Nikon
D5100
 vs
Nikon
D3X

Updated (October, 2012): Compare the Nikon D5200 Hands-on P vs Nikon D3X

Nikon D3X

73

  
Nikon D5100

57

  
Winner

Nikon D3X

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3X

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
1,992 ISO
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
88.0
Color depth
 Great color depth
24.7 bits
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
13.7 EV
Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.70x
True resolution
 High true resolution
24.4 MP
 
Runner-up

Nikon D5100

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
 

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D5100
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
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
Weight Much lighter 560 g vs 1,260 g
Help
 2.2x lighter
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The D5100's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Thickness Significantly thinner 3.1" vs 3.5"
Help
 More than 10% thinner
Lowest price Significantly cheaper $496.95 vs $6,699.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $6,202 cheaper (13.5x less)
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
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
Nikon D5100 Learn more about
the Nikon D5100

Advantages of the Nikon D3X
Battery life Much longer battery life 4400 shots vs 660 shots
Help
 More than 6.5x more shots per battery charge
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,992 ISO vs 1,183 ISO
Help
 The D3X has a slight edge (0.8 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Overall image quality Better image quality 88.0 vs 80.0
Help
 10% better image quality
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder 0.70x vs 0.51x
Help
 Around 90% larger viewfinder
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
 Sealed to shoot in the rain
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 35.9x24.0mm 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
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 24.4 MP vs 16.1 MP
Help
 Capture more than 50% more detail in your photos
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag 161 ms vs 273 ms
Help
 More than 40% less delay when taking photos
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
Color depth Better color depth 24.7 bits vs 23.5 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.2 more bits of color
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13.7 EV vs 13 EV
Help
 0.7 f-stops more dynamic range
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
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 5 fps vs 4 fps
Help
 Around 30% faster continuous shooting
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 D3X Learn more about
the Nikon D3X
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D5100 Nikon D5100
57 vs 73
Explain scores
Nikon D3X Nikon D3X
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3X. 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.
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus Help
D5100:Contrast detection
D3X:None
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
D5100:6,400 ISO
D3X:1,600 ISO
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
D5100:4 fps
D3X:5 fps
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
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Compare the D3200 vs the D5100
Compare the D3200 vs the D3X
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
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Compare the D3100 vs the D5100
Compare the D3100 vs the D3X
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 D3X
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Weight Is slightly heavier
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the D7000 vs the D5100
Compare the D7000 vs the D3X
Nikon D5200 Hands-on P

Nikon D5200

Entry-level DSLR

$697 body only

$797 with 18-55mm lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Compare the D5200 vs the D5100
Compare the D5200 vs the D3X
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 D3X
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 slightly 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 D3X

Nikon D5100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$599 - $649 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D5100
Canon EOS 650D

Canon EOS 650D

Entry-level DSLR

$580 - $797 body only

$639 - $1,144 with 18-55mm lens
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Autofocus Faster video autofocus
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the EOS 650D vs the D5100
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,279 with 18-135mm lens
Weather sealed Weather sealed
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D5100

Nikon D3X Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,997 body only
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Battery life Much shorter battery life
True resolution Significantly lower true resolution
Compare the D4 vs the D3X
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,797 body only

$3,187 with 70-300mm lens
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Shutter lag More shutter lag
Compare the D800 vs the D3X
Nikon D3S

Nikon D3S

Pro DSLR
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the D3S vs the D3X
Canon EOS 1D X

Canon EOS 1D X

Pro DSLR

$6,799 body only
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the EOS 1D X vs the D3X
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
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the D3X

appearance

Nikon D5100 Nikon D3X
Nikon D5100 Nikon D3X
Nikon D5100 Nikon D3X

discussion

Showing 1 comments

Rainiercopurz (2:42 AM, December 30, 2011)
this is a joke right?