Is The Nikon D5100 Camera Still A Good Contender

The arrival of the D5100 appears to signal the completion of Nikons refresh of its non-pro DSLR lineup. Its feature set and pricing mean that it sits very comfortably betwixt the beginner-friendly D3100 and the loftier-end D7000 - it'southward clearly aimed to attract the attending of enthusiast photographers without cannibalizing sales of is sister models. A camera maker can judge the success of its marketplace positioning by seeing how many people are wondering 'which model is correct for me?' on discussion forums - and we recollect a D3100/D5100/D7000 progression would minimize such doubts. The official line is that the D90 maintains its position in the range, but both its naming and overlap with other models suggest that its function is now more one of historical interest than hereafter significance.

The D5100 has a very similar 16.2MP CMOS sensor to the excellent one seen in the D7000 merely, understandably, loses out on that camera'due south high-end build and feature-ready. And then there'southward no wireless flash command, magnesium alloy build or 39-point AF organization but the underlying epitome quality is all only identical.

As has go standard for a Nikon at this toll point, the D5100 offers a single control dial, pentamirror viewfinder and no congenital-in autofocus motor. However, it gains 1080p video adequacy (at 30, 25 or 24fps), saved using the efficient H.264/AVC codec, and a 920,000 dot fully articulated LCD console to help shoot it. These are both pregnant gains over its predecessor the D5000, and the improvements extend to the D5100 having smaller, neater structure and a more conventional side-mounted hinge for that LCD.

These changes resolve two rather awkward aspects of Nikon's existing lineup: if the D5100 and D7000 terminate upwards being neighboring models it will avoid the inelegant overlap that existed between the D5000 and D90. Information technology also ensures a more elegant advent to the models themselves (the D5000 was many things, but pretty wasn't i of them).

Although the D5100 is listed equally having an Expeed 2 processor, it'southward worth remembering that Nikon doesn't use this naming system to announce any specific components, then the actual chunks of silicon and capabilities aren't necessarily the same every bit those in the D3100 or D7000. Nevertheless, in add-on to a similarly specced 16.2MP sensor, the D5100 offers the aforementioned ISO settings every bit its big brother - extending up to an equivalent of ISO 25,600. It too inherits xiv-bit Raw shooting - ane of the factors that helps give the D7000 its impressive dynamic range - which is something Nikon used to offering simply on its more expensive models.

Adjacent

The D5100 is slightly smaller than the Insubordinate T3i/EOS 600D - probably its nearest competitor. Both are slightly larger than the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2, which is built around a smaller sensor, and of class lacks an optical viewfinder assembly (instead using a high quality electronic finder). Ergonomically, the G2 is the most 'involved', and has the almost concrete control points and a touch-sensitive LCD screen, but overall the iii cameras are physically quite similar.

Nikon D5100 Central Features

16.2 megapixel DX-format CMOS sensor
Side-articulated 3.0" LCD monitor (920,000 dots)
11 AF points (with 3D tracking)
IS0 100-6400 range (Upward to 25,600 equivalent when expanded)
Hard disk movies (1080p, 720p or WVGA)
4 fps continuous shooting
In-photographic camera furnishings filters in both stills and video modes

Compared to D5000

The D5100 is a smaller and (we think) more attractive photographic camera than its predecessor the D5000. It is less bulbous, and closer to the D3100 and D7000 in terms of styling. The most significant design departure is the addition of a side-hinging LCD screen in the D5100, every bit opposed to the bulkier (and more awkward) bottom-hinged LCD used in the D5000.

Primal Differences

Higher resolution sensor (sixteen.2MP vs. 14MP)
1080p video style
Wider ISO range (100-25,600 equivalent)
Full-time AF way (AF-F in live view)
Dual IR receivers (front end and rear)
Side-articulated LCD screen (every bit opposed to bottom-articulated)
921k dot LCD screen
fourteen-chip NEF (Raw) mode
Effects modes

Compared to the D3100 and D5000: major feature and specification differences

As you can see from the table below the D5100's specification is a pregnant advance over its predecessor, and essentially in advance of its little blood brother the D3100.

