Updated (October, 2012): Compare the Nikon D5200 vs Nikon D80

Nikon D5100
Winner
Nikon D5100

77

vs
Nikon D80

37

Nikon D80
Runner-up
 
 
 
 

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
 

Reasons to buy the Nikon D80

Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.62x
Sensor size
 Large sensor
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
 
Differences | Recommendations | Similarities | Competitors | Appearance | Discussion

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 524 ISO
Help
 The D5100 has excellent image quality 1.2 f-stops higher ISO than the D80
Overall image quality Much better image quality 80.0 vs 61.0
Help
 More than 30% better image quality
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.5"
Help
 More than 20% larger screen
Live view Has live view Yes vs No
Help
 Preview your photos on the camera's screen before taking them
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13 EV vs 11.2 EV
Help
 1.8 f-stops more dynamic range
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 4x higher resolution screen
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
Color depth Better color depth 23.5 bits vs 22.1 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.4 more bits of color
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 (boost) Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The D5100's boost ISO is 3 f-stops better
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
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 4 fps vs 3 fps
Help
 More than 30% faster continuous shooting
Size Smaller 127x96x78 mm vs 132x103x77 mm
Help
 Around 10% smaller
Weight Lighter 560 g vs 668 g
Help
 Around 20% lighter
Nikon D5100 Learn more about
the Nikon D5100

Advantages of the Nikon D80
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder 0.62x vs 0.51x
Help
 Around 50% larger viewfinder
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
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 250 ms vs 273 ms
Help
 Around 10% less delay when taking photos
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs APS-C 23.6x15.6mm
Help
 Almost the same
Thickness Thinner 3" vs 3.1"
Help
 Almost the same
Nikon D80 Learn more about
the Nikon D80
vs

recommendations

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

Nikon D5100 Nikon D5100
77 vs 37
Explain scores
Nikon D80 Nikon D80
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
D80:APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
D5100:4 fps
D80:3 fps
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus Help
D5100:Contrast detection
D80:None
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
D5100:6,400 ISO
D80:1,600 ISO
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
D5100:16.1 MP
D80:10 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
Battery life Has a slightly shorter battery life
Compare the D3200 vs the D5100
Compare the D3200 vs the D80
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$595 - $599 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D5100
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D80
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
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the D5200 vs the D5100
Compare the D5200 vs the D80
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Size Is slightly smaller
Lowest price Is slightly less expensive
Sensor size Has a marginally smaller sensor
External mic jack Lacks and external mic jack
Compare the D3100 vs the D5100
Compare the D3100 vs the D80
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$600 - $899 body only

$740 - $1,099 with 18-105mm lens
Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the D90 vs the D5100
Compare the D90 vs the D80
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Weather sealed Has a weather sealed body
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the D7000 vs the D5100
Compare the D7000 vs the D80
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$649 - $968 body only

$949 - $1,182 with 18-135mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Weather sealed Has a weather sealed body
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D5100
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D80

Nikon D5100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Rebel T4i

Canon Rebel T4i

Entry-level DSLR

$580 - $799 body only

$740 - $899 with 18-55mm lens
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Cross type focus points Significantly more cross-type focus points
Low light performance Much more noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Much worse image quality
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the D5100

Nikon D80 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D200

Nikon D200

Pro DSLR

$1,319 body only
Autofocus Faster autofocus
Weather sealed Weather sealed
Size Much larger
Weight Much heavier
Compare the D200 vs the D80

appearance

Nikon D5100 Nikon D80
Nikon D5100 Nikon D80
Nikon D5100 Nikon D80

discussion

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