The Nikon D5100 is the company's latest 'upper-entry-level' DSLR

Nikon D5100 review

The Nikon D5100 is the company's latest 'upper-entry-level' DSLR aimed at beginners or those wanting a step-up from a basic budget model. Announced in April 2011, it comes exactly two years after its predecessor, the popular D5000. The new D5100 is positioned between the entry-level D3100 and the mid-range D7000, and goes head-to-head against Canon's EOS 600D / Rebel T3i.

Externally the Nikon D5100 enjoys a redesigned shape that's noticeably shorter than its predecessor and a little lighter too. Physically the biggest difference though concerns the screen round the back: it's still articulated, but taking a leaf from Canon and Panasonic, it's now hinged at the side rather than the bottom. Nikon's also upgraded the screen from the basic 2.7in / 230k panel of the D5000 to a larger and much more detailed 3in / 921k panel here.

Inside, the D5100 inherits the 16.2 Megapixel sensor of the D7000, giving it four Megapixels more than its predecessor. It also unsurprisingly now offers Full HD 1080p movie recording, although unlike the D7000 this is offered at 24, 25 or 30fps. The D5100 also offers the Full-time continuous autofocus during movies of the D3100 and D7000 before it, along with an external microphone input. Completing the headline upgrades is a new EFFECTS position on the dial which presents a variety of special effects including miniature, sketch and selective colour, along with a Night Vision option working at up to 102,400 ISO. Let's now look at the camera in more detail.

So the Nikon D5100 essentially offers three major upgrades over its predecessor: it inherits the excellent sensor of the D7000, upgrades the screen size, resolution and hinge mounting, and borrows the core movie capabilities of the D3100 and D7000, while also offering a broader selection of frame rates at 1080p and a mic input. The much preferable side-hinging for the screen has also eliminated the D5000's disproportionately tall viewfinder head, allowing Nikon to design a shorter and curvier body for the new model. In addition to this you also get the new EFFECTS mode which can be applied to some movies as well as stills, along with an HDR option.

While the viewfinder, AF system and continuous shooting remain essentially unchanged from its predecessor, the upgrades described above add up to a much improved camera experience. Revealingly most of the core improvements are focused around the Live View and movie modes, with little other than an improved sensor to tempt traditional photographers, but that's par for the course for most new entry-level DSLRs. Canon employs exactly the same strategy, essentially leaving Sony to innovate at this price point.

If you were hoping for faster continuous shooting, improved AF or a bigger viewfinder, you'll be disappointed, but by offering the D7000's quality at a lower price point with an excellent flip-out screen and a broader selection of 1080p frame rates, there's a great deal to like here. The D5100 is destined to become another big seller for Nikon, although its rival from Canon has never been closer.

Entry level with Pro level features.

I've always wanted to get deeper into photography, but I was never willing to cough up the money for a real DSLR. I wanted to have a decent camera for my upcoming honeymoon so I did my research and ended up buying the Nikon D5100, and I'm glad I did. I am nowhere near a professional photographer, so there was no need to spend a ton of money on a pro-level camera. The Nikon D5100 has been reviewed as the best upper-tier entry level camera on the market, and although I have not physically tried other cameras, I would have to agree. The D5100 has many features that higher end cameras have, yet at quite a lower price point.

The picture quality is really impressive IMHO, I have not taken a bad picture (the ones I put effort into)as of yet. The noise level has been very low from the start, and only gets a bit fuzzy with a lot of zoom, or lack of light. All other pictures are crystal clear, and for this, I give the D5100 four stars. On a side note, I have played with the F-stop, aperture, and ISO settings and have managed to reduce noise even more, but still have a lot of learning to do.

The D5100 comes in a nice compact package, and is fairly light weight. Even with a decent sized zoom lens the D5100 has a good balance to it, and doesn't feel front-heavy. The size itself is really nice, yet I have fairly large hands, and had to get used to holding on to the camera so it was fully secure in my grip. I gave this category three stars because of this. On a side note, I recently purchased a battery grip and have no issues at all holding the D5100 now. Some people may prefer the D5100 without the battery grip, but I think this is the way to go for comfort, plus extended battery life.

With all of the features that the D5100 has, I feel I couldn't go wrong with the money. For those who simply enjoy a point and shoot type of camera, the basic settings are perfect and produce quality results. For those who want to make adjustments themselves, this camera totally rocks. I still haven't tried every setting to maximum potential, but the hours I have spent tweaking this and that have produced some truly awesome results. I bought the D5100 body only, and purchased lenses of my own choice which I think is the best way to go about it if you want to get the best out of this camera. I am definitely not throwing the kit lens (18mm-55mm) under the bus, it just was not for me.

All in all, I would recommend this camera to anyone looking to enter the world of photography as well as seasoned pros who might want a less expensive camera that takes really good shots.

I would NOT recommend the Nikon D5100 to ANYONE.

I bought a Nikon D5100 with these TWO "