	Nikon D3100	Nikon 5100	Nikon D5000
Sensor	• fourteen.2 million effective pixels • 23.1 x 15.4 mm CMOS (DX format)	• sixteen.2 million effective pixels • 23.half-dozen ten 15.6 mm CMOS (DX format)	• 12.3 million constructive pixels • 23.vi 10 15.8 mm CMOS (DX format)
Paradigm sizes	• 4608 x 3072 (fourteen.2 MP) • 3456 ten 2304 • 2304 10 1536	• 4928 ten 3264 (16.2MP) • 3696 x 2448 • 2464 x 1632	• 4288 ten 2848 (12 MP) • 3216 x 2136 • 2144 x 1424
Motion picture mode	• 1080p24 • 720p30/25/24 • 424p24	• 1080p30/25/24 • 720p30/25/24 • 424p30/24	• 720p24
Sensor cleaning	• Prototype Sensor Cleaning • Airflow command system • Epitome Dust Off reference data (optional Capture NX 2 software required)	• Image Sensor Cleaning • Airflow control organization • Epitome Grit Off reference data (optional Capture NX 2 software required)	• Epitome Sensor Cleaning • Airflow control system • Image Grit Off reference data (optional Capture NX 2 software required)
AF bulldoze mode	• AF-A • AF-S • AF-C • MF • AF-F (Alive view only)	• AF-A • AF-S • AF-C • MF • AF-F (Live view only)	• AF-A • AF-S • AF-C • MF
Sensitivity	• ISO 100 - 3200 • To ISO 12800 with boost	• ISO 100 - 6400 • To ISO 25600 with heave	• ISO 200 - 3200 • ISO 100-6400 with boost
Continuous	• 3 fps	• 4 fps • 100 / 16 frames (Fine JPEG / RAW)	• four fps • 63 / 11 frames (Fine JPEG / RAW)
AE bracketing	No	Yep	Aye
Viewfinder magnification	• 0.8x	• 0.78x	• 0.78x
Viewfinder Frame coverage	• Approx. 95%	• Approx. 95%	• Approx. 95%
LCD monitor	• 3.0" TFT LCD • 230,000 pixel TFT	• three.0" TFT LCD • 921,000 pixel TFT • Articulated	• 2.seven" TFT LCD • 230,000 pixel TFT • Articulated
Dimensions	124 ten 96 x 74.five mm (4.ix x 3.7 ten 3.0 in)	128 10 97 x 79 mm (5.0 x 3.8 x 3.1in)	127 x 104 x 80 mm (5.0 x 4.1 10 3.1 in)
Weight	• No bombardment: 455g (one.0 lb) • With battery: 505g (1.1 lb)	• No battery: 510g (1.ane lb) • With battery: 560g (1.2 lb.)	• No bombardment: 560g (1.2 lb.) • With bombardment: 611g (ane.3 lb.)
Image processing engine	• Expeed 2 • 12 bit	• Expeed 2 • 14 bit	• Expeed • 12 fleck
Active D-lighting	On/Off	Auto, Actress loftier, High, Normal, Depression, or Off	Auto, Extra high, High, Normal, Low, or Off
In-camera retouching	• D-Lighting • Carmine-eye reduction • Trimming • Monochrome & filter effects • Color residual • Modest moving-picture show • Paradigm overlay • NEF (RAW) processing • Quick retouch • Straighten • Distortion control • Fisheye • Color outline • Perspective control • Miniature issue • Edit movie	• D-Lighting • Scarlet-center reduction • Trimming • Monochrome & filter effects • Color balance • Image overlay • NEF (RAW) processing • Resize • Quick retouch • Straighten • Baloney control • Fisheye • Colour outline • Color sketch • Perspective control • Miniature upshot • Selective Color • Edit moving-picture show • Side-past-side comparison	• D-Lighting • Ruddy-eye reduction • Trimming • Monochrome & filter furnishings • Color balance • Pocket-sized picture • Image overlay • NEF (RAW) processing • Quick retouch • Straighten • Distortion control • Fisheye • Color outline • Perspective control

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