Nikon
D5100
 vs
Nikon
D5000

Nikon D5100

78

  
Nikon D5000

50

  
Winner

Nikon D5100

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5100

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
1,183 ISO
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
80.0
Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
Color depth
 Great color depth
23.5 bits
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
13 EV
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
 
Runner-up

Nikon D5000

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5000

Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Sensor size
 Large sensor
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
 

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D5100
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 24fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video at a higher frame rate
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 1,183 ISO vs 868 ISO
Help
 The D5100 has a slight edge (0.4 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 4x higher resolution screen
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
 More than 10% larger screen
Overall image quality Better image quality 80.0 vs 72.0
Help
 More than 10% better image quality
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
Color depth Better color depth 23.5 bits vs 22.7 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.8 more bits of color
True resolution Higher true resolution 16.1 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
 Capture more than 30% more detail in your photos
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The D5100's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better
Battery life Longer battery life 660 shots vs 510 shots
Help
 Around 30% more shots per battery charge
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The D5100's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13 EV vs 12.5 EV
Help
 0.5 f-stops more dynamic range
Size Smaller 127x96x78 mm vs 127x104x80 mm
Help
 Around 10% smaller
Lowest price Cheaper $496.95 vs $599.99
Help
 The best price we've seen is $103 cheaper (around 20% less)
Thickness Slightly thinner 3.1" vs 3.1"
Help
 Almost the same
Weight Slightly lighter 560 g vs 590 g
Help
 Around 10% lighter
Nikon D5100 Learn more about
the Nikon D5100

Advantages of the Nikon D5000
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs APS-C 23.6x15.6mm
Help
 Almost the same
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 400 ms vs 500 ms
Help
 20% less delay when turning on
Nikon D5000 Learn more about
the Nikon D5000
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent entry-level DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D5100 Nikon D5100
78 vs 50
Explain scores
Nikon D5000 Nikon D5000
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D5100.

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
169 lenses
Sensor size Large sensors Help
D5100:APS-C 23.6x15.6mm
D5000:APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
D5100:500 ms
D5000:400 ms
Supports 24p 24p support Help
For that film look
Lens focus motor No focus motor Help
Won't autofocus with all lenses
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
1
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
D5100:6,400 ISO
D5000:3,200 ISO
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
4 fps
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Shutter lag Significant shutter lag Help
D5100:273 ms
D5000:276 ms
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Viewfinder size Below average viewfinder size Help
0.51x
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
D5100:16.1 MP
D5000:12.2 MP
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Size Is slightly smaller
Sensor size Has a marginally smaller sensor
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
Compare the D3200 vs the D5100
Compare the D3200 vs the D5000
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$599 - $649 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Size Is slightly larger
Sensor size Has a significantly smaller sensor
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D5100
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D5000
Nikon D5200

Nikon D5200

Entry-level DSLR

$697 body only

$797 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Focus points Has much more focus points
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the D5200 vs the D5100
Compare the D5200 vs the D5000
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Size Is slightly smaller
Thickness Is thinner
Sensor size Has a marginally smaller sensor
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
Compare the D3100 vs the D5100
Compare the D3100 vs the D5000
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$599 - $899 body only

$799 - $1,099 with 18-105mm lens
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder
Viewfinder Has higher quality type of viewfinder
Weight Is significantly heavier
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the D90 vs the D5100
Compare the D90 vs the D5000
Canon 650D / T4i

Canon Rebel T4i

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $800 body only

$749 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the D5100
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the D5000
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder
Weather sealed Has a weather sealed body
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the D7000 vs the D5100
Compare the D7000 vs the D5000

Nikon D5100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D5100.

Nikon D5000 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3000

Nikon D3000

Entry-level DSLR

$436 with 18-55mm lens
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Size Much smaller
Movie format Does not take movies
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
Compare the D3000 vs the D5000

appearance

Nikon D5100 Nikon D5000
Nikon D5100 Nikon D5000
Nikon D5100 Nikon D5000

discussion

Showing 18 comments

Avatar for Satyam Joshi Satyam Joshi (4:20 PM, October 14, 2012)
D5100 stands out...its the best entry level..in specifications and all technical part !
 
Avatar for Sohel Shams Sohel Shams (10:05 AM, October 03, 2012)
I've D5000. It is good. But I don't know about D5100. I think these two are much more similar other than little changes in specifications.
 
Henry_sapungan (9:16 AM, May 03, 2012)
I already bought my d5100 just last summer of 2012 for P35K in Manila. I am truly enjoying those feature things and stuffs and I may recommend this camera to all advanced  photo shooters for it got lots of options and adjustments. I'm totally satisfied as commercial photo-video  shooter 'cause I'm  latest owner of D5100 in my place now. I'm proud of this, AMEN.
 
Henry_sapungan (7:48 PM, February 02, 2012)

yeah.. I agreed to that. but it cost a lot of money. 
 
Laura (1:00 AM, July 28, 2011)
i agree the menu is too complicated!
 
miket (0:58 AM, July 28, 2011)
D5100 is so much better <3 i got d5100 and its amazing
 
Laura (0:54 AM, July 28, 2011)
i agree with you (y)
 
Esenjay (4:36 PM, July 10, 2011)
The only complaint I have about my D5000 is that audio during video capture is very bad in loud noise situations.  I'm wondering if the optional external mike on the D5100 helps in that situation.
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (5:13 PM, May 30, 2011)
In bright light situations its not an issue.  It starts to become an issue in lower light, say indoors, or evenings.  Also, the longer a focal length you use, the more risk there is of blur from hand-shake, for example at 300mm.  Another thing to keep in mind is the aperture of the lens, at longer focal lengths with consumer lenses you tend to get narrow apertures like f/5.6, which let in less light.
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (4:58 PM, May 30, 2011)
If you set up the camera correctly, you will not have a problems with image blur.
 
Markreeves (4:55 PM, May 30, 2011)
How difficult is it to get great non-blurring pictures without image stabilization?
 
Annelintest (11:08 AM, May 01, 2011)
I disagree. I have got a D5100 and it's not difficult to use. I'm only 15 and It was a really good buy!
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (2:13 PM, April 25, 2011)
They are both good, but the D5100 is just one step up over the D5000
 
Uuh (4:54 AM, April 24, 2011)
My friend has a d5100 and he didn't like it. The menu is too complicated and it's difficult to use it.
 
Guest (4:51 AM, April 24, 2011)
I disagree. I have a D5000 and it's realy good! It's awesome! You have to choose a camera according you needs.
 
Henry (4:49 AM, April 24, 2011)
Well, both of then are good. But the 5100 seems be better.
 
Jenny (4:47 AM, April 24, 2011)
I really think that d5100 is better. I want to buy one soon.
 
Guest (7:59 AM, April 22, 2011)
which one is good?