Nikon D5100

76

Winner

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

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 size
Large screen
3.0"
Nikon D80

32

Runner-up

Nikon D80

Reasons to buy the Nikon D80

Viewfinder size
Large viewfinder
0.62x
Sensor size
Large sensor
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Viewfinder
Great viewfinder
Pentaprism
Badge
Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D5100

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
Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 30fps vs None
Help
Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13 EV vs 11.2 EV
Help
1.8 f-stops more dynamic range
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
Catch candid moments easily
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
4x higher resolution screen
Live view Has live view Yes vs No
Help
Preview your photos on the camera's screen before taking them
Color depth Better color depth 23.5 bits vs 22.1 bits
Help
Distinguishes 1.4 more bits of color
True resolution Much higher true resolution 16.1 MP vs 10 MP
Help
Capture more than 60% more detail in your photos
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
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
Automatically focuses shooting video
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
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
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
Lowest price Cheaper $499.99 vs $700.00
Help
The best price we've seen is $200 cheaper (around 30% less)
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
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs APS-C 23.6x15.6mm
Help
Almost the same
Thickness Slightly 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
76 vs 32
Explain scores
Nikon D80 Nikon D80
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D5100.

advice

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1
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by TheRylander last month
Nikon D5100 vs Nikon D300S

Hi, I am looking for advice on the best camera to take travelling on a Round the World trip. I cur...

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by Myllyne-Santa-Maria last month
Nikon D5100 vs Nikon D300S

Hi! I'm planning to buy my first SLR camera and I want to use it mainly for street and macro ph...

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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...

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
169 lenses
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
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
D5100:6,400 ISO
D80:1,600 ISO
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
D5100:4 fps
D80:3 fps
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather

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

True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Size Is slightly larger
Sensor size Has a slightly smaller sensor
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Weight Is slightly lighter
Battery life Has a slightly shorter battery life
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm 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
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Size Is slightly smaller
Thickness Is thinner
External mic jack Lacks and external mic jack
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Weather sealed Has a weather sealed body
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is significantly heavier
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Size Is significantly smaller
Sensor size Has a slightly smaller sensor
Battery life Has a slightly shorter battery life
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

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

True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is significantly heavier

Nikon D5100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

Nikon D80 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D3000

Nikon D3000

Entry-level DSLR

$481 with 18-55mm lens

Screen size Much larger screen
Autofocus Faster autofocus
Viewfinder size Significantly smaller viewfinder
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Nikon D200

Nikon D200

Pro DSLR

$1,300 body only

Autofocus Faster autofocus
Weather sealed Weather sealed
Size Significantly larger
Weight Much heavier

appearance

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

discussion

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