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Canon 10D vs Nikon D5100

Portability
56
Imaging
43
Features
36
Overall
40
Canon EOS 10D front
 
Nikon D5100 front
Portability
66
Imaging
56
Features
81
Overall
66

Canon 10D vs Nikon D5100 Key Specs

Canon 10D
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 1.8" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Boost to 3200)
  • No Video
  • Canon EF Mount
  • 875g - 150 x 107 x 75mm
  • Launched March 2003
  • Renewed by Canon 20D
Nikon D5100
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Push to 25600)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 560g - 128 x 97 x 79mm
  • Introduced April 2011
  • Old Model is Nikon D5000
  • Refreshed by Nikon D5200
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Canon 10D vs Nikon D5100 Overview

Let's look more in depth at the Canon 10D vs Nikon D5100, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Canon and Nikon. There exists a large gap among the resolutions of the 10D (6MP) and D5100 (16MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor dimensions (APS-C).

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The 10D was revealed 9 years before the D5100 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Canon 10D being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Nikon D5100 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go right into a full comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the 10D matches up vs the D5100 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon 10D over the Nikon D5100

 10D D5100 

Reasons to pick Nikon D5100 over the Canon 10D

 D5100 10D 
IntroducedApril 2011March 2003More modern by 98 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen dimensions3"1.8"Bigger screen (+1.2")
Screen resolution921k118kSharper screen (+803k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Canon 10D and Nikon D5100

 10D D5100 
Focus manually More exact focus
Touch screen Neither offers Touch screen

Canon 10D vs Nikon D5100 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry around your camera, you have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Canon 10D offers external dimensions of 150mm x 107mm x 75mm (5.9" x 4.2" x 3.0") and a weight of 875 grams (1.93 lbs) while the Nikon D5100 has proportions of 128mm x 97mm x 79mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.1") and a weight of 560 grams (1.23 lbs).

Compare the Canon 10D vs Nikon D5100 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you choose at that moment. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the 10D compared to the D5100.

Canon 10D vs Nikon D5100 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the 10D and D5100 is 56 and 66 respectively.

Canon 10D vs Nikon D5100 top view buttons comparison

Canon 10D vs Nikon D5100 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's difficult to visualize the gap in sensor sizes merely by going through specifications. The picture underneath should offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the 10D and D5100.

Plainly, each of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different MP. You can count on the Nikon D5100 to provide more detail because of its extra 10MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots a bit more aggressively. The more aged 10D will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Canon 10D vs Nikon D5100 sensor size comparison

Canon 10D vs Nikon D5100 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 10D vs Nikon D5100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon 10D Portrait photography features
Nikon D5100 Portrait photography features
49
manual focus
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
no liveview feature
MP count low (6 megapixels)
73
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features face detect focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Canon 10D as a Street photography camera
Nikon D5100 as a Street photography camera
51
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
no moving screen
no image stabilization
67
fully articulated screen
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Canon 10D Sports photography advice
Nikon D5100 Sports photography advice
38
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
no liveview feature
low fps (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
MP count low (6MP)
63
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features tracking focus
great battery power (660 CIPA)
comes with phase detect auto focus
slow fps (4.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Canon 10D as a Travel photography camera
Nikon D5100 as a Travel photography camera
41
built-in flash
no Time Lapse recording
MP count low (6 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
77
great battery power (660 shots)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Canon 10D Landscape photography highlights
Nikon D5100 Landscape photography highlights
45
manual focus
change lenses (Canon EF mount)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
tiny screen (1.8")
no liveview feature
no image stabilization
MP count low (6 megapixels)
no Time Lapse recording
72
focusing manually
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
great battery power (660 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon 10D as a Vlogging camera
Nikon D5100 as a Vlogging camera
9
no video recording
69
screen is selfie friendly
features face detect focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have microphone support
lack of image stabilization
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Canon 10D vs Nikon D5100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 10D and Nikon D5100
 Canon EOS 10DNikon D5100
General Information
Brand Canon Nikon
Model type Canon EOS 10D Nikon D5100
Class Advanced DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2003-03-31 2011-04-26
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - Expeed 2
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 22.7 x 15.1mm 23.6 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 342.8mm² 370.5mm²
Sensor resolution 6 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Highest resolution 3072 x 2048 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Highest boosted ISO 3200 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 7 11
Cross type focus points - 1
Lens
Lens mount type Canon EF Nikon F
Available lenses 250 309
Crop factor 1.6 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen size 1.8" 3"
Screen resolution 118 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x 0.52x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (ISO 100) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Red-eye reduction, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/200 seconds 1/200 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30, 25, 24 fps), 640 x 424 (30, 25 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 875 grams (1.93 lb) 560 grams (1.23 lb)
Physical dimensions 150 x 107 x 75mm (5.9" x 4.2" x 3.0") 128 x 97 x 79mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 57 80
DXO Color Depth rating 21.1 23.5
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.9 13.6
DXO Low light rating 571 1183
Other
Battery life - 660 pictures
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID - EN-EL14
Self timer Yes (10 sec (2 sec with mirror lock-up)) Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $1,900 $0