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Nikon D5100 |
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Nikon D3100 |  |
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differences
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recommendations
Relative to the best recent entry-level DSLRs, and ignoring price
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Nikon D5100 |
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Nikon D3100 | |
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Snapsort recommends the Nikon D5100. |
similarities
Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs
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dxomark
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competitors
Shared Competitors |
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
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Nikon D3200Entry-level DSLR $547 with 18-55mm lens |
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Canon Rebel T3iEntry-level DSLR $549 body only $599 - $649 with 18-55mm lens |
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Canon Rebel T3Entry-level DSLR $332 body only $449 - $499 with 18-55mm lens |
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Nikon D5200Entry-level DSLR $697 body only $797 with 18-55mm lens |
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Nikon D90Entry-level DSLR $599 - $899 body only $799 - $1,099 with 18-105mm lens |
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Canon Rebel T4iEntry-level DSLR $699 - $800 body only $749 with 18-55mm lens |
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Nikon D7000Entry-level DSLR $897 body only $997 with 18-105mm lens |
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Nikon D5100 Competitors |
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
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No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D5100. |
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Nikon D3100 Competitors |
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
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Nikon D3000Entry-level DSLR $436 with 18-55mm lens |
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appearance
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Showing 25 comments
Stick with the kit lens to start, and then look to upgrade using our sister site LensHero.com.
Your comparisons and detailing helped me a lot during my camera research.
For those who are stuck between D3100 and D5100, here's what i have to say:
Buy the D5100. You'll outgrow D3100 faster + 1 reason that says all- Better picture quality!
i find the interface of d3100 as compared to d5100..it makes my image clicking experience so awesome, which d5100 comes no where close to..
and i would anyday choose the better interface over "slight" improvement in image quality, iso et al..
cheers,
bharat
Please can u put some more light on the issue as I am bit confused in buying 3100 and put the xtra bucks on glass.
Good point! Initally I had my heart on the D3100 but did more research on the D5100 and confused myself (so to speak). So my question is, if money wasn't a factor which camera should one purchase?
I ask that because I found that Costco has the D3100 with 18-55mm VR Lens + 55-200mm VR Lens, Training Pack Bundle, Two Training DVDs, Case and 4GB SD Card for $699. Like I said, I was set on that until I researched the D5100 and found out that Costco also has for the D5100 with 18-55mm and 55-300mm VR lenses, case, 4G 30MB SD card, dvd and guide for $950 which seems to be a GREAT deal given that 300mm is almost $400 by itself.
So for the $250 extra is it no question that I should get the D5100 package as described above?
Do any cameras come close to the D5100? I saw the D7000 but that is out of my price range right now. Hell the D5100 is pushing it but seems worth it from a value perspective.
Hopefully with classes, perfect practice and skill, the camera will pay for itself down the line regardless of which I get.
Thank so much to all that reply.
PS. Sweet pic!
unless you are comparing between entry and pro then (well you would not be here looking for info).
Conclusion: Today's entry level Nikon's are way better than 3 year old (or even less) pro level body's. So if you buy the best (expensive) today how long will it be that you see a new entry level at half the price that out performs yours!!
Buy entry level and IF (and when) you become a better photographer then what your camera can offer...(by better I mean you are very comfortable to shoot your DSLR in manual and know what to expect)
This was shot with a D3100 and the kit lens 18-55mm (5 pics stitched)
d3100 - i like the price and sample photos tried it at the shop and feel happy with it.
d5100- at the middle, not entry level and said to have room for upgrades. i am doubtful about image quality, is it far better than d3100??
d90- so costly but will then have more flexibility when i want to upgrade lens.
help me! i just really want to take photos for product shots such as bags, shoes and clothes in white bg and probably with a model or two. i do not plan to upgrade someday i just need decent pix clear enough to sell my items and also be good enough for our tarpaulin advertisement printing.
I noticed you mentioned you had both a D3100 and a D5100! I am new to digital SLR photography and decided to buy my
very first camera.
I’m aware of the differences between the D3100 and the
D5100 that sites and reviews are listing, but actually I’m a little confused which one I should start with! And since
you have both, I believe you’ll know better what obvious differences are really there, and maybe you're the best to advise me! I also thougt about the D90 and got myself even more confused!!!
I had an idea that maybe I can go with the
D3100 if there are no REAL differences, and invest more in lenses? What do you
think?
I use the Nikon Nikkor AF-S 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR on both my nikon d3100 and d5100 and use mainly for action shots of aircraft and find it very good and very stable even at 300
cheers Franz (Australia)
Since then I have done a lot of reading about DSLR cameras, specifically regarding sensors. I was looking to upgrade from the D3100 to a D5100, but I now find a flaw regarding one critical issue. Specifically regarding the D5100 vs D3100 comparison, I no longer believe SNAPSHOT's better image quality information. Why? Well, its simple. The pixel size of the D5100 sensor is notably smaller than the pixel size of the D3100, and since sensor performance includes the ability to absorb colors in the light spectrum, a smaller pixel cannot possibly out-perform a larger one. You only need to compare the sensors of FX versus DX cameras to begin to understand this fact. As a result, with due respect to SNAPSHOT, I find the metrics from DXOMark to be seriously flawed since the D3100 and D5100 use the same lenses. In short, there is simply no way the D5100 could rate an 80 (with its smaller pixel size and area) while the D3100 rates only a 67 with its larger pixel size and area. Hell, if smaller pixel size were advantageous the price of point-and-shoot cameras would be 10X what they are today, and FX cameras would cost less than DX cameras.
While several other quantifiable D5100 features make it extremely attractive, compared to the D3100, since we're taking photos and movies, it seems only reasonable to apply significant weight to the metrics from DXOMark and therefore I strongly believe the D3100 out-performs the D5100 per photo with its larger, spectrum capturing, pixels and sensor.
Of course, I am open to debate on this issue and I am prepared to share what several other manufacturers, including but not limited to Canon and Fuji had to say about the same "pixel-size" issue as it pertains to their cameras abilities to capture the highest quality images.