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Nikon D3S vs Nikon D5100

Portability
51
Imaging
57
Features
63
Overall
59
Nikon D3S front
 
Nikon D5100 front
Portability
66
Imaging
57
Features
81
Overall
66

Nikon D3S vs Nikon D5100 Key Specs

Nikon D3S
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800 (Increase to 102400)
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 1240g - 160 x 157 x 88mm
  • Introduced February 2010
  • Older Model is Nikon D3
  • Newer Model is Nikon D4
Nikon D5100
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Increase to 25600)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 560g - 128 x 97 x 79mm
  • Launched April 2011
  • Superseded the Nikon D5000
  • Updated by Nikon D5200
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Nikon D3S vs Nikon D5100 Overview

Here is a extended review of the Nikon D3S versus Nikon D5100, former being a Pro DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR and both of them are designed by Nikon. There exists a large gap among the image resolutions of the D3S (12MP) and D5100 (16MP) and the D3S (Full frame) and D5100 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor measurements.

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The D3S was revealed 14 months prior to the D5100 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both cameras offer different body type with the Nikon D3S being a Large SLR camera and the Nikon D5100 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting through a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple summation of how the D3S scores versus the D5100 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D3S over the Nikon D5100

 D3S D5100 

Reasons to pick Nikon D5100 over the Nikon D3S

 D5100 D3S 
LaunchedApril 2011February 2010Fresher by 14 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Nikon D3S and Nikon D5100

 D3S D5100 
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Display resolution921k921kEqual display resolution
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Nikon D3S vs Nikon D5100 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry your camera, you will need to factor its weight and proportions. The Nikon D3S provides physical dimensions of 160mm x 157mm x 88mm (6.3" x 6.2" x 3.5") with a weight of 1240 grams (2.73 lbs) and the Nikon D5100 has measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 79mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.1") along with a weight of 560 grams (1.23 lbs).

Look at the Nikon D3S versus Nikon D5100 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are utilising at the time. Following is the front view sizing comparison of the D3S versus the D5100.

Nikon D3S vs Nikon D5100 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the D3S and D5100 is 51 and 66 respectively.

Nikon D3S vs Nikon D5100 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D3S vs Nikon D5100 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's tough to see the difference in sensor sizing only by seeing a spec sheet. The photograph here will help provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the D3S and D5100.

Clearly, the 2 cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The D3S with its larger sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field simpler and the Nikon D5100 will show more detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop pics far more aggressively. The older D3S will be behind in sensor tech.

Nikon D3S vs Nikon D5100 sensor size comparison

Nikon D3S vs Nikon D5100 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D3S vs Nikon D5100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D3S as a Portrait photography camera
Nikon D5100 as a Portrait photography camera
64
has manual focus
sensor size is great (Full frame)
exports RAW files
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
74
focusing manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Nikon D3S as a Street photography camera
Nikon D5100 as a Street photography camera
55
sensor size is great (Full frame)
exports RAW files
weather proof
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
67
screen can move to multiple angles
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D3S Sports photography highlights
Nikon D5100 Sports photography highlights
66
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
includes tracking focus
weather proof
better than average battery power (4,200 CIPA)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
no image stabilization
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
64
good megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports tracking focus
good battery (660 CIPA)
has phase detect autofocus
max fps very slow (4.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D3S as a Travel photography camera
Nikon D5100 as a Travel photography camera
51
better than average battery power (4,200 CIPA)
weather proof
low resolution sensor (12MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
77
good battery (660 CIPA)
good megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D3S Landscape photography info
Nikon D5100 Landscape photography info
67
has manual focus
change lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
exports RAW files
weather proof
better than average battery power (4,200 CIPA)
2 card slots
no image stabilization
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
73
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Nikon F mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
good megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
good battery (660 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D3S Vlogging details
Nikon D5100 Vlogging details
15
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no mic support
69
screen is selfie friendly
supports face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has mic jack
lack of image stabilization
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Nikon D3S vs Nikon D5100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D3S and Nikon D5100
 Nikon D3SNikon D5100
General Information
Company Nikon Nikon
Model type Nikon D3S Nikon D5100
Type Pro DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2010-02-16 2011-04-26
Body design Large SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Expeed Expeed 2
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor dimensions 36 x 23.9mm 23.6 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 860.4mm² 370.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 5:4 and 3:2 3:2
Full resolution 4256 x 2832 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 12800 6400
Max boosted ISO 102400 25600
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Lowest boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 51 11
Cross type focus points 15 1
Lens
Lens support Nikon F Nikon F
Total lenses 309 309
Crop factor 1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 921 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology Low-temperature polysilicon TFT color LCD TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x 0.52x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 11.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Front curtain, Rear curtain, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250s 1/200s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 424 (24 fps), 320 x 216 (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
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 1240 gr (2.73 lb) 560 gr (1.23 lb)
Dimensions 160 x 157 x 88mm (6.3" x 6.2" x 3.5") 128 x 97 x 79mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 82 80
DXO Color Depth rating 23.5 23.5
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.0 13.6
DXO Low light rating 3253 1183
Other
Battery life 4200 photos 660 photos
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL4a EN-EL14
Self timer Yes (2 to 20 sec) Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II) x 2, UDMA SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Two Single
Price at launch $5,200 $0