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 between the
beginner-friendly D3100 and the high-end D7000 - it's clearly aimed to
attract the attention of enthusiast photographers without cannibalizing
sales of is sister models. A camera maker can judge the success of its
market positioning by seeing how many people are wondering 'which model
is right for me?' on discussion forums - and we think 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 role is now more
one of historical interest than future significance.
The D5100 has a very similar 16.2MP CMOS sensor
to the excellent one seen in the D7000 but, understandably, loses out on
that camera's high-end build and feature-set. So there's no wireless
flash control, magnesium alloy build or 39-point AF system but the
underlying image quality is all but identical.
As has become standard for a Nikon at this price
point, the D5100 offers a single control dial, pentamirror viewfinder
and no built-in autofocus motor. However, it gains 1080p video
capability (at 30, 25 or 24fps), saved using the efficient H.264/AVC
codec, and a 920,000 dot fully articulated LCD panel to help shoot it.
These are both significant gains over its predecessor the D5000, and the
improvements extend to the D5100 having smaller, neater construction
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 end up being
neighboring models it will avoid the inelegant overlap that existed
between the D5000 and D90. It also ensures a more elegant appearance to
the models themselves (the D5000 was many things, but pretty wasn't one
of them).
Although the D5100 is listed as having an Expeed 2
processor, it's worth remembering that Nikon doesn't use this naming
system to denote any specific components, so the actual chunks of
silicon and capabilities aren't necessarily the same as those in the
D3100 or D7000. However, in addition to a similarly specced 16.2MP
sensor, the D5100 offers the same ISO settings as its big brother -
extending up to an equivalent of ISO 25,600. It also inherits 14-bit Raw
shooting - one of the factors that helps give the D7000 its impressive
dynamic range - which is something Nikon used to offer only on its more
expensive models.
Side by side
The D5100 is slightly smaller than the Rebel
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 course lacks an optical viewfinder assembly (instead
using a high quality electronic finder). Ergonomically, the G2 is the
most 'involved', and has the most physical control points and a
touch-sensitive LCD screen, but overall the three cameras are physically
quite similar.
Nikon D5100 Key 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 (Up to 25,600 equivalent when expanded)
- HD movies (1080p, 720p or WVGA)
- 4 fps continuous shooting
- In-camera effects filters in both stills and video modes
Compared to D5000
The D5100 is a smaller and (we think) more attractive 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 difference is the addition of a side-hinging LCD screen in the D5100, as opposed to the bulkier (and more awkward) bottom-hinged LCD used in the D5000.Key Differences
- Higher resolution sensor (16.2MP vs. 14MP)
- 1080p video mode
- Wider ISO range (100-25,600 equivalent)
- Full-time AF mode (AF-F in live view)
- Dual IR receivers (front and rear)
- Side-articulated LCD screen (as opposed to bottom-articulated)
- 921k dot LCD screen
- 14-bit NEF (Raw) mode
- Effects modes