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Nikon D300S vs Nikon D5100

Portability
55
Imaging
52
Features
65
Overall
57
Nikon D300S front
 
Nikon D5100 front
Portability
66
Imaging
56
Features
81
Overall
66

Nikon D300S vs Nikon D5100 Key Specs

Nikon D300S
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Push to 6400)
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 938g - 147 x 114 x 74mm
  • Released November 2009
  • Replaced the Nikon D300
  • Updated by Nikon D600
Nikon D5100
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Push to 25600)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 560g - 128 x 97 x 79mm
  • Revealed April 2011
  • Old Model is Nikon D5000
  • Newer Model is Nikon D5200
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Nikon D300S vs Nikon D5100 Overview

Following is a extended review of the Nikon D300S versus Nikon D5100, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR and both of them are created by Nikon. There exists a large gap between the resolutions of the D300S (12MP) and D5100 (16MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The D300S was announced 17 months prior to the D5100 making the cameras a generation away from one another. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Nikon D300S being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Nikon D5100 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going through a in-depth comparison, below is a concise view of how the D300S scores versus the D5100 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D300S over the Nikon D5100

 D300S D5100 

Reasons to pick Nikon D5100 over the Nikon D300S

 D5100 D300S 
RevealedApril 2011November 2009More modern by 17 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution921k920kClearer display (+1k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Nikon D300S and Nikon D5100

 D300S D5100 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Nikon D300S vs Nikon D5100 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry around your camera regularly, you will need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Nikon D300S offers outer dimensions of 147mm x 114mm x 74mm (5.8" x 4.5" x 2.9") and a weight of 938 grams (2.07 lbs) and the Nikon D5100 has measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 79mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.1") with a weight of 560 grams (1.23 lbs).

Check the Nikon D300S versus Nikon D5100 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the D300S vs the D5100.

Nikon D300S vs Nikon D5100 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the D300S and D5100 is 55 and 66 respectively.

Nikon D300S vs Nikon D5100 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D300S vs Nikon D5100 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very hard to see the difference between sensor sizes just by checking specs. The image underneath should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the D300S and D5100.

All in all, each of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same resolution. You can anticipate the Nikon D5100 to resolve greater detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images a little more aggressively. The more aged D300S is going to be behind in sensor technology.

Nikon D300S vs Nikon D5100 sensor size comparison

Nikon D300S vs Nikon D5100 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D300S vs Nikon D5100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D300S Portrait photography highlights
Nikon D5100 Portrait photography highlights
63
focusing manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detection focus
exports RAW files
resolution not great (12MP)
73
manual focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with face detection focus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon D300S Street photography highlights
Nikon D5100 Street photography highlights
52
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
more heavy than others in class (938g)
67
screen can move to multiple angles
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon D300S
Sports photography with Nikon D5100
59
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
environment sealing
supports phase detect auto focus
does not have image stabilization
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
63
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
great battery pack (660 shots)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
max frames per second very slow (4.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D300S as a Travel photography camera
Nikon D5100 as a Travel photography camera
48
environment sealing
has built in flash
more heavy than others in class (938g)
resolution not great (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
77
great battery pack (660 per charge)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D300S Landscape photography information
Nikon D5100 Landscape photography information
65
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
2 card slots
does not have image stabilization
resolution not great (12MP)
72
manual focus
change lenses (Nikon F mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
great battery pack (660 CIPA)
does not have image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon D300S
Vlogging with Nikon D5100
22
supports face detection focus
comes with external microphone support
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
more heavy than others in class (938 grams)
69
selfie friendly display
comes with face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes external microphone support
does not have image stabilization
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Nikon D300S vs Nikon D5100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D300S and Nikon D5100
 Nikon D300SNikon D5100
General Information
Company Nikon Nikon
Model Nikon D300S Nikon D5100
Category Advanced DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2009-11-16 2011-04-26
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Expeed Expeed 2
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.6 x 15.8mm 23.6 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 372.9mm² 370.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Max resolution 4288 x 2848 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Max enhanced ISO 6400 25600
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Min enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 51 11
Cross focus points - 1
Lens
Lens mount Nikon F Nikon F
Amount of lenses 309 309
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 920k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech Super Density TFT color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.63x 0.52x
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 7.0 frames per sec 4.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250s 1/200s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 480 (24 fps), 320 x 240 (24 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30, 25, 24 fps), 640 x 424 (30, 25 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 938g (2.07 lb) 560g (1.23 lb)
Dimensions 147 x 114 x 74mm (5.8" x 4.5" x 2.9") 128 x 97 x 79mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 70 80
DXO Color Depth score 22.5 23.5
DXO Dynamic range score 12.2 13.6
DXO Low light score 787 1183
Other
Battery life 950 images 660 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL3e EN-EL14
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec) Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash Type I/SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Two One
Launch pricing $1,630 $0