Nikon
D5100
 vs
Nikon
D3

Updated (October, 2012): Compare the Nikon D5200 vs Nikon D4

Nikon D3

79

  
Nikon D5100

58

  
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
 
Runner-up

Nikon D5100

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
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
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
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Size Much smaller 127x96x78 mm vs 160x157x88 mm
Help
 2.3x smaller
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor Yes vs No
Help
 Removes dust from the sensor automatically, avoiding spots in photos
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 121 lenses
Help
 Around 40% more lenses available
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
Battery life Much longer battery life 4300 shots vs 660 shots
Help
 More than 6.5x more shots per battery charge
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
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder 0.70x vs 0.51x
Help
 Around 90% larger viewfinder
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
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 36.0x24.0mm 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
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
58 vs 79
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.

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
D5100:16.1 MP
D3:12.1 MP
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus Help
D5100:Contrast detection
D3:None
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
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Shutter lag Has much more shutter lag
Compare the D3200 vs the D5100
Compare the D3200 vs the D3
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$599 - $649 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Shutter lag Has much more shutter lag
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D5100
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D3
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Thickness Is thinner
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
External mic jack Lacks and external mic jack
Compare the D3100 vs the D5100
Compare the D3100 vs the D3
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 D3
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Weight Is slightly heavier
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Compare the D7000 vs the D5100
Compare the D7000 vs the D3
Nikon D7100

Nikon D7100

Entry-level DSLR

$1,197 body only

$1,497 with 18-105mm lens
Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Compare the D7100 vs the D5100
Compare the D7100 vs the D3
Nikon D600

Nikon D600

Pro DSLR

$1,997 body only

$2,397 with 24-85mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D600 vs the D5100
Compare the D600 vs the D3

Nikon D5100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D5200

Nikon D5200

Entry-level DSLR

$697 body only

$797 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution
Overall image quality Better image quality
Battery life Shorter battery life
Compare the D5200 vs the D5100
Canon 650D / T4i

Canon Rebel T4i

Entry-level DSLR

$649 - $800 body only

$719 - $749 with 18-55mm lens
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Autofocus Faster video autofocus
Color depth Worse color depth
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the D5100

Nikon D3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3S

Nikon D3S

Pro DSLR
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Movie format Shoots movies
Shutter lag Significantly more shutter lag
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the D3S vs the D3
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,997 body only
Movie format Shoots movies
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Shutter lag Significantly more shutter lag
Compare the D4 vs the D3
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,797 - $3,297 body only

$3,187 with 70-300mm lens
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly slower
Compare the D800 vs the D3
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
Movie format Shoots movies
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the D3

appearance

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

discussion

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