Updated (October, 2012): Compare the Nikon D5200 vs Olympus E-5

Nikon D5100
Winner
Nikon D5100

77

vs
Olympus E-5

50

Olympus E-5
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 Olympus E-5

Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
External mic jack
 External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
 
Differences | Recommendations | Similarities | Competitors | Appearance | Discussion

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D5100
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO 1,183 ISO vs 519 ISO
Help
 The D5100 has excellent image quality 1.2 f-stops higher ISO than the E-5
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video
Overall image quality Much better image quality 80.0 vs 56.0
Help
 More than 40% better image quality
Sensor size Much larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.6mm vs Four thirds 18.0x13.5mm
Help
 More than 50% larger sensor
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13 EV vs 10.5 EV
Help
 2.5 f-stops more dynamic range
Color depth Better color depth 23.5 bits vs 21.6 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.9 more bits of color
Lens availability Much more lenses available 169 lenses vs 26 lenses
Help
 6.5x more lenses available
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Movie continuous focus Continuous video focus Yes vs No
Help
 Record movies without worrying about focus
Size Much smaller 127x96x78 mm vs 143x117x75 mm
Help
 More than 20% smaller
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) Has boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs None
Help
 Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Lowest price Much cheaper $496.95 vs $1,549.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $1,052 cheaper (3.1x less)
Weight Much lighter 560 g vs 892 g
Help
 Around 40% lighter
Nikon D5100 Learn more about
the Nikon D5100

Advantages of the Olympus E-5
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
 Sealed to shoot in the rain
Cross type focus points Many more cross-type focus points 11 vs 1
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.58x vs 0.51x
Help
 Around 30% larger viewfinder
Battery life Longer battery life 870 shots vs 660 shots
Help
 More than 30% more shots per battery charge
Viewfinder coverage Significantly better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 95%
Help
 Around 10% better viewfinder coverage
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
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 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
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 Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
Longest exposure Much longer exposures 60s vs 30s
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 2x longer exposures
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
Thickness Thinner 3" vs 3.1"
Help
 Almost the same
Olympus E-5 Learn more about
the Olympus E-5
vs

recommendations

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

Nikon D5100 Nikon D5100
77 vs 50
Explain scores
Olympus E-5 Olympus E-5
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
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Autofocus Slower contrast detection video autofocus Help
slower focusing
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
6,400 ISO
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
D5100:16.1 MP
E-5:12.2 MP

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
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Battery life Has a slightly shorter battery life
Compare the D3200 vs the D5100
Compare the D3200 vs the E-5
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
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D5100
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the E-5
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
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the D5200 vs the D5100
Compare the D5200 vs the E-5
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Size Is slightly smaller
Lowest price Is slightly less expensive
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 E-5
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$600 - $899 body only

$739 - $1,099 with 18-105mm lens
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the D90 vs the D5100
Compare the D90 vs the E-5
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the D7000 vs the D5100
Compare the D7000 vs the E-5
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
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D5100
Compare the EOS 60D vs the E-5

Nikon D5100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Rebel T4i

Canon Rebel T4i

Entry-level DSLR

$580 - $799 body only

$731 - $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

Olympus E-5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Olympus OM-D E-M5

Olympus OM-D E-M5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$924 - $1,000 body only

$1,024 with 14-42mm lens
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Autofocus Slower autofocus
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Compare the OM-D E-M5 vs the E-5
Olympus E-3

Olympus E-3

Entry-level DSLR
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO
Size Slightly smaller
Movie format Does not take movies
Screen size Much smaller screen
Compare the E-3 vs the E-5
Olympus E-30

Olympus E-30

Entry-level DSLR
Size Significantly smaller
Weight Much lighter
Movie format Does not take movies
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Compare the E-30 vs the E-5
Pentax K-5

Pentax K-5

Entry-level DSLR

$669 - $699 body only

$795 - $819 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Much better image quality
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus
Compare the K-5 vs the E-5
Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Pro DSLR

$3,250 - $3,299 body only

$3,800 - $3,899 with 24-105mm lens
Sensor size Much larger sensor
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the E-5

appearance

Nikon D5100 Olympus E-5
Nikon D5100 Olympus E-5
Nikon D5100 Olympus E-5

discussion

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