Nikon
D5100
 vs
Nikon
D5200

Nikon D5200

85

  
Nikon D5100

78

  
Winner

Nikon D5200

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
Color depth
 Great color depth
24.2 bits
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
13.9 EV
True resolution
 High true resolution
24 MP
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
 
Runner-up

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
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
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
 

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D5100
Battery life Longer battery life 660 shots vs 500 shots
Help
 More than 30% more shots per battery charge
Lowest price Cheaper $496.95 vs $696.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $200 cheaper (around 30% less)
Size Slightly smaller 127x96x78 mm vs 129x98x78 mm
Help
 Almost the same
Nikon D5100 Learn more about
the Nikon D5100

Advantages of the Nikon D5200
Focus points Many more focus points 39 vs 11
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
True resolution Much higher true resolution 24 MP vs 16.1 MP
Help
 Capture around 50% more detail in your photos
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
Overall image quality Better image quality 84.0 vs 80.0
Help
 Around 10% better image quality
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

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

Nikon D5100 Nikon D5100
78 vs 85
Explain scores
Nikon D5200 Nikon D5200
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D5200.

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
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
D5100:80.0
D5200:84.0
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
169 lenses
Movie continuous focus Focus continuously recording movies Help
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Supports 24p 24p support Help
For that film look
Sensor size Large sensors Help
D5100:APS-C 23.6x15.6mm
D5200:APS-C 23.5x15.6mm
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%
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
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Viewfinder size Below average viewfinder size Help
0.51x
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 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

$549 body only

$599 - $649 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
Canon 650D / T4i

Canon Rebel T4i

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $800 body only

$749 with 18-55mm lens
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the D5100
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the D5200
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder
Weather sealed Has a weather sealed body
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Weight Is much heavier
Compare the D7000 vs the D5100
Compare the D7000 vs the D5200
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$599 - $899 body only

$799 - $1,099 with 18-105mm lens
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder
Viewfinder Has higher quality type of viewfinder
Weight Is significantly heavier
Light sensitivity (boost) Significantly lower boost light sensitivity
Compare the D90 vs the D5100
Compare the D90 vs the D5200
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,279 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 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
Sensor size Has a marginally smaller sensor
Compare the D3100 vs the D5100
Compare the D3100 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

Showing 12 comments

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 Marecko Medvedik Marecko Medvedik (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...