Nikon S5100

Nikon S5100 is Nikon's Small Sensor Compact digital camera first launched on August of 2010. The camera has got a 12MP, CCD 1/2.3" size sensor with a max resolution of 4000 x 3000.

The S5100 is positioned #190 out of 261 in Small Sensor Compact cameras & overall #1135 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our database. You should test our Smart camera filter to find camera rankings based on your personal factors.

Here is a diagram of specific factors used in the rating system.

The Nikon S5100 has a history of related digital cameras. Below, you can check out all previous and more recent models as well as important features.

You can view the S5100 from several angles in the gallery here.

Here is a checklist of pluses and minuses of the Nikon S5100 based on features that are often considered important in a digital camera.

The Nikon S5100 is run by the Expeed C2 processor. The dimension of the sensor in the Nikon S5100 is 6.17mm x 4.55mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor has the capability to capture 4000 x 3000 pixels with aspect ratios of 4:3 and 16:9. The camera comes with Image Stabilization (Optical). Optical stabilization is more effective than digital stabilization as the latter might cause cropping.

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The CCD sensor has 12 megapixels and provides a standard ISO range of 100 - 1600. Sadly, RAW files are not supported so you have less room to maneuver in post.

The image below displays the S5100's sensor size in comparison to other popular sizes. The S5100 sensor has a crop factor of 5.8 and is pointed out in green.

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To get a sense of specific aspect ratios, you can refer to the graphic below.

Nikon S5100 weighs in at 0.29 lbs (132 grams / 4.66 ounces) & has exterior dimensions of 97mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9"). The weight of typical Small Sensor Compact camera is 174 grams so the Nikon S5100 is less heavy compared to its rivals.

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Listed below is a photo of the Nikon S5100 besides a soda so you're able to get a feel for its size.

The top view here will highlight the button design on the S5100.

The S5100 has a built in lens giving a focal range of 28-140mm giving it a 5.0 x zoom which might not be ideal however it will surely be convenient in a few cases.

At it's widest 28mm, the lens comes with an aperture of f2.7 and that is quite sluggish and not ideal for low light situations and you will find it difficult to get a shallow depth of field. You will likely also need to increase your ISO resulting in noisy images. On the long end, 140mm comes to f6.6 making it pretty sluggish and you would have to set slower shutter speeds.

The S5100 has the following connectivity:

• USB Yes

Digital cameras that include NFC and / or Bluetooth support can easily be controlled wirelessly via smartphones. You can copy files and at times adjust camera settings with no need to connect straight with the camera.

A few apps also provide a Liveview and hit the shutter whenever you are not close to the camera. If the camera includes a HDMI port, it could be connected to an external monitor. A lot of cameras will allow you to charge the battery pack using the USB port.

The max video quality in the Nikon S5100 is 1280 x 720 and you can save in Motion JPEG file format. 720p is awful for today's requirements. You really should aim for a minimum FUll HD quality for good video. The body does not have a microphone and / or headphone jack so you get zero control over the sound. It is probably a better idea to buy a different camera if you want good sound for your videos.

Nikon S5100 does not have environment proofing so damp conditions could affect the camera.

The Nikon S5100 has got a 2.7 inch fixed screen with a resolution of 230 thousand dots.

Please note that the screen has no touch support.

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The ViewFinder details for Nikon S5100 are as follows:

• ViewFinder None

Viewfinders can be quite helpful during bright outdoor conditions which can easily make the camera screen washed out and difficult to see.

The max shutter speed is 1/1500s.

Nikon S5100 comes with just in-built flash with no external flash support.

Nikon S5100 comes with only Contrast Based Auto Focus & doesn't have Phase Detect Auto Focus. Phase Detection autofocusing is a lot more snappier & exact compared to Contrast Based autofocusing.

Nikon S5100 does not have manual focusing. Manual focusing mode is good during low light situations or you want more precise focus control.

The usual Small Sensor Compact camera battery life is 241. Fujifilm X30 has the maximum (470) battery life within this class of cameras.

Below is a collection of Small Sensor Compact cameras with the best battery life:

ModelVisualizeBattery LifeRAWNFCBluetooth

Fujifilm X30
S5100 vs Fujifilm X30470 yesnono

Casio EX-10
S5100 vs EX-10455 yesnono

Photography Glossary

Ricoh GR Digital IV
S5100 vs GR Digital IV390 yesnono

Canon G12
S5100 vs G12370 yesnono

Canon G16
S5100 vs G16360 yesnono

The following bar chart provides a outline of the Nikon S5100 for varying types of photography. To find out more, visit the specific paragraph below.

The Nikon S5100 gets a points total of 21 which is awful, meaning that it is simply not very good for portrait photography. Taking portrait photos leans heavily to sensor specs, RAW support along with the capability to utilize external flash.

Coming in at a above average points tally of 62, the Nikon S5100 is a fine option to buy for street photography. A good street photography camera features a good balance of picture quality and portability.

A awful sports photography score of 27 suggests the Nikon S5100 is simply not very good for taking pictures of sports. A camera must have very good focusing plus fast shutter speeds for sports photography.

Size is pretty crucial in picking a camera for travel. On the whole, the Nikon S5100 gets a nice 62 for a travel camera which makes it a very decent choice for your journeys.

If you find yourself planning to purchase a digital camera for landscape photos, the most important factor is going to be image quality. The Nikon S5100 at it's awful score of 32 for a landscape camera is simply not very good amongst it's competitors.

A camera for vlogging should posses a articulating display screen, microphone input and if possible IBIS. Considering all the details, the Nikon S5100 is simply not very good as a vlog camera as it delivers a awful score of 31.

If you are searching for replacements to the S5100, below is a collection of the top placed cameras that fall within the family of Small Sensor Compact.

The line chart followed below offers you a bird's eye view of the S5100 versus it's top ranked competitors shown earlier.

Following are additional cameras you may consider as alternate options. To read through a complete comparison, just click on the "compare" link.