Updated (October, 2013): Compare the Nikon D5200 vs Nikon D5300

Nikon D5200
Winner
Nikon D5200

80

vs
Nikon D5100

72

Nikon D5100
Runner-up
     
 

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5200

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
1,284 ISO
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
84.0
Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 60fps
Color depth
 Great color depth
24.2 bits
 

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5100

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Sensor size
 Large sensor
APS-C 23.6x15.6mm
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
 
Differences | Recommendations | Cast your vote | Similarities | Competitors | Appearance | Discussion

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D5100

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Battery life Longer battery life 660 shots vs 500 shots
Help
 More than 30% more shots per battery charge
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 273 ms vs 302 ms
Help
 Around 10% less delay when taking photos
Lowest price Cheaper $436.95 vs $646.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $210 cheaper (more than 30% less)
Size Slightly smaller 127x96x78 mm vs 129x98x78 mm
Help
 Almost the same
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.6mm vs APS-C 23.5x15.6mm
Help
 Almost the same
Nikon D5100 Learn more about
the Nikon D5100

Advantages of the Nikon D5200

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Movie format Lower frame rate movies 1080p @ 60fps vs 1080p @ 30fps
Help
 Both shoot Full HD (1080p) video, but D5100 does so at a lower frame rate
True resolution Much higher true resolution 24.1 MP vs 16.1 MP
Help
 Capture more than 50% more detail in your photos
Focus points Many more focus points 39 vs 11
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Overall image quality Better image quality 84.0 vs 80.0
Help
 Around 10% better image quality
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,284 ISO vs 1,183 ISO
Help
 The D5200 has a slight edge (0.1 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Cross type focus points Significantly more cross-type focus points 9 vs 1
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Color depth Better color depth 24.2 bits vs 23.5 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.7 more bits of color
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13.9 EV vs 13 EV
Help
 0.9 f-stops more dynamic range
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 5 fps vs 4 fps
Help
 Around 30% faster continuous shooting
Thickness Slightly thinner 3.1" vs 3.1"
Help
 Almost the same
Nikon D5200 Learn more about
the Nikon D5200
vs

recommendations

Which camera do we recommend? Relative to the best recent entry-level DSLRs, and ignoring price

Snapsort Recommends
Nikon D5100 Nikon D5100 72
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        vs
        80 Nikon D5200 Nikon D5200
        Retailer
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              similarities

              Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

              Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
              Low light performance Relatively low noise at high ISO Help
              D5100:1,183 ISO
              D5200:1,284 ISO
              Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
              Great for movies
              Lens availability Many lenses available Help
              205 lenses
              Movie continuous focus Focus continuously recording movies Help
              Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
              Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
              500 ms startup delay
              Lens focus motor No focus motor Help
              Won't autofocus with all lenses
              Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
              1/4000 of a second
              Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
              95%
              Shutter lag Significant shutter lag Help
              D5100:273 ms
              D5200:302 ms
              Viewfinder size Below average viewfinder size Help
              0.51x
              Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
              Risk of blur
              Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
              6,400 ISO
              Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
              You could stitch photos in post
              Autofocus Slower contrast detection video autofocus Help
              slower focusing
              Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
              Need to shelter it from weather
              Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
              D5100:4 fps
              D5200:5 fps

              dxomark

              DXOMark

              competitors

              Shared Competitors

              Advantages

              Disadvantages
              Nikon D3200

              Nikon D3200

              Entry-level DSLR

              $393 body only

              $497 with 18-55mm lens
              Size Is slightly smaller
              Light sensitivity (boost) Slightly lower boost light sensitivity
              Sensor size Has a marginally smaller sensor
              Compare the D3200 vs the D5100
              Compare the D3200 vs the D5200
              Canon Rebel T3i

              Canon Rebel T3i

              Entry-level DSLR

              $490 - $500 body only

              $549 - $600 with 18-55mm lens
              Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
              Light sensitivity (boost) Slightly lower boost light sensitivity
              Size Is slightly larger
              Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D5100
              Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D5200
              Nikon D5300

              Nikon D5300

              Entry-level DSLR

              $797 body only

              $1,097 with 18-140mm lens
              Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
              Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
              Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
              Compare the D5300 vs the D5100
              Compare the D5300 vs the D5200
              Canon Rebel T5i

              Canon Rebel T5i

              Entry-level DSLR

              $649 - $681 body only

              $799 - $1,012 with 18-55mm lens
              Touch screen Has a touch screen
              Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
              Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
              Size Is slightly larger
              Compare the Rebel T5i vs the D5100
              Compare the Rebel T5i vs the D5200
              Nikon D7000

              Nikon D7000

              Entry-level DSLR

              $789 - $840 body only

              $979 - $990 with 18-105mm lens
              Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder
              Weather sealed Has a weather sealed body
              Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
              Weight Is significantly heavier
              Compare the D7000 vs the D5100
              Compare the D7000 vs the D5200
              Nikon D3300

              Nikon D3300

              Entry-level DSLR

              $647 with 18-55mm lens
              Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
              Panorama Creates panoramas in-camera
              Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
              Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
              Compare the D3300 vs the D5100
              Compare the D3300 vs the D5200
              Canon EOS 60D

              Canon EOS 60D

              Pro DSLR

              $699 - $871 body only

              $999 - $1,150 with 18-135mm lens
              Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
              Weather sealed Has a weather sealed body
              Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
              Weight Is significantly heavier
              Compare the EOS 60D vs the D5100
              Compare the EOS 60D vs the D5200

              Nikon D5100 Competitors

              Advantages

              Disadvantages

              No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D5100.

              Nikon D5200 Competitors

              Advantages

              Disadvantages

              No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D5200.

              appearance

              Nikon D5100 Nikon D5200
              Nikon D5100 Nikon D5200
              Nikon D5100 Nikon D5200

              discussion

              Nikon D5100
              D5100
              Nikon

              Report a correction
              Nikon D5200
              D5200
              Nikon

              Report a correction

              Showing 18 comments

              big long ding-a-ling (6:27 PM, January 03, 2014)
              yes
               
              Avatar for Vinayak Sutar-Patil Vinayak Sutar-Patil (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 Rb Ragul Rb Ragul (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...