Nikon D5100 Review

Nikon D5100 16.2MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera
 

Nikon D5100 Review

Vari-angle LCD Monitor

Creativity from any point of view

Nikon D5100 Review

Take pictures or record movies from a unique viewpoint, the D5100's 3.0 inch, super sharp, 921,000-dot Vari-angle LCD monitor allows for versatile high quality viewing and playback. Explore every angle, with overhead shots, waist level candids, ground level and fun self portraits; you will never miss a shot. This Vari-angle monitor allows you to be creative from any point of view.

Effects Mode

More fun and artistic pictures and movies

Nikon D5100 Review

The D5100 incorporates an amazing array of special effects for use when taking still pictures or recording D-Movie Full HD movies. Selective Color isolates any color within the scene, capture details in places too dark for your own eyes using Night Vision, create bright, glowing images filled with atmosphere with High Key, emphasize the mood of a scene using Low Key, Miniature Effect makes a scene look like a miniature scale model and Color Sketch creates color outlines of the subject that are played back as a series of stills in a slide show.

Tell better stories

Full HD 1080p D-Movie with Sound

Nikon D5100 Review

The D5100 delivers exceptionally high-quality movie performance due to its full HD capability while the latest in full-time autofocus takes the guess work out of tracking your subjects while in motion. Effortless moviemaking is at your fingertip thanks to D5100's ergonomically placed Live View and Movie start button. Your D-Movies will come to life thanks to D5100's sound recording capability — get stereo sound with Nikon's optional ME-1 Stereo Microphone.

HDR (High Dynamic Range)

Exquisite detail in highlight and shadow

Nikon D5100 Review

In scenes with extreme contrasts, such as bright, sunlit clouds and a foreground deep in shadow, it was once quite difficult to render the textures of both equally. Not any more. D5100 combines two exposures to create an image revealing an extremely wide dynamic range, but with less noise and richer color gradation than ever before.

Stunning image quality

Image quality in a class of its own

Incorporating the latest Nikon D-SLR technologies such as the 16.2MP DX-format CMOS sensor and EXPEED 2 image processing engine, the D5100 delivers outstanding image quality. Its CMOS sensor offers a remarkably wide ISO range (ISO 100 to 6400) with reduced noise which enables you to shoot at faster shutter speeds and capture scenes and subjects with less blur. Handheld shooting and full HD movies come out looking great even in low light.

Capture your subjects precisely

D5100's 11-point AF system provides flexibility to compose the shot you want ensuring your subject is captured sharply wherever it's located in the frame. Working together with the Scene Recognition System, the camera can keep your main subject in focus even if the composition changes using Nikon's exclusive 3D-tracking. Nikon D5100 Review

Key Specs

Sensor Size: APS-C 23.6x15.6mm

Megapixels: 16.1 MP

Screen Size: 3.0"

Screen Resolution: 920k dots

Movie Format: 1080p @ 30fps

Light Sensitivity: 6,400 ISO

Nikon D5100 Review

Overall

The D5100 is amazing. It handles very well, and the images look great. If you want a do-it all camera for everything from entry level to intermediate and are considering the D5100, I recommend it.

If you're an professional photographer, the D7000 is a far more capable and more solid camera than the D5100. The D7000 outperforms the D5100 in just about every way, but only in ways that experienced photographers will mind. Technical image quality is superb in the D5100.

The lens compatibility also make this camera a winner in my opinion. The Nikon D5100 is compatible with all AF lens's.