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Canon 6D vs Nikon D5100

Portability
59
Imaging
67
Features
70
Overall
68
Canon EOS 6D front
 
Nikon D5100 front
Portability
66
Imaging
56
Features
81
Overall
66

Canon 6D vs Nikon D5100 Key Specs

Canon 6D
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Raise to 102400)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF Mount
  • 770g - 145 x 111 x 71mm
  • Announced February 2013
  • Successor is Canon 6D MII
Nikon D5100
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Expand to 25600)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 560g - 128 x 97 x 79mm
  • Announced April 2011
  • Replaced the Nikon D5000
  • New Model is Nikon D5200
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Canon 6D vs Nikon D5100 Overview

Here is a thorough overview of the Canon 6D and Nikon D5100, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Canon and Nikon. There exists a huge gap among the image resolutions of the 6D (20MP) and D5100 (16MP) and the 6D (Full frame) and D5100 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor size.

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The 6D was unveiled 22 months later than the D5100 which makes them a generation apart from one another. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Canon 6D being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Nikon D5100 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go right into a in-depth comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the 6D grades vs the D5100 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon 6D over the Nikon D5100

 6D D5100 
AnnouncedFebruary 2013April 2011Fresher by 22 months
Screen resolution1040k921kCrisper screen (+119k dot)

Reasons to pick Nikon D5100 over the Canon 6D

 D5100 6D 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Canon 6D and Nikon D5100

 6D D5100 
Focus manually Very exact focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen size
Touch screen Neither features Touch screen

Canon 6D vs Nikon D5100 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry your camera frequently, you will want to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Canon 6D enjoys external measurements of 145mm x 111mm x 71mm (5.7" x 4.4" x 2.8") and a weight of 770 grams (1.70 lbs) whilst 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).

See the Canon 6D and Nikon D5100 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are using at that moment. Underneath is a front view over all size comparison of the 6D compared to the D5100.

Canon 6D vs Nikon D5100 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the 6D and D5100 is 59 and 66 respectively.

Canon 6D vs Nikon D5100 top view buttons comparison

Canon 6D vs Nikon D5100 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's hard to envision the difference in sensor sizing just by seeing technical specs. The graphic underneath will help offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the 6D and D5100.

As you have seen, both of these cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The 6D having a bigger sensor will make shooting bokeh less difficult and the Canon 6D will provide extra detail having an extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The more modern 6D is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Canon 6D vs Nikon D5100 sensor size comparison

Canon 6D vs Nikon D5100 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 6D vs Nikon D5100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon 6D Portrait photography info
Nikon D5100 Portrait photography info
80
manual focus
good MP (20 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
offers face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
73
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect focusing
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon 6D Street photography information
Nikon D5100 Street photography information
63
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW files
weather proof
very good high ISO (25,600)
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
67
screen articulates fully
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Canon 6D Sports photography factors
Nikon D5100 Sports photography factors
69
good MP (20 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
weather proof
good battery pack (1,090 CIPA)
supports phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (4.5 frames/s)
no image stabilization
63
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
good battery pack (660 per charge)
has phase detect AF
max fps very slow (4.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Canon 6D Travel photography advice
Nikon D5100 Travel photography advice
61
good battery pack (1,090 CIPA)
weather proof
good MP (20MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
77
good battery pack (660 CIPA)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Canon 6D Landscape photography information
Nikon D5100 Landscape photography information
73
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Canon EF mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
good MP (20 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
very good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
weather proof
good battery pack (1,090 shots)
no image stabilization
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
72
focusing manually
change lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
good battery pack (660 shots)
no image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon 6D as a Vlogging camera
Nikon D5100 as a Vlogging camera
30
offers face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with mic port
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
69
screen is selfie friendly
includes face detect focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has mic jack
no image stabilization
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Canon 6D vs Nikon D5100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 6D and Nikon D5100
 Canon EOS 6DNikon D5100
General Information
Brand Name Canon Nikon
Model Canon EOS 6D Nikon D5100
Category Advanced DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2013-02-12 2011-04-26
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 5+ Expeed 2
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor dimensions 36 x 24mm 23.6 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 864.0mm² 370.5mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Peak resolution 5472 x 3648 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Highest enhanced ISO 102400 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Minimum enhanced ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 11 11
Cross focus points 1 1
Lens
Lens mount Canon EF Nikon F
Available lenses 250 309
Crop factor 1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 1,040k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology Clear View II TFT LCD TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 97 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.71x 0.52x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 4.5 frames per second 4.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180 secs 1/200 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (29.97, 25, 23.976 fps), 1280 x 720 (59.94, 50 fps), 640 x 480 (25, 30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30, 25, 24 fps), 640 x 424 (30, 25 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264 MPEG-4
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 770g (1.70 lb) 560g (1.23 lb)
Physical dimensions 145 x 111 x 71mm (5.7" x 4.4" x 2.8") 128 x 97 x 79mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 82 80
DXO Color Depth score 23.8 23.5
DXO Dynamic range score 12.1 13.6
DXO Low light score 2340 1183
Other
Battery life 1090 photographs 660 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LP-E6 EN-EL14
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Launch price $1,699 $0