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Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5100

Portability
68
Imaging
54
Features
59
Overall
56
Nikon D3100 front
 
Nikon D5100 front
Portability
66
Imaging
56
Features
81
Overall
66

Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5100 Key Specs

Nikon D3100
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Expand to 12800)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 505g - 124 x 96 x 75mm
  • Launched December 2010
  • Older Model is Nikon D3000
  • Refreshed by Nikon D3200
Nikon D5100
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Boost to 25600)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 560g - 128 x 97 x 79mm
  • Released April 2011
  • Earlier Model is Nikon D5000
  • Newer Model is Nikon D5200
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Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5100 Overview

Below is a thorough review of the Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5100, both Entry-Level DSLR digital cameras and both are built by Nikon. The sensor resolution of the D3100 (14MP) and the D5100 (16MP) is fairly well matched and both cameras provide the identical sensor size (APS-C).

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The D3100 was released 4 months before the D5100 and they are both of a similar age. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact SLR).

Before we go straight to a full comparison, here is a simple view of how the D3100 grades vs the D5100 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D3100 over the Nikon D5100

 D3100 D5100 

Reasons to pick Nikon D5100 over the Nikon D3100

 D5100 D3100 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Nikon D3100 and Nikon D5100

 D3100 D5100 
ReleasedDecember 2010April 2011Similar age
Manual focus Very precise focusing
Display size3"3"Same display size
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5100 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to lug around your camera regularly, you will want to factor its weight and dimensions. The Nikon D3100 enjoys physical measurements of 124mm x 96mm x 75mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 3.0") having a weight of 505 grams (1.11 lbs) and the Nikon D5100 has dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 79mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.1") accompanied by a weight of 560 grams (1.23 lbs).

Compare the Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5100 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are employing during that time. Following is a front view measurement comparison of the D3100 compared to the D5100.

Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5100 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the D3100 and D5100 is 68 and 66 respectively.

Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5100 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5100 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very difficult to envision the contrast between sensor measurements just by checking technical specs. The photograph below will help offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the D3100 and D5100.

As you can tell, both the cameras come with the identical sensor size but not the same megapixels. You can anticipate the Nikon D5100 to resolve greater detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos a good deal more aggressively.

Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5100 sensor size comparison

Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5100 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon D3100
Portrait photography with Nikon D5100
72
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
73
has manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
provides face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon D3100
Street photography with Nikon D5100
58
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
67
screen articulates fully
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D3100 Sports photography features
Nikon D5100 Sports photography features
60
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports tracking focus
comes with phase detect autofocus
max fps low (3.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
63
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
good battery power (660 CIPA)
has phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Nikon D3100 Travel photography details
Nikon D5100 Travel photography details
58
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
does not contain selfie friendly screen
77
good battery power (660 CIPA)
resolution is good (16MP)
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D3100 Landscape photography details
Nikon D5100 Landscape photography details
65
has manual focus
change lenses (Nikon F mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse function
72
has manual focus
switch lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
good battery power (660 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon D3100
Vlogging with Nikon D5100
27
supports face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
lack of mic port
69
selfie friendly display
provides face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has microphone support
lack of image stabilization
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Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D3100 and Nikon D5100
 Nikon D3100Nikon D5100
General Information
Make Nikon Nikon
Model type Nikon D3100 Nikon D5100
Type Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2010-12-21 2011-04-26
Physical type Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Expeed 2 Expeed 2
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.1 x 15.4mm 23.6 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 355.7mm² 370.5mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Full resolution 4608 x 3072 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Max boosted ISO 12800 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 11 11
Cross type focus points 1 1
Lens
Lens support Nikon F Nikon F
Total lenses 309 309
Focal length multiplier 1.6 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT LCD monitor TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x 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 per second 4.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/200 seconds 1/200 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30, 25, 24 fps), 640 x 424 (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 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4 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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 505g (1.11 lbs) 560g (1.23 lbs)
Physical dimensions 124 x 96 x 75mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 3.0") 128 x 97 x 79mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 67 80
DXO Color Depth rating 22.5 23.5
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.3 13.6
DXO Low light rating 919 1183
Other
Battery life 550 images 660 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL14 EN-EL14
Self timer Yes Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $565 $0