Nikon
D5100
 vs
Nikon
D700

Updated (February, 2012): Compare the Nikon D5100 vs Nikon D800

Nikon D700

83
Winner

Nikon D700
"The Nikon D700 is an excellent camera that is extremely versatile and performs well both in the studio and on location."
dpreview.com | talking about the D700's overall-performance
"Class-leading high ISO performance, usable up to ISO 12800"
dpreview.com | talking about the D700's iso-noise

Reasons to buy the Nikon D700

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
2,303 ISO
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
80.0
Color depth
 Great color depth
23.5 bits
Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.72x
Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Sensor size
 Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
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
Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 30fps vs None
Help
 Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
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
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
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13 EV vs 12.2 EV
Help
 0.8 f-stops more dynamic range
True resolution Higher true resolution 16.1 MP vs 12.1 MP
Help
 Capture more than 30% more detail in your photos
Size Smaller 127x96x78 mm vs 147x123x77 mm
Help
 More than 30% smaller
Weight Significantly lighter 560 g vs 1,074 g
Help
 Around 50% lighter
Lowest price Cheaper $499.99 vs $2,349.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $1,849 cheaper (4.7x less)
Nikon D5100 Learn more about
the Nikon D5100

Advantages of the Nikon D700
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 2,303 ISO vs 1,183 ISO
Help
 The D700 has a slight edge (1 f-stop) in low noise, high ISO performance
Viewfinder size Much larger viewfinder 0.72x vs 0.51x
Help
 Around 2x larger viewfinder
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 36.0x24.0mm 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
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag 150 ms vs 273 ms
Help
 Around 50% less delay when taking photos
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 15 vs 1
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
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
Battery life Longer battery life 1000 shots vs 660 shots
Help
 More than 50% more shots per battery charge
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 5 fps vs 4 fps
Help
 Around 30% faster continuous shooting
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 400 ms vs 500 ms
Help
 20% less delay when turning on
Thickness Slightly thinner 3" vs 3.1"
Help
 Almost the same
Nikon D700 Learn more about
the Nikon D700
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D5100 Nikon D5100
62 vs 83
Explain scores
Nikon D700 Nikon D700
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D700. 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

Need help deciding?

Ask the community!
I am considering either the D5100 or the D700,
For example: Taking photos in low light or great family photos or ability to take great photos underwater

Select aspects that are most important to you: (max 3)

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Are you a camera expert? Share your knowledge!
-2
votes
by Hassan-Wehbe last month
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I am a beginner with a good background in cameras and expert in computers and multimedia processin...

One person recommends the Nikon D5100:

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0
votes
by Petter-Persson last month
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I consider myself more as a professional then a beginner, have taking on some photography jobs wit...
0
votes
by Sherry-McCollum last month
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I'm an advanced amateur and the most important features in the camera are ease of use and very sha...

One person recommends the Nikon D300S:

"Go for the D300s and spend some extra money on lenses. To get great wildlife shots you'll need a l..."
1
votes
by TheRylander last month
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Hi, I am looking for advice on the best camera to take travelling on a Round the World trip. I cur...
0
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by Myllyne-Santa-Maria last month
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Hi! I'm planning to buy my first SLR camera and I want to use it mainly for street and macro ph...

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
80.0
Color depth Good color depth Help
23.5 bits
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
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
6,400 ISO
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
D5100:4 fps
D700:5 fps

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D5100
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D700
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $700 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Compare the D3200 vs the D5100
Compare the D3200 vs the D700
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens
Viewfinder coverage Significantly better viewfinder coverage
Storage slots Has more storage slots
Weight Is slightly heavier
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the D7000 vs the D5100
Compare the D7000 vs the D700
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
Compare the D90 vs the D5100
Compare the D90 vs the D700
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
External mic jack Lacks and external mic jack
Compare the D3100 vs the D5100
Compare the D3100 vs the D700
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 significantly more shutter lag
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D5100
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D700
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
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D5100
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D700

Nikon D5100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

Nikon D700 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D300S

Nikon D300S

Pro DSLR

$1,690 - $1,700 body only

$2,547 - $4,295 with 18-200mm lens
Movie format Shoots movies
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the D300S vs the D700

appearance

Nikon D5100 Nikon D700
Nikon D5100 Nikon D700
Nikon D5100 Nikon D700

discussion

Showing 4 comments

Grifter116 (6:23 PM, January 12, 2012)
I was shooting an evening soccer game earlier in the year with a borrowed D700, along with a guy using a D7000. The D7000 was unable to get focus in the diminishing light. The owner thought his camera was malfunctioning, when in fact the camera had reached the limit of is auto-focus/metering system. At least 50% of is shots were out of focus and those that were in focus, the shot had been missed. I know my old Canon 40D would have been limited even sooner!. The D700 IS THAT GOOD!, I was able to nail shots a good 20 minutes after the D7000.
 
Drjaimega (2:58 AM, December 22, 2011)
I agree with Blahblah, better the D5100 than D700, Who said that?
 
Krystalhh_ (8:35 PM, December 19, 2011)
I think it's more of a bang for your buck type thing. The d5100 is pretty good for the price, compared to a d700
 
Blahblah (1:00 AM, December 13, 2011)
now i know these comparisons are terrible.. a d5100 better than a d700? get the hell out of here