Updated (January, 2012): Compare the Nikon D5100 vs Nikon D4

Nikon D3

86

Winner

Nikon D3

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3

Low light performance
Low noise at high ISO
2,290 ISO
Overall image quality
Great image quality
81.0
Color depth
Great color depth
23.5 bits
Viewfinder size
Large viewfinder
0.70x
Weather sealed
Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Continuous shooting
Rapid fire
9 fps
Nikon D5100

62

Runner-up

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
Color depth
Great color depth
23.5 bits
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

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D5100

Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 30fps vs None
Help
Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
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
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor Yes vs No
Help
Removes dust from the sensor automatically, avoiding spots in photos
Size Much smaller 127x96x78 mm vs 160x157x88 mm
Help
2.3x smaller
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 121 lenses
Help
Around 40% more lenses available
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
Automatically focuses shooting video
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13 EV vs 12.2 EV
Help
0.8 f-stops more dynamic range
True resolution Higher true resolution 16.1 MP vs 12.1 MP
Help
Capture more than 30% more detail in your photos
Weight Much lighter 560 g vs 1,300 g
Help
2.3x lighter
Thickness Significantly thinner 3.1" vs 3.5"
Help
More than 10% thinner
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Nikon D5100 Learn more about
the Nikon D5100

Advantages of the Nikon D3

Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 2,290 ISO vs 1,183 ISO
Help
The D3 has a slight edge (1 f-stop) in low noise, high ISO performance
Battery life Much longer battery life 4300 shots vs 660 shots
Help
More than 6.5x more shots per battery charge
Viewfinder size Much larger viewfinder 0.70x vs 0.51x
Help
Around 90% larger viewfinder
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 36.0x24.0mm vs APS-C 23.6x15.6mm
Help
Around 2.5x larger sensor
Shutter lag Much less shutter lag 88 ms vs 273 ms
Help
3.1x less delay when taking photos
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
Sealed to shoot in the rain
Focus points Many more focus points 51 vs 11
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 9 fps vs 4 fps
Help
Around 2.5x faster continuous shooting
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
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 81.0 vs 80.0
Help
Almost the same
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 300 ms vs 500 ms
Help
40% 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 D3 Learn more about
the Nikon D3
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D5100 Nikon D5100
62 vs 86
Explain scores
Nikon D3 Nikon D3
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3. 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.

advice

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I am considering either the D5100 or the D3,
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similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
D5100:80.0
D3:81.0
Color depth Good color depth Help
23.5 bits
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
6,400 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Thickness Is thinner
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
External mic jack Lacks and external mic jack
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens

Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Weight Is slightly heavier
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Weight Is slightly heavier
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

Thickness Is thinner
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

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

Thickness Is thinner
Weight Is slightly heavier
Size Is slightly larger
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$598 - $600 body only

$698 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

Light sensitivity Significantly higher maximum light sensitivity
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder Doesn't have a viewfinder
Pentax K-5

Pentax K-5

Entry-level DSLR

$888 - $1,129 body only

$1,033 - $1,283 with 18-55mm lens

Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Weight Is slightly heavier
Lens availability Slightly fewer lenses available

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 Significantly worse image quality
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Significantly higher true resolution
Weight Lighter
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

Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Dynamic range Less dynamic range

Nikon D3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D3S

Nikon D3S

Pro DSLR

$5,197 body only

Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor
Shutter lag Significantly more shutter lag
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,999 - $6,000 body only

Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Movie format Shoots movies
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Shutter lag Significantly more shutter lag
Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Pro DSLR

$3,499 - $3,500 body only

$4,299 - $4,300 with 24-105mm lens

Movie format Shoots movies
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Dynamic range Less dynamic range

appearance

Nikon D5100 Nikon D3
Nikon D5100 Nikon D3
Nikon D5100 Nikon D3

discussion

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