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Canon 100D vs Nikon D5100

Portability
73
Imaging
60
Features
69
Overall
63
Canon EOS 100D front
 
Nikon D5100 front
Portability
66
Imaging
57
Features
81
Overall
66

Canon 100D vs Nikon D5100 Key Specs

Canon 100D
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF/EF-S Mount
  • 407g - 117 x 91 x 69mm
  • Revealed July 2013
  • Alternative Name is EOS Rebel SL1
  • Newer Model is Canon SL2
Nikon D5100
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Bump to 25600)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 560g - 128 x 97 x 79mm
  • Revealed April 2011
  • Succeeded the Nikon D5000
  • Renewed by Nikon D5200
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Canon 100D vs Nikon D5100 Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Canon 100D and Nikon D5100, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras by manufacturers Canon and Nikon. The resolution of the 100D (18MP) and the D5100 (16MP) is relatively close and they use the same exact sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The 100D was launched 2 years after the D5100 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before delving through a detailed comparison, below is a quick overview of how the 100D grades against the D5100 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon 100D over the Nikon D5100

 100D D5100 
RevealedJuly 2013April 2011Newer by 28 months
Screen resolution1040k921kClearer screen (+119k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Nikon D5100 over the Canon 100D

 D5100 100D 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Canon 100D and Nikon D5100

 100D D5100 
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement

Canon 100D vs Nikon D5100 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to travel with your camera regularly, you're going to have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Canon 100D features exterior dimensions of 117mm x 91mm x 69mm (4.6" x 3.6" x 2.7") with a weight of 407 grams (0.90 lbs) while the Nikon D5100 has dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 79mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.1") having a weight of 560 grams (1.23 lbs).

Examine the Canon 100D and Nikon D5100 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you choose at that time. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the 100D and the D5100.

Canon 100D vs Nikon D5100 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the 100D and D5100 is 73 and 66 respectively.

Canon 100D vs Nikon D5100 top view buttons comparison

Canon 100D vs Nikon D5100 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its tough to visualise the contrast in sensor dimensions purely by looking through a spec sheet. The picture below may give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the 100D and D5100.

Clearly, each of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same MP. You can count on the Canon 100D to provide you with more detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots a little more aggressively. The more modern 100D is going to have an advantage in sensor tech.

Canon 100D vs Nikon D5100 sensor size comparison

Canon 100D vs Nikon D5100 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 100D vs Nikon D5100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon 100D
Portrait photography with Nikon D5100
76
you can focus manually
good resolution (18MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection focus
saves RAW files
74
focusing manually
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers face detection focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Canon 100D as a Street photography camera
Nikon D5100 as a Street photography camera
68
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
comes with focus by touch
lighter than competitors (407g)
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
67
screen articulates fully
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Canon 100D Sports photography features
Nikon D5100 Sports photography features
58
good resolution (18 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
comes with phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
not so great battery (380 CIPA)
64
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
better than average battery (660 shots)
has phase detect auto focus
low fps (4.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Canon 100D as a Travel photography camera
Nikon D5100 as a Travel photography camera
64
lighter than competitors (407g)
comes with focus by touch
good resolution (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse recording
not so great battery (380 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
77
better than average battery (660 CIPA)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Canon 100D as a Landscape photography camera
Nikon D5100 as a Landscape photography camera
64
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Canon EF/EF-S mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
good resolution (18MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
does not have image stabilization
not so great battery (380 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse recording
73
focusing manually
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
better than average battery (660 CIPA)
no image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon 100D
Vlogging with Nikon D5100
34
touchscreen enabled
includes face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have external mic socket
lighter than competitors (407g)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
69
selfie friendly screen
offers face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has external mic support
no image stabilization
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Canon 100D vs Nikon D5100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 100D and Nikon D5100
 Canon EOS 100DNikon D5100
General Information
Brand Canon Nikon
Model type Canon EOS 100D Nikon D5100
Otherwise known as EOS Rebel SL1 -
Type Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2013-07-26 2011-04-26
Physical type Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 5 Expeed 2
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 22.3 x 14.9mm 23.6 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 332.3mm² 370.5mm²
Sensor resolution 18MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 5184 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 12800 6400
Maximum boosted ISO 25600 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 9 11
Cross type focus points 1 1
Lens
Lens support Canon EF/EF-S Nikon F
Number of lenses 326 309
Crop factor 1.6 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 1,040k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x 0.52x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 9.40 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/200 seconds 1/200 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30, 25, 24 fps), 640 x 424 (30, 25 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 407 grams (0.90 lb) 560 grams (1.23 lb)
Dimensions 117 x 91 x 69mm (4.6" x 3.6" x 2.7") 128 x 97 x 79mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 63 80
DXO Color Depth rating 21.8 23.5
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.3 13.6
DXO Low light rating 843 1183
Other
Battery life 380 shots 660 shots
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LP-E12 EN-EL14
Self timer Yes (2s, 10s+remote, 10s + continuous shots 2-10)) Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $499 $0