor new upgrade accept the resolution and costing much
correct me if i am wrong
 
Avatar for LCworld LCworld (3:02 AM, April 09, 2013)
Neither does the D5100, I believe.
 
Avatar for andyken andyken (8:52 AM, March 23, 2013)
DXO's dynamic range measurement for the D5100 is 13.6 EV, not 13.0, so 0.3 f stops difference, not 0.9.. The D5200 and D5100 are much closer in dynamic range than you make out.
 
Avatar for Brad Higham Brad Higham (5:21 PM, March 12, 2013)
Heello , I am wanting to buy one of these as a beginner , mainly for photography for landscapes and wanting to practice with water photography capturing movements ........

People refer to these cameras as beginner cameras , does that mean you can't take pro style images ,

I would like to make money out of my photos , are these cameras good enough ..

Thanks
 
Avatar for ansi ansi (5:48 PM, February 02, 2013)
want to buy a dslr go for d5200 or d5100??
 
Avatar for Rakesh Balakrishnan Rakesh Balakrishnan (10:14 PM, January 21, 2013)
but the lenses are costly with focus motor. the lenses without focus motor are cheaper, so if your camera has one then you can buy more lenses for cheaper price. the price difference is very significant for high end lenses almost 50%
 
Avatar for Marek Medved Marek Medved (10:02 AM, December 20, 2012)
DXO mark results from D5200?
 
Ultima (1:17 PM, December 18, 2012)
The D5200 is very expensive for such relatively minor upgrades. At that price I would rather go for a D7000.
 
Sasan (4:08 AM, December 14, 2012)
The Nikon Co built focus motor in lens.
 
cata (6:30 PM, November 09, 2012)
The Nikon D5200 does not have pentaprism witch is brigther. he have more cross-type focus points and a new sensor. but it is very expensive.
 
Garrett (7:07 PM, November 07, 2012)
The Nikon D5200 does not have a built in auto focus motor...
 
More detailed differences and similarities →