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 P90

54

Runner-up

Nikon Coolpix P90

Reasons to buy the Nikon Coolpix P90

Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Lens
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Weight
Light-weight
400 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 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
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" 6.1x4.6mm
Help
More than 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
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
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
Nikon D5100 Learn more about
the Nikon D5100

Advantages of the Nikon P90

Image stabilization Image stabilization Lens vs None
Help
Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Weight Lighter 400 g vs 560 g
Help
Around 30% lighter
Nikon Coolpix P90 Learn more about
the Nikon P90
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon D5100 Nikon D5100
100 vs 54
Explain scores
Nikon Coolpix P90 Nikon Coolpix P90
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

Need help deciding?

Ask the community!

I am considering either the D5100 or the P90,
For example: Taking photos in low light or great family photos or ability to take great photos underwater

Select aspects that are most important to you: (max 3)

Popular tags:

Are you a camera expert? Share your knowledge!

0
votes
by Brooke-Baker this month
Canon T2i vs Nikon D5100

I need to be able to play around with low and high light situations, take beautiful still shots ...

0
votes
by David-Brown last month
Canon T2i vs Nikon D5100

Beginner, looking to get first DSLR.  A major concern is whether Canon or Nikon has better avail...

0
votes
by augfig last month
Canon T2i vs Nikon D5100

We will take pictures of sons at home, on the farm etc. We like making movies too and taking pic...

0
votes
by desy-boo last month
Nikon D5100 vs Sony SLT A65

Hello, I am having trouble figuring out if I want to stick with the Sony or if I want to go with...

4 people recommend the Sony SLT A65:

" A65 is much better than D5100 Has a OLED viewfinder (the best of viewfinders) More dinamic r..."

" The Sony has a much bigger view finder, which helps a lot when composing shots. Sure, the Nikon..."

"If i was you id when with nikon most there camera bodies how very little image noise at 1600 and 3..."

One person recommends the Nikon D5100:

" its all about ISO and better GLASS"

0
votes
by Frederik-Skj-dt 3 days ago
Nikon D5100 vs Sony SLT A65

Hello  I don't now if i should choose sony SLT a65 or nikon d5100.  I'm going to use it for ...

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
D5100:Pentamirror
P90:Digital
Thickness Quite thick Help
D5100:3.1"
P90:3.9"
Weight Heavy Help
D5100:560 g
P90:400 g
Size Large Help
D5100:127x96x78 mm
P90:83x114x99 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 D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens

Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Weight Is significantly heavier
Autofocus Lacks autofocus
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

$1,500 - $1,849 with 18-135mm lens

True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Weather sealed Has a weather sealed body
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is much heavier
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$333 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens

Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Autofocus Lacks autofocus
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
Longest exposure Significantly shorter exposures

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 D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Size Slightly smaller
Weight Slightly lighter
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
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

Nikon Coolpix P90 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon Coolpix P100

Nikon Coolpix P100

Super zoom

Movie format Higher resolution movies
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Image stabilization Worse image stabilization
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Nikon Coolpix P500

Nikon Coolpix P500

Super zoom

$300

Zoom Much more zoom
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Aperture Significantly narrower aperture
Image stabilization Worse image stabilization
Nikon Coolpix L120

Nikon Coolpix L120

Super zoom

$180 - $229

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Aperture Narrower aperture
Nikon Coolpix L810

Nikon Coolpix L810

Super zoom

$250 - $265

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Wide angle Better wide angle
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Aperture Narrower aperture
Nikon Coolpix L110

Nikon Coolpix L110

Super zoom

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen
Aperture Significantly narrower aperture
Zoom Significantly less zoom

appearance

Nikon D5100 Nikon Coolpix P90
Nikon D5100 Nikon Coolpix P90
Nikon D5100 Nikon Coolpix P90

discussion

Showing 0 comments