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 P5100

39

Reasons to buy the Nikon Coolpix P5100

Size
Really small
Mid size 98x65x41 mm
Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Lens
Thickness
Thin
1.6"
Weight
Light-weight
250 g

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D5100

Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 480p @ 30fps
Help
Shoots high resolution Full HD (1080p) video
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.5"
Help
More than 20% larger screen
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
4x higher resolution screen
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 flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
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
Sensor size Much larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.6mm vs 1/1.8" 7.4x5.6mm
Help
Around 9x larger sensor
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 16.1 MP vs 12 MP
Help
Capture more than 30% more detail in your photos
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 2,000 ISO
Help
The D5100's maximum light sensitivity is 1.7 f-stops better
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The D5100's boost ISO is 3 f-stops better
Viewfinder Has a through-the-lens viewfinder Pentamirror vs Tunnel
Help
Through-the-lens viewfinders let you see exactly what your photo will look like
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 P5100

Image stabilization Image stabilization Lens vs None
Help
Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Size Significantly smaller 98x65x41 mm vs 127x96x78 mm
Help
3.7x smaller
Weight Significantly lighter 250 g vs 560 g
Help
2.2x lighter
Thickness Significantly thinner 1.6" vs 3.1"
Help
Around 50% thinner
Nikon Coolpix P5100 Learn more about
the Nikon P5100
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon D5100 Nikon D5100
100 vs 39
Explain scores
Nikon Coolpix P5100 Nikon Coolpix P5100
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 digicam.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
D5100:Pentamirror
P5100:Tunnel
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

Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

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

True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Pentax K-r

Pentax K-r

Entry-level DSLR

$645 - $649 with 18-55mm lens

Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Nikon Coolpix P510

Nikon Coolpix P510

Super zoom

$397 - $400

Zoom Has way more more zoom
Wide angle Has a much wider wide angle lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
External flash Doesn't support an external flash

Nikon D5100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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 Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Size Smaller
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Overall image quality Worse image quality
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 P5100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Powershot SX40

Canon Powershot SX40

Super zoom

$347 - $380

Zoom Much more zoom
Wide angle Much better wide angle
Size Much larger
Thickness Much thicker
Placeholder

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P150

Compact

Size Slightly smaller
Thickness Thinner
Screen size Much smaller screen
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V

Super zoom

$399

Zoom Much more zoom
Wide angle Much better wide angle
Size Significantly larger
Thickness Much thicker
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150

Super zoom

$499 - $500

Wide angle Much better wide angle
Zoom Much more zoom
Size Significantly larger
Thickness Significantly thicker
Fujifilm FinePix HS30 EXR

Fujifilm FinePix HS30 EXR

Super zoom

$438 - $500

Zoom Much more zoom
Wide angle Much better wide angle
Size Much larger
Thickness Much thicker

appearance

Nikon D5100 Nikon Coolpix P5100
Nikon D5100 Nikon Coolpix P5100
Nikon D5100 Nikon Coolpix P5100

discussion

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