Nikon D5100
- 16MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Fully Articulated Screen
- ISO 100 - 6400 (Push to 25600)
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Nikon F Mount
- 560g - 128 x 97 x 79mm
- Launched April 2011
- Previous Model is Nikon D5000
- Renewed by Nikon D5200
- Read full specs
- Alternatives
- Lenses
- Size Comparison
- FAQ
66 Imaging
56 Features
81 Overall
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Nikon D5100 summary
Nikon D5100 is Nikon's Entry-Level DSLR digital camera initially revealed on April of 2011. It uses a 16 MegaPixel, CMOS APS-C sized sensor and has a max resolution of 4928 x 3264.
Nikon released this model to update the earlier Nikon D5000 (Read Full Comparison) & afterwards launched the newer Nikon D5200 (Read Full Comparison) to replace this model.
The D5100 is placed #26 out of 80 in Entry-Level DSLR cameras & over all #216 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our list. You should try out our Smart camera finder to find camera rankings based on your personal requirements.
The following is a diagram of multiple factors used in the rating system.
Nikon D5100 history
The Nikon D5100 is part of a family of products. You can view the full range underneath.
Nikon D5100 Gallery
You can see the D5100 from various angles in the gallery here.
Nikon D5100 Pros and Cons
Below is a checklist of advantages and disadvantages of the Nikon D5100 based on factors which are typically considered crucial in a digital camera.
Nikon D5100 Sensor specifications
The Nikon D5100 is powered by the Expeed 2 processor chip. The specification of the sensor on the Nikon D5100 is 23.6mm x 15.7mm (APS-C). The 371 mm² sensor is able to capture 4928 x 3264 pixels at aspect ratios of 3:2.
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or banThe CMOS sensor has 16MP and supports a standard ISO range of 100 to 6400. This ISO can be widened electronically to a high of 25600. RAW format is saved therefore you have wider room to maneuver in post.
The graphic underneath shows the D5100's sensor dimensions when compared to other popular sizes. The D5100 sensor has a crop factor of 1.5 and is pointed out in green.
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created ImagesTo get a sense of various aspect ratios, you can refer to the graphic below.
Nikon D5100 dimensions
Nikon D5100 has a weight of 1.23 pounds (560g or 19.75 ounces) & the over all size of the camera is 128mm x 97mm x 79mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.1"). The weight of typical Entry-Level DSLR camera is 540g and the Nikon D5100 is very much the same compared with other competitors.
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modesDown below is a picture of the Nikon D5100 beside a softdrink so you can get a feel for its scale.
The top view just below will show the button arrangement on the D5100.
Nikon D5100 Lens specifications
The D5100 works with the Nikon F mount and has 315 lenses currently available. Below is some of the lenses we have in our database which will fit the D5100.
Nikon D5100 Connectivity
The D5100 has the following connectivity:
- USB Yes
- Wireless Yes
- HDMI Yes
- GPS Yes
Digital cameras that feature NFC or Bluetooth compatibility can easily be used wirelessly via smartphones. You are able to send images and usually alter camera settings without connecting straight to the camera.
A few applications even stream a Liveview and hit the shutter if you are not close to the camera. If the camera boasts a HDMI port, it could be attached to an external monitor. Nearly all cameras enable you to charge the battery pack with the USB port.
Nikon D5100 Video specifications
The max video resolution on the Nikon D5100 is 1920 x 1080 and you can capture in MPEG-4 file format. 1080p resolution can provide a good balance in video quality versus file sizes but 1080p will not leave you with any room to downsample. Even though the camera has a microphone jack, it is sadly missing a headphone jack which means you won't be able to check your audio levels.
Nikon D5100 Weather Sealing
There is no environment proofing for the Nikon D5100 so you need to be careful in wet and dusty situations.
Nikon D5100 Screen and Viewfinder
The Nikon D5100 houses a 3" fully articulated screen boasting a resolution of 921k dots.
The screen is selfie friendly for self portraits and even group shots if necessary. Unfortunately the screen isn't a touch screen.
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music videoThe View Finder specs for Nikon D5100 are below:
- ViewFinder Optical (pentamirror)
- Coverage 95 percent
- Magnification 0.52x
For sunny outdoor situations which make the camera displays washed out and hard to see, viewfinders are rather useful.
Nikon D5100 Shutter specifications
Nikon D5100 is able to shoot continuously at 4.0 frames per second. The highest shutter speed is 1/4000s.
Nikon D5100 Flash and Hot shoe specifications
Nikon D5100 has both built in flash together with external flash support. The highest flash sync is 1/200s.
Nikon D5100 Autofocus specifications
Nikon D5100 has both Phase Detect Auto Focus plus Contrast Detect Auto Focus. Phase Detection autofocusing is a lot faster and precise compared with Contrast Detect autofocusing. The camera boasts Face detection which makes it useful for people photography.
It boasts 11 focus points to pick from. It also comes with Tracking Auto Focus for moving objects. Nikon D5100 comes with manual focus if needed in low light situations or you want to have more precise focus control.
Nikon D5100 Battery life
The battery pack (EN-EL14) for the Nikon D5100 is designed to last for 660 images based on the CIPA standards which is higher than standard ın comparison with its class. The usual Entry-Level DSLR camera battery life is 589. Pentax K-x has got the maximum (1900) battery life in this class of cameras.
Listed below is a number of Entry-Level DSLR cameras having the best battery life:
Nikon D5100 for specific styles of photography
The following bar chart presents a summary of the Nikon D5100 for specific styles of photography. To read more, have a look at the specific section underneath.
Nikon D5100 as a Portrait photography camera
The Nikon D5100 gets a points total of 73 which is very good, and means the camera is a fine choice to use for portrait photography. Shooting portrait images favors greatly towards sensor dimensions, support for RAW files & ability to work with external flash.
Nikon D5100 as a Street photography camera
Getting a very good points tally of 67, the Nikon D5100 is a fine option to buy for street photography. A decent street photography camera provides a perfect balance of picture quality and portability.
Sports photography with Nikon D5100
A above average sports photography score of 63 means the Nikon D5100 is a fine option for taking photos of sports. A camera should have excellent autofocus plus fast shutter speeds for sports photography.
Nikon D5100 Travel photography information
Weight is very critical when buying a camera for travel. Over-all, the Nikon D5100 gets a wonderful 77 as a travel camera which is a wonderful pick to take on your journeys.
Nikon D5100 as a Landscape photography camera
For anybody planning to choose a camera for landscape photos, the most essential aspect is going to be image quality. The Nikon D5100 at it's above average rating of 72 as a landscape camera is a fine fit within the current market.
Vlogging with Nikon D5100
A vlogging camera ought to posses a articulating display, microphone input and if possible IBIS. Considering everything, the Nikon D5100 is a good option for vlogging as it delivers a nice score of 69.
Nikon D5100 Alternatives
If you are looking for alternatives to the D5100, below is a collection of the top scored cameras which fall within the family of Entry-Level DSLR.
The diagram underneath provides you a bird's eye view of the D5100 compared to it's top rated rivals listed above.
Following are additional cameras you might look at as alternate options. To read through a complete comparison, go to the "compare" link.