Nikon D5100 Review | 108 Data compared

The Nikon D5100 is an entry-level DSLR camera that sits between the D3100 and D7000 models, offering high-quality performance in a compact body weighing 560 grams. Built around a 16-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor shared with the D7000, it delivers exceptional image quality with excellent electronic noise management up to ISO 3200, making images perfectly usable even at ISO 6400. The camera's main structural highlight is its well-calibrated, 7.5 cm side-articulated screen (920,000 dots), which proves highly practical for tripod use and video recording. Additionally, it boasts rapid startup times under 0.3 seconds, a reliable 3D tracking autofocus system, a modest 4 fps burst speed, and full HDTV 1080p video recording at 24, 25, or 30 fps. However, the D5100 suffers from noticeable ergonomics flaws and a sluggish contrast-detection autofocus system. The physical interface has been heavily rearranged due to the articulating screen, moving essential control buttons to awkward positions and separating the Live View lever from the video recording trigger. Autofocus in Live View and video modes is painfully slow, taking up to 1.5 seconds to lock focus while creating...

Nikon D5100 Review Summary The Nikon D5100 is a versatile APS-C (DX format) digital SLR camera tailored for beginners and enthusiasts looking for high performance without the steep price tag of an expert model. Built with the same 16-megapixel sensor and image processor as the higher-end D7000, it delivers exceptional, well-balanced image quality and clean JPEG performance up to ISO 1600, with highly usable results remaining at ISO 3200 and 6400. Key design strengths include a robust side-hinged articulating screen that enables creative framing angles, an intuitive physical layout for quick handling, a crisp 95% coverage viewfinder, and a reliable 9-point autofocus system (borrowed from the D3100) that excels in tracking moving subjects during real-world tests. Additionally, it provides a capable Full HD video mode featuring continuous autofocus tracking, making it highly appealing to videographers. Despite its strong performance, the camera has notable ergonomic and technical limitations. The exterior body lacks color variety and feels bulky to those transitioning from compact cameras, while the kit lens protrudes significantly at 18mm. The articulating display easily collects finger smudges and suffers from...

The 1point2vue review outlines the Nikon D5100 as a highly capable, mid-range amateur DSLR positioned between the beginner D3100 and advanced D7000. Key strengths include its 16-megapixel APS-C sensor and image processor shared with the more expensive D7000, delivering identical, high-quality images and excellent noise control up to ISO 800 (and highly usable quality at higher sensitivities like ISO 1600). The camera boasts a highly praise-worthy side-articulated swivel LCD screen, which enhances the "Live View" experience and makes its exceptional 1080p video recording functionality incredibly versatile. Additionally, an intelligent auto-ISO mode allows users to set minimum shutter speeds and maximum ISO limits to manage low-light noise automatically. However, the review points out several notable drawbacks. The menu interface is confusingly organised and lacks optimal hierarchy, requiring cumbersome menu navigation just to access standard manual white balance measurements. The automatic white balance itself struggles to output accurate colours under indoor artificial or fluorescent lighting, and the camera shows a slight tendency to overexpose certain auto-mode shots. Physically, despite its compact frame, the device is relatively heavy at nearly 600 grams with...

The reviewed Nikon D5100 is an entry-level DSLR camera evaluated during an intensive travel testing window across hot and humid environments in Singapore and Cambodia. For still photography, the reviewer highly praises its excellent image quality, lightweight design, and an incredibly effective 11-point autofocus system. It handles low-light environments marvelously, producing clean images at ISO 2000 and only showing visible noise starting at ISO 3200. Another major advantage is its articulated swivel screen, which makes it exceptionally easy to frame images from unusual angles or record handheld video clips. Conversely, the camera suffers from significant limitations when used for filmmaking and high-stakes travel. The continuous autofocus during video is highly erratic, continuously hunting across the focal range and creating distracting focus shifts and mechanical noise on the audio track. Performance also drops when capturing fast-moving scenes. From a hardware design perspective, the optical viewfinder is slightly uncomfortable because it fails to provide 100% field coverage. Furthermore, the un-lockable mode dial spins easily by accident when sliding the body out of a camera bag. Most critically, the review raises long-term durability...

The S2PMag review highlights the Nikon D5100 as an excellent consumer-oriented DSLR that strikes a balance between the entry-level D3100 and the high-end D7000. Equipped with the same 16.2-megapixel CMOS sensor found in the D7000, it delivers exceptional still-image quality with impressive noise management, allowing for clean, fully usable shots up to ISO 3200 and highly acceptable results at ISO 6400. The camera body boasts a solid build quality with comfortable rubberized grips, a swift startup time of 0.3 seconds, and a continuous burst shooting speed of 4 frames per second. A major standout feature is its side-articulating 3-inch LCD screen, which features a crisp 921,000-dot resolution and serves as a highly versatile asset for navigating complex shooting angles and recording video. In terms of video capabilities, the camera supports Full HD 1080p recording at 24, 25, and 30 frames per second using H.264 compression. However, the review points out several distinct drawbacks, particularly regarding its autofocus system and user interface. While standard viewfinder autofocus is responsive at roughly half a second, transitioning to Live View or video recording engages...

Based on the review by Les Numériques, the Nikon D5100 delivers outstanding electronic noise management, effectively inheriting the highly capable 16.2 MP APS-C CMOS sensor and Expeed 2 image processor from the more advanced D7000. Images captured between 100 and 400 ISO produce beautifully clean details with a grain that remains virtually imperceptible and shows very few stray colored pixels in dense, dark areas. While a slight "moutonnement" (swarming or fine noise pattern) begins to appear when stepping up to 800 ISO, the progression of noise up to 3200 ISO remains remarkably fine, uniform, and mostly free of heavy color degradation. Beyond this, while a detailed 100% crop screen examination does showcase some subtle digital grain artifacts, the camera positions itself as a fast and responsive entry-level DSLR capable of capturing high-quality photographs even in challenging lighting conditions. Key Pros and Cons Pros: Excellent noise control from 100 to 400 ISO featuring crisp details and clean solid colors. Fine-grained progression of digital noise up to 3200 ISO, ensuring images remain highly usable with minimal color distortion. High-end internal architecture that...

This review segment from Les Numériques evaluates the Nikon D5100 DSLR camera, focusing specifically on the sharpness and precision of the bundled 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6 VR kit lens, as well as the color rendering performance of the camera's automatic white balance (AWB) system. The review serves as a detailed component of their comprehensive testing cycle for this amateur-targeted reflex camera, evaluating how effectively the body handles daily color accuracy and kit-lens performance. In terms of pros, the reviewer highlights the bundled 18-55mm VR kit lens as a strong asset, noting its proven track record for offering an excellent price-to-performance ratio and reliable precision. However, the cons identified in Les Numériques' broader testing point to an overly slow autofocus system (except when operating in live view mode) and a somewhat unintuitive user interface with complex menus that can make initial handling difficult for novice photographers.

This review focuses on the textbook Le Nikon D5100 - Réglages, tests techniques et objectifs conseillés by Jean-Marie Sepulchre, published by Éditions Eyrolles. The guide positions the Nikon D5100 as a highly competitive, lightweight, and compact entry-level DSLR engineered for both photographers and videographers. A major pro highlighted in the text is the camera's exceptional image quality. It delivers superior results compared to older professional 12-megapixel APS-C models, but at a fraction of the cost and weight. Reviewers from DPReview support this by noting it uses the same highly respected 16.2-megapixel sensor as the enthusiast-grade Nikon D7000. Additionally, the book praises the physical ergonomics, highlighting the newly integrated side-hinged swivel LCD screen and the full-time autofocus capability during video capture as excellent usability upgrades. On the other hand, the primary con detailed in this review revolves around lens compatibility limitations. Due to the camera's ultra-compact build, it lacks an internal autofocus motor, meaning most legacy lenses from the previous century lose full autofocus compatibility. This restriction forces users to adjust focus manually, though the book does provide field-tested configurations to...

The Nikon D5100 is a compact, lightweight, and ergonomically stable DX-format DSLR that inherits the excellent 16-megapixel sensor from its larger sibling, the D7000. Designed primarily for photographers who prefer capturing images over adjusting complex parameters, its highly practical rotating LCD screen and solid hinge layout make it an ideal everyday companion for both photos and video recording. The camera software and internal firmware demonstrate rapid responsiveness when navigating menus or selecting autofocus points, matching the speed of older semi-pro bodies like the D300s. Performance-wise, it offers a maximum continuous shooting speed of 5 frames per second and versatile video recording frame rates at 24, 25, and 30 fps. The main advantages (pros) of the D5100 include its superb noise management at high sensitivities, rendering promising image quality up to ISO 6400, and a flexible backup option up to ISO 25,600 for emergency low-light scenarios. Additionally, its autofocus system performs precisely and efficiently even under difficult lighting conditions. On the downside (cons), the newly designed autofocus point indicators inside the viewfinder are too discreet and difficult to see in dark...

The Nikon D5100, rated 56/100 by Camerarace, is a compact (560g) and highly portable DSLR featuring a 3-inch articulated screen and wide dynamic range, ideal for landscape and daily use. Key advantages highlighted include an external microphone input for improved video, good sensor performance in high-contrast scenes, and a user-friendly design for varied shooting angles. Conversely, the review notes the D5100 lacks tropicalization/weather sealing, making it unsuitable for harsh environments, and completely lacks built-in Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity. While strong in street (64/100) and everyday shooting (65/100), it scores lower for portrait (49) and sports (47) photography, placing it in the top 47% of its segment.

The Photographies de l'année review awards the Nikon D5100 DSLR a score of 17/20, praising it as a reliable, high-performing, and lightweight camera body well-suited for everyday photography and amateur videography. The reviewer details several prominent technical features, including a 16.2 MP CMOS sensor that delivers exceptional image clarity, a 11-point autofocus system, Full HD 1080p video recording, and a burst shooting speed of 4 frames per second. The build also integrates a highly flexible 3-inch side-articulating LCD screen, optical image stabilization capabilities, built-in artistic special effects, and quiet shutter operation. Furthermore, it stands out for its excellent value-for-money at a listed price of 185.00 € and strong compatibility with lenses like the Nikkor VR II AF-S DX 18-55mm zoom lens. The core advantages highlighted in the breakdown include a comfortable, ergonomic grip that outperforms competitors like the Canon T3i, an intuitive menu interface, and general ease of transport due to its lightweight design. However, the review identifies minor disadvantages that limit the device, specifically noting that the layout configuration makes accessing certain settings inconvenient. It also reveals that the...

The 01net review highlights the Nikon D5100 as a high-performing entry-level DSLR that borrows the excellent 16.2 Mpx APS-C CMOS sensor and processor from its high-end sibling, the D7000. Among its main pros, the reviewer praises its outstanding ISO performance (which remains highly usable up to 6,400 ISO), a highly reliable autofocus tracking system for photography, and a versatile 920,000-dot articulating screen. Additionally, it offers diverse Full HD video modes (24p, 25p, and 30p) paired with an option to connect an external dedicated microphone, all delivered at a very fair and reasonable public price. However, the review points out several significant cons, primarily revolving around its complex ergonomics and poor beginner user-friendliness. Basic tasks, such as turning off the autofocus beep, require digging deep into complex nested menus. The video recording layout is also clunky, requiring a two-step physical process to start capturing video. Furthermore, the JPEG images are somewhat bland out-of-the-box due to mediocre kit lens tuning, the built-in microphone only records monaural sound, and the video mode suffers from a slow, "pumping" autofocus alongside a slightly weak dynamic...

YouTube · The review identifies several cons defining its entry-level status, such as the absence of a dedicated ISO button, lack of high-speed flash sync, and limited RAW buffer capacity, which fills up quickly during continuous shooting. Furthermore, users may encounter significant live-view lag when zooming 1:1, making precise manual focus difficult for fine-tuned photography.

Assuming you are evaluating the Nikon D5100 as a budget-friendly option for a beginner or hobbyist photographer looking for a versatile DSLR with a reliable sensor and articulating screen. Review Summary The Nikon D5100 is positioned as a versatile mid-range amateur DSLR designed to sit comfortably between the entry-level D3100 and the more advanced D7000. It is equipped with a 16-megapixel sensor, a high-resolution 920,000-dot LCD monitor, and Full HD 1080p video recording capabilities. Despite having strong technical specifications on paper to attract users seeking a well-rounded device, the review awards the camera a moderate 3 out of 5 stars, suggesting that its real-world performance does not fully live up to its initial promise. A major benefit of the camera is its fully articulating, side-mounted flip screen, which offers excellent flexibility for shooting from unusual angles or framing video shots. However, its overall market appeal is heavily impacted by its high initial launch price of €799, creating a significant drawback when compared to its sibling models and newer market alternatives that deliver better performance-to-cost ratios.