Updated (April, 2011): Compare the Nikon D5100 vs Nikon D60

Nikon D5000

48

Winner

Nikon D5000

"The hand grip is one of the best examples in this class of camera and the rear dial is easily accessible, making it very quick and easy to use."
dpreview.com | talking about the D5000's feel
"Very impressive high ISO performance"
dpreview.com | talking about the D5000's iso-noise

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5000

Overall image quality
Great image quality
72.0
Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
12.5 EV
Live view
Has live view
Preview your photos
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Sensor cleaning
Self cleaning sensor
Avoids dust in your photos
Sensor type
CMOS Sensor
Better in low light
Nikon D60

29

Runner-up

Nikon D60

Reasons to buy the Nikon D60

Size
Really small
Prosumer size 126x94x64 mm
Thickness
Thin
2.5"
Weight
Light-weight
522 g

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D5000

Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 868 ISO vs 562 ISO
Help
The D5000 has a slight edge (0.6 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.5 EV vs 11.4 EV
Help
1.1 f-stops more dynamic range
Overall image quality Better image quality 72.0 vs 65.0
Help
More than 10% better image quality
Live view Has live view Yes vs No
Help
Preview your photos on the camera's screen before taking them
Screen size Significantly larger screen 2.7" vs 2.5"
Help
Around 10% larger screen
Movie format Shoots movies 720p @ 24fps vs None
Help
Shoots HD (720p) 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
True resolution Higher true resolution 12.2 MP vs 10 MP
Help
Capture more than 20% more detail in your photos
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
Color depth Better color depth 22.7 bits vs 22.5 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.2 more bits of color
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 3,200 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
The D5000's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The D5000's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Nikon D5000 Learn more about
the Nikon D5000

Advantages of the Nikon D60

Size Significantly smaller 126x94x64 mm vs 127x104x80 mm
Help
Around 30% smaller
Thickness Significantly thinner 2.5" vs 3.1"
Help
20% thinner
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.52x vs 0.51x
Help
Around 10% larger viewfinder
Weight Lighter 522 g vs 590 g
Help
More than 10% lighter
Nikon D60 Learn more about
the Nikon D60
vs

recommendations

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

Nikon D5000 Nikon D5000
48 vs 29
Explain scores
Nikon D60 Nikon D60
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D5000.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

NikonD5000
Nikon D5000 vs Nikon D60
NikonD60
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
4
2
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
4
2
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
4
1
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
4
1
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
4
1
Vote Vote
Build quality Build quality
Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal
5
1
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
169 lenses
Sensor size Large sensors Help
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
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
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
D5000:6,400 ISO
D60:3,200 ISO
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
D5000:3,200 ISO
D60:1,600 ISO
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Screen size Very small screens Help
D5000:2.7"
D60:2.5"
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
D5000:12.2 MP
D60:10 MP
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
230k dots
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
D5000:4 fps
D60:3 fps

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$650 - $749 body only

$600 - $750 with 18-55mm lens

Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $984 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen size Has a much larger screen
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$499 - $949 body only

$579 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen size Has a much larger screen
Sensor size Has a slightly smaller sensor
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$869 - $897 body only

$1,099 - $1,200 with 18-105mm lens

Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Screen size Has a much larger screen
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,097 body only

$1,227 with 55-200mm lens

Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$379 body only

$460 - $550 with 18-55mm lens

Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Thickness Is thicker
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$609 - $800 body only

$709 - $1,180 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen size Has a much larger screen
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is significantly larger

Nikon D5000 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D5000.

Nikon D60 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D60.

appearance

Nikon D5000 Nikon D60
Nikon D5000 Nikon D60
Nikon D5000 Nikon D60

Find similar cameras

Here are some links to help you find other cameras with similar features to both of these:

discussion Which do you think is better?

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Showing 1 comments

Amir (2:28 AM, June 07, 2011)
No battery life comparison??