Nikon D3X

80

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
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

External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
Record high quality audio with an external microphone
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
Weight Much lighter 560 g vs 1,260 g
Help
2.2x lighter
Lowest price Much cheaper $499.99 vs $7,996.95
Help
The best price we've seen is $7,497 cheaper (16x less)
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
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

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
Battery life Much longer battery life 4400 shots vs 660 shots
Help
More than 6.5x more shots per battery charge
Overall image quality Better image quality 88.0 vs 80.0
Help
10% better image quality
Viewfinder size Much larger viewfinder 0.70x vs 0.51x
Help
Around 90% larger viewfinder
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 35.9x24.0mm vs APS-C 23.6x15.6mm
Help
Around 2.5x larger sensor
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
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 24.4 MP vs 16.1 MP
Help
Capture more than 50% more detail in your photos
Color depth Better color depth 24.7 bits vs 23.5 bits
Help
Distinguishes 1.2 more bits of color
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
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13.7 EV vs 13 EV
Help
0.7 f-stops more dynamic range
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
62 vs 80
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.

advice

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0
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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
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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
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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 DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
D5100:80.0
D3X:88.0
Dynamic range Good dynamic range Help
D5100:13 EV
D3X:13.7 EV
Color depth Good color depth Help
D5100:23.5 bits
D3X:24.7 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
D5100:6,400 ISO
D3X:1,600 ISO
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
D5100:4 fps
D3X:5 fps

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
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
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
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 slightly 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 slightly more shutter lag
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens

Weight Is slightly heavier
Size Is slightly larger
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

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

Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Thickness Is thinner
Weight Is slightly heavier
Size Is slightly larger

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 D3X Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,999 - $6,000 body only

Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Battery life Much shorter battery life
True resolution Significantly lower true resolution
Nikon D3S

Nikon D3S

Pro DSLR

$5,197 body only

Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Pro DSLR

$2,000 - $5,930 body only

Cross type focus points Significantly more cross-type focus points
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
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

Screen size Significantly larger screen
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Canon EOS 1D X

Canon EOS 1D X

Pro DSLR

$6,799 - $6,800 body only

Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster
Battery life Much shorter battery life
True resolution Significantly lower true resolution

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?