Nikon
D5100
 vs
Nikon
D60

Updated (October, 2012): Compare the Nikon D5200 vs Nikon D60

Nikon D5100

77

  
Nikon D60

29

  
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
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
13 EV
Live view
 Has live view
Preview your photos
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
 
Runner-up

Nikon D60

Reasons to buy the Nikon D60

Sensor size
 Large sensor
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 126x94x64 mm
Thickness
 Thin
2.5"
Weight
 Light-weight
522 g
 

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
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO 1,183 ISO vs 562 ISO
Help
 The D5100 has excellent image quality 1.1 f-stops higher ISO than the D60
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.5"
Help
 More than 20% larger screen
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 80.0 vs 65.0
Help
 More than 20% better image quality
Live view Has live view Yes vs No
Help
 Preview your photos on the camera's screen before taking them
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 4x higher resolution screen
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13 EV vs 11.4 EV
Help
 1.6 f-stops more dynamic range
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
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
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 16.1 MP vs 10 MP
Help
 Capture more than 60% more detail in your photos
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
 CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
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
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The D5100's boost ISO is 3 f-stops better
Battery life Longer battery life 660 shots vs 500 shots
Help
 More than 30% more shots per battery charge
Color depth Better color depth 23.5 bits vs 22.5 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1 more bits of color
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 4 fps vs 3 fps
Help
 More than 30% faster continuous shooting
Nikon D5100 Learn more about
the Nikon D5100

Advantages of the Nikon D60
Size Much smaller 126x94x64 mm vs 127x96x78 mm
Help
 More than 20% smaller
Thickness Much thinner 2.5" vs 3.1"
Help
 Around 20% thinner
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs APS-C 23.6x15.6mm
Help
 Almost the same
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.52x vs 0.51x
Help
 Around 10% larger viewfinder
Weight Lighter 522 g vs 560 g
Help
 Around 10% lighter
Nikon D60 Learn more about
the Nikon D60
vs

recommendations

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

Nikon D5100 Nikon D5100
77 vs 29
Explain scores
Nikon D60 Nikon D60
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D5100.

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
169 lenses
Sensor size Large sensors Help
D5100:APS-C 23.6x15.6mm
D60:APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
500 ms startup delay
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%
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
D5100:6,400 ISO
D60:1,600 ISO
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
D5100:4 fps
D60:3 fps
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
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
D5100:0.51x
D60:0.52x
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
D5100:16.1 MP
D60:10 MP
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus Help
D5100:Contrast detection
D60:None

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
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is significantly larger
Compare the D3200 vs the D5100
Compare the D3200 vs the D60
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
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is much larger
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D5100
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D60
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
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5200 vs the D5100
Compare the D5200 vs the D60
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is significantly larger
Compare the D3100 vs the D5100
Compare the D3100 vs the D60
Canon Rebel T4i

Canon Rebel T4i

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $800 body only

$699 - $749 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Light sensitivity Significantly higher maximum light sensitivity
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the D5100
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the D60
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$675 - $899 body only

$799 - $1,099 with 18-105mm lens
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder
Viewfinder Has higher quality type of viewfinder
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D90 vs the D5100
Compare the D90 vs the D60
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Weather sealed Has a weather sealed body
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D7000 vs the D5100
Compare the D7000 vs the D60

Nikon D5100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

Nikon D60 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D70

Nikon D70

Pro DSLR
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed
Screen size Much smaller screen
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Compare the D70 vs the D60

appearance

Nikon D5100 Nikon D60
Nikon D5100 Nikon D60
Nikon D5100 Nikon D60

discussion

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