Nikon
D5100
 vs
Nikon
D800

Updated (October, 2012): Compare the Nikon D5200 Hands-on P vs Nikon D800

Nikon D800

86

  
Nikon D5100

57

  
Winner

Nikon D800

Reasons to buy the Nikon D800

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
2,853 ISO
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
95.0
Color depth
 Great color depth
25.3 bits
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
14.4 EV
Screen size
 Large screen
3.2"
Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.72x
 
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
Weight
 Light-weight
560 g
 

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 Significantly smaller 127x96x78 mm vs 146x123x82 mm
Help
 More than 30% smaller
Weight Significantly lighter 560 g vs 1,000 g
Help
 More than 40% lighter
Lowest price Cheaper $496.95 vs $2,796.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $2,300 cheaper (5.6x less)
Thickness Thinner 3.1" vs 3.2"
Help
 Almost the same
Nikon D5100 Learn more about
the Nikon D5100

Advantages of the Nikon D800
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO 2,853 ISO vs 1,183 ISO
Help
 The D800 has excellent image quality 1.3 f-stops higher ISO than the D5100
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 95.0 vs 80.0
Help
 Around 20% better image quality
True resolution Much higher true resolution 36.2 MP vs 16.1 MP
Help
 Capture more than 2x more detail in your photos
Viewfinder size Much larger viewfinder 0.72x vs 0.51x
Help
 Around 2x 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
Focus points Significantly more focus points 51 vs 11
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Dynamic range More dynamic range 14.4 EV vs 13 EV
Help
 1.4 f-stops more dynamic range
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 15 vs 1
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Viewfinder coverage Much better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 95%
Help
 Around 10% better viewfinder coverage
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 920k dots
Help
 More than 10% higher resolution screen
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Color depth Better color depth 25.3 bits vs 23.5 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.8 more bits of color
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 209 ms vs 273 ms
Help
 More than 20% less delay when taking photos
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
 Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
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 Less startup delay 200 ms vs 500 ms
Help
 2.5x less delay when turning on
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Nikon D800 Learn more about
the Nikon D800
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D5100 Nikon D5100
57 vs 86
Explain scores
Nikon D800 Nikon D800
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D800. 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
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
4 fps
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
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
Compare the D3200 vs the D5100
Compare the D3200 vs the D800
Nikon D600

Nikon D600

Pro DSLR

$1,997 body only

$2,397 with 24-85mm lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D600 vs the D5100
Compare the D600 vs the D800
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$675 - $899 body only

$799 - $1,099 with 18-105mm lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D90 vs the D5100
Compare the D90 vs the D800
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Weight Is slightly heavier
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
Compare the D7000 vs the D5100
Compare the D7000 vs the D800
Nikon D7100

Nikon D7100

Entry-level DSLR

$1,197 body only

$1,497 with 18-105mm lens
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Compare the D7100 vs the D5100
Compare the D7100 vs the D800
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,279 with 18-135mm lens
Weight Is slightly heavier
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D5100
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D800
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$3,500 body only
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the D700 vs the D5100
Compare the D700 vs the D800

Nikon D5100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$599 - $649 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D5100
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
Canon EOS 650D

Canon EOS 650D

Entry-level DSLR

$580 - $797 body only

$639 - $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 D800 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
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 D800
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,997 body only
Battery life Much longer battery life
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the D4 vs the D800
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
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Compare the EOS 6D vs the D800

appearance

Nikon D5100 Nikon D800
Nikon D5100 Nikon D800
Nikon D5100 Nikon D800

discussion

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