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Canon 60Da vs Nikon D5100

Portability
59
Imaging
59
Features
80
Overall
67
Canon EOS 60Da front
 
Nikon D5100 front
Portability
66
Imaging
57
Features
81
Overall
66

Canon 60Da vs Nikon D5100 Key Specs

Canon 60Da
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Increase to 12800)
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF/EF-S Mount
  • 755g - 145 x 106 x 79mm
  • Introduced April 2012
Nikon D5100
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Boost to 25600)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 560g - 128 x 97 x 79mm
  • Announced April 2011
  • Replaced the Nikon D5000
  • Newer Model is Nikon D5200
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Canon 60Da vs Nikon D5100 Overview

Below, we will be comparing the Canon 60Da and Nikon D5100, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Canon and Nikon. The image resolution of the 60Da (18MP) and the D5100 (16MP) is pretty close and they enjoy the exact same sensor measurements (APS-C).

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The 60Da was brought out 12 months later than the D5100 so they are both of a similar age. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Canon 60Da being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Nikon D5100 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving through a comprehensive comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the 60Da scores against the D5100 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon 60Da over the Nikon D5100

 60Da D5100 
AnnouncedApril 2012April 2011More recent by 12 months
Screen resolution1040k921kCrisper screen (+119k dot)

Reasons to pick Nikon D5100 over the Canon 60Da

 D5100 60Da 

Common features in the Canon 60Da and Nikon D5100

 60Da D5100 
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFully ArticulatedFully Articulated screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Selfie screen Both are selfie friendly
Touch screen No Touch screen

Canon 60Da vs Nikon D5100 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to lug around your camera often, you'll need to factor in its weight and size. The Canon 60Da enjoys outside measurements of 145mm x 106mm x 79mm (5.7" x 4.2" x 3.1") accompanied by a weight of 755 grams (1.66 lbs) and the Nikon D5100 has specifications of 128mm x 97mm x 79mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.1") and a weight of 560 grams (1.23 lbs).

Check the Canon 60Da and Nikon D5100 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you choose at the time. Here is the front view overall size comparison of the 60Da against the D5100.

Canon 60Da vs Nikon D5100 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the 60Da and D5100 is 59 and 66 respectively.

Canon 60Da vs Nikon D5100 top view buttons comparison

Canon 60Da vs Nikon D5100 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's tough to see the difference in sensor measurements purely by viewing technical specs. The visual below should provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the 60Da and D5100.

As you have seen, each of these cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same megapixels. You can expect the Canon 60Da to result in more detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop shots much more aggressively. The fresher 60Da is going to have an advantage in sensor tech.

Canon 60Da vs Nikon D5100 sensor size comparison

Canon 60Da vs Nikon D5100 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 60Da vs Nikon D5100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon 60Da as a Portrait photography camera
Nikon D5100 as a Portrait photography camera
75
you can focus manually
MP count good (18 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
74
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon 60Da
Street photography with Nikon D5100
66
screen articulates fully
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
environment sealing
lack of image stabilization
67
screen articulates fully
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Canon 60Da Sports photography features
Nikon D5100 Sports photography features
67
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
MP count good (18MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
environment sealing
better than average battery (1,100 per charge)
supports phase detect autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
64
megapixel count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
better than average battery power (660 per charge)
comes with phase detect auto focus
max fps low (4.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Canon 60Da as a Travel photography camera
Nikon D5100 as a Travel photography camera
68
better than average battery (1,100 CIPA)
environment sealing
MP count good (18MP)
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
doesn't have Time Lapse function
77
better than average battery power (660 CIPA)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon 60Da
Landscape photography with Nikon D5100
69
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Canon EF/EF-S mount)
screen size is good (3")
MP count good (18MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
environment sealing
better than average battery (1,100 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have Time Lapse function
73
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
better than average battery power (660 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon 60Da
Vlogging with Nikon D5100
67
screen is selfie friendly
has face detection autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with external mic socket
lack of image stabilization
69
selfie friendly screen
has face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have external mic socket
lack of image stabilization
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Canon 60Da vs Nikon D5100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 60Da and Nikon D5100
 Canon EOS 60DaNikon D5100
General Information
Make Canon Nikon
Model type Canon EOS 60Da Nikon D5100
Type Advanced DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2012-04-07 2011-04-26
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 4 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 6400 6400
Maximum boosted ISO 12800 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 9 11
Cross type focus points - 1
Lens
Lens mount type Canon EF/EF-S Nikon F
Number of lenses 326 309
Focal length multiplier 1.6 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 1,040k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology Clear View TFT color LCD TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 96 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.6x 0.52x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 5.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 13.00 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250s 1/200s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (29.97, 25, 23.976 fps), 1280 x 720 (59.94, 50 fps), 640 x 480 (59.94, 50 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 data format H.264 MPEG-4
Mic port
Headphone port
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 None Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 755g (1.66 pounds) 560g (1.23 pounds)
Dimensions 145 x 106 x 79mm (5.7" x 4.2" x 3.1") 128 x 97 x 79mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 80
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.5
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 1183
Other
Battery life 1100 pictures 660 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LP-E6 EN-EL14
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, remote) Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Launch cost $1,499 $0