Updated (April, 2011): Compare the Nikon D5100 vs Nikon Coolpix P500

Nikon D5100

100

Winner

Nikon D5100

"Sophisticated AF system for the price"
dpreview.com | talking about the D5100's auto-focus
"On the whole the D5100's movies are look great, with smooth motion and impressively low noise in dim light."
dpreview.com | talking about the D5100's video-quality

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5100

Overall image quality
Great image quality
80.0
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
Nikon Coolpix P100

58

Runner-up

Nikon Coolpix P100

"Good high ISO performance"
digitalcamerareview.com | talking about the P100's iso-noise
"Materials, fit, and finish are typical for the class and price point."
digitalcamerareview.com | talking about the P100's build-quality

Reasons to buy the Nikon Coolpix P100

High-speed framerate
High speed movies
240 fps
Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Continuous shooting
Rapid fire
10 fps
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Weight
Light-weight
481 g

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D5100

Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
Catch candid moments easily
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 460k dots
Help
2x higher resolution screen
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
Get that real film feel
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
True resolution Much higher true resolution 16.1 MP vs 9.8 MP
Help
Capture more than 60% more detail in your photos
Sensor size Much larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.6mm vs 1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm
Help
Around 13x larger sensor
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
Supports RAW Shoots RAW Yes vs No
Help
Digitally develop your own photos with precise image control
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The D5100's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
External flash Supports an external flash Yes vs No
Help
An external flash often produces better looking flash images
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs None
Help
Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Thickness Thinner 3.1" vs 3.9"
Help
More than 20% thinner
Viewfinder Has an optical viewfinder Pentamirror vs Digital
Help
Optical viewfinders save battery life and are more detailed
Fastest shutter speed Significantly faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/2000s
Help
2x faster max shutter speed
Longest exposure Longer exposures 30s vs 8s
Help
Around 4x longer exposures
Nikon D5100 Learn more about
the Nikon D5100

Advantages of the Nikon P100

Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies 240 fps vs None
Help
Capture events too fast for the naked eye and play them back in super-slow motion
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 10 fps vs 4 fps
Help
2.5x faster continuous shooting
Weight Lighter 481 g vs 560 g
Help
More than 10% lighter
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 190 ms vs 273 ms
Help
More than 30% less delay when taking photos
Nikon Coolpix P100 Learn more about
the Nikon P100
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon D5100 Nikon D5100
100 vs 58
Explain scores
Nikon Coolpix P100 Nikon Coolpix P100
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D5100. 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 super zoom.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Movie format Both shoot high resolution HD movies Help
1080p @ 30fps
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
D5100:Pentamirror
P100:Digital
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Thickness Quite thick Help
D5100:3.1"
P100:3.9"
Weight Heavy Help
D5100:560 g
P100:481 g
Size Large Help
D5100:127x96x78 mm
P100:114x83x99 mm
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
Dynamic range Has significantly narrower dynamic range
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Autofocus Lacks autofocus
Battery life Has a slightly shorter battery life
Nikon Coolpix P510

Nikon Coolpix P510

Super zoom

$397 - $400

Zoom Has way more more zoom
Wide angle Has a slightly wider wide angle lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker

Nikon D5100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens

Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen
Overall image quality Worse image quality
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Much higher true resolution
Weight Lighter
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens

Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder
Movie format Lower resolution movies
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Weather sealed Weather sealed
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens

Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Battery life Significantly longer battery life
Overall image quality Worse image quality
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR

Nikon Coolpix P100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon Coolpix P500

Nikon Coolpix P500

Super zoom

$300

Zoom Much more zoom
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Aperture Significantly narrower aperture
Size Slightly larger
Nikon Coolpix L120

Nikon Coolpix L120

Super zoom

$180 - $229

Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Size Smaller
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1

Super zoom

$355

Image stabilization Better image stabilization
Size Slightly smaller
Zoom Less zoom
High-speed framerate Doesn't record high-speed movies
Placeholder

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P150

Compact

Size Much smaller
Thickness Much thinner
Screen size Much smaller screen
Wide angle Much worse wide angle
Canon Powershot SX40

Canon Powershot SX40

Super zoom

$347 - $380

Zoom Much more zoom
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
Screen resolution Lower resolution screen

appearance

Nikon D5100 Nikon Coolpix P100
Nikon D5100 Nikon Coolpix P100
Nikon D5100 Nikon Coolpix P100

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