Updated (April, 2011): Compare the Nikon D5100 vs Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

91

Winner

Nikon D7000

"The D7000's Live View is certainly quite functional as a basic means of framing for stills and video shooting, as long as you understand its limitations"
dpreview.com | talking about the D7000's video-quality
"The 'feel' of the new camera is far closer to the D300S though, thanks to its heavy-duty magnesium alloy construction."
dpreview.com | talking about the D7000's build-quality

Reasons to buy the Nikon D7000

Overall image quality
Great image quality
80.0
Movie format
Full HD
1080p @ 24fps
Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
13.9 EV
Weather sealed
Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Movie continuous focus
Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Badge
Autofocuses shooting video
Contrast detection
Nikon D5000

48

Runner-up

Nikon D5000

"The D5000 acquires the 11-point AF system from the D90. It's a pretty sophisticated setup for a camera at this level"
dpreview.com | talking about the D5000's auto-focus
"Excellent degree of customization (reversible dial and meter ease transition from other systems)"
dpreview.com | talking about the D5000's button-layout

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5000

Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Size
Really small
Professional size 127x104x80 mm
Weight
Light-weight
590 g

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D5000

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
Weight Significantly lighter 590 g vs 780 g
Help
More than 20% lighter
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs APS-C 23.6x15.6mm
Help
Almost the same
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $879.95 vs $999.99
Help
The best price we've seen is $120 cheaper (more than 10% less)
Nikon D5000 Learn more about
the Nikon D5000

Advantages of the Nikon D7000

Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 1,167 ISO vs 868 ISO
Help
The D7000 has a slight edge (0.4 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Focus points Many more focus points 39 vs 11
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
More than 10% larger screen
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
4x higher resolution screen
Overall image quality Better image quality 80.0 vs 72.0
Help
More than 10% better image quality
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 24fps vs 720p @ 24fps
Help
Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
Sealed to shoot in the rain
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Cross type focus points Many more cross-type focus points 9 vs 1
Help
Grab focus in difficult situations
Battery life Much longer battery life 1050 shots vs 510 shots
Help
More than 2x more shots per battery charge
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder 0.62x vs 0.51x
Help
Around 50% larger viewfinder
Color depth Better color depth 23.5 bits vs 22.7 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.8 more bits of color
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 16.1 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
Capture more than 30% more detail in your photos
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13.9 EV vs 12.5 EV
Help
1.4 f-stops more dynamic range
Viewfinder coverage Much better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 95%
Help
Around 10% better viewfinder coverage
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 6 fps vs 4 fps
Help
50% faster continuous shooting
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
The D7000's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The D7000's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 238 ms vs 276 ms
Help
More than 10% less delay when taking photos
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
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
Nikon D7000 Learn more about
the Nikon D7000
vs

recommendations

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

Nikon D5000 Nikon D5000
48 vs 91
Explain scores
Nikon D7000 Nikon D7000
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D7000.

advice

Need help deciding?

Ask the community!

I am considering either the D5000 or the D7000,
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)

Popular tags:

Are you a camera expert? Share your knowledge!

1
votes
by Kelly-Charpie last week
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D7000

I am not a beginner nor am I am expert.. in between I suppose. I've worked for professional phot...

One person recommends the Nikon D7000:

" I've owned both the D3100 and the D7000, the D7000 is my current camera and It's miles above the..."

0
votes
by Jithmi-Alwis last month
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5000

iam a beginner ...and need a good entry level dslr...which is cheap...and have great image stab...

One person recommends the Nikon D3100:

" The D3100 is a great starter camera"

0
votes
by Faizaan-Ahmad last month
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D7000

I am a beginner enthusiast and have been learning photography on nikon p7000 for almost a year. no...

One person recommends the Nikon D7000:

" He is willing to learn,might outgrow the D3100 then wishing he would have invested in the D7000...."

0
votes
by Neeraj-Jain last week
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5000

I am beginner and I want to become an expert in portrait photography, especially baby shots. Ple...

0
votes
by telmanri last week
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5000

I'm photography enthusiast and I plan to move on for my first dSLR. I want to buy a refurbished ...

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Dynamic range Good dynamic range Help
D5000:12.5 EV
D7000:13.9 EV
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
169 lenses
Supports 24p 24p support Help
For that film look
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
400 ms startup delay
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
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
D5000:3,200 ISO
D7000:6,400 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

HDR Has in-camera HDR
Size Is slightly smaller
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

$1,620 - $1,849 with 18-135mm lens

True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is much heavier
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
Weight Is significantly heavier
Size Is slightly larger
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
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,649 body only

Low light performance Is much less noisy at high ISO
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder
Lowest price Is much more expensive
Weight Is much heavier
Nikon D300S

Nikon D300S

Pro DSLR

$1,690 - $1,700 body only

$2,547 - $4,295 with 18-200mm lens

Focus points Has significantly more focus points
Cross type focus points Has significantly more cross-type focus points
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Weight Is much heavier
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Size Is slightly smaller
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed

Nikon D5000 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$333 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens

Battery life Significantly longer battery life
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality

Nikon D7000 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Pentax K-5

Pentax K-5

Entry-level DSLR

$888 - $1,129 body only

$1,033 - $1,283 with 18-55mm lens

Image stabilization Image stabilization
Shutter lag Much less shutter lag
Focus points Many fewer focus points
Supports 24p No 24p support

appearance

Nikon D5000 Nikon D7000
Nikon D5000 Nikon D7000
Nikon D5000 Nikon D7000

discussion

Showing 0 comments