Nikon
D5100
 vs
Nikon
D600

Updated (October, 2012): Compare the Nikon D5200 vs Nikon D600

Nikon D600

83

  
Nikon D5100

57

  
Winner

Nikon D600

Reasons to buy the Nikon D600

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
2,980 ISO
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
94.0
Color depth
 Great color depth
25.1 bits
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
14.2 EV
Screen size
 Large screen
3.2"
Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.70x
 
Runner-up

Nikon D5100

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5100

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 Nikon D5100
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
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 121 lenses
Help
 Around 40% more lenses available
Size Smaller 127x96x78 mm vs 141x113x82 mm
Help
 Around 30% smaller
Weight Lighter 560 g vs 850 g
Help
 More than 30% lighter
Thickness Thinner 3.1" vs 3.2"
Help
 Almost the same
Lowest price Cheaper $496.95 vs $1,996.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $1,500 cheaper (4x less)
Nikon D5100 Learn more about
the Nikon D5100

Advantages of the Nikon D600
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO 2,980 ISO vs 1,183 ISO
Help
 The D600 has excellent image quality 1.3 f-stops higher ISO than the D5100
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 94.0 vs 80.0
Help
 Around 20% better image quality
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder 0.70x vs 0.51x
Help
 Around 90% larger viewfinder
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.2" vs 3.0"
Help
 Around 10% larger screen
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
 Sealed to shoot in the rain
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 35.9x24.0mm vs APS-C 23.6x15.6mm
Help
 Around 2.5x larger sensor
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 24.2 MP vs 16.1 MP
Help
 Capture more than 50% more detail in your photos
Focus points Significantly more focus points 39 vs 11
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Viewfinder coverage Much better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 95%
Help
 Around 10% better viewfinder coverage
Dynamic range More dynamic range 14.2 EV vs 13 EV
Help
 1.2 f-stops more dynamic range
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Color depth Better color depth 25.1 bits vs 23.5 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.6 more bits of color
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 9 vs 1
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
 Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 5.5 fps vs 4 fps
Help
 Around 40% faster continuous shooting
Battery life Longer battery life 900 shots vs 660 shots
Help
 Around 40% more shots per battery charge
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
 More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 300 ms vs 500 ms
Help
 40% less delay when turning on
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 260 ms vs 273 ms
Help
 Almost the same
Nikon D600 Learn more about
the Nikon D600
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D5100 Nikon D5100
57 vs 83
Explain scores
Nikon D600 Nikon D600
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D600. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a entry-level DSLR with a pro DSLR.

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Movie continuous focus Focus continuously recording movies Help
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Built-in flash Each has a built-in flash Help
External flash not needed
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Shutter lag Significant shutter lag Help
D5100:273 ms
D600:260 ms
Autofocus Slower contrast detection video autofocus Help
slower focusing
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
6,400 ISO
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
Compare the D3200 vs the D5100
Compare the D3200 vs the D600
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
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
Autofocus Lacks autofocus
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D5100
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D600
Nikon D7100

Nikon D7100

Entry-level DSLR

$1,197 body only

$1,497 with 18-105mm lens
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Focus points Has slightly more focus points
Compare the D7100 vs the D5100
Compare the D7100 vs the D600
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a faster max shutter speed
Weight Is slightly heavier
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
Compare the D7000 vs the D5100
Compare the D7000 vs the D600
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$675 - $899 body only

$799 - $1,099 with 18-105mm lens
Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
Weight Is slightly heavier
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
Compare the D90 vs the D5100
Compare the D90 vs the D600
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Thickness Is thinner
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
External mic jack Lacks and external mic jack
Compare the D3100 vs the D5100
Compare the D3100 vs the D600
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
Fastest shutter speed Has a faster max shutter speed
Weight Is slightly heavier
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D5100
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D600

Nikon D5100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon 650D / T4i

Canon EOS 650D

Entry-level DSLR

$580 - $797 body only

$650 - $1,144 with 18-55mm lens
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Autofocus Faster video autofocus
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the EOS 650D vs the D5100

Nikon D600 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,797 body only

$3,187 with 70-300mm lens
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen
Low light performance Slightly more noise at high ISO
Continuous shooting Shoots slower
Compare the D800 vs the D600
Canon EOS 6D

Canon EOS 6D

Pro DSLR

$1,999 body only

$2,599 with 24-105mm lens
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
GPS Has a GPS
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Compare the EOS 6D vs the D600
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
Cross type focus points Many more cross-type focus points
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the D600
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,479 body only

$2,699 - $3,000 with 24-105mm lens
Shutter lag Less shutter lag
Thickness Significantly thinner
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the D600

appearance

Nikon D5100 Nikon D600
Nikon D5100 Nikon D600
Nikon D5100 Nikon D600

discussion

Showing 2 comments

Katie (2:20 PM, March 23, 2013)
I am looking to upgrade from the d5100 to the d600 so this review was really helpful.


Thanks :)


Katie
www.mummydaddyandmemakesthree.co.uk
 
Avatar for Muhammad Yehia Muhammad Yehia (1:58 PM, February 12, 2013)
i have the D5100 and it's awesome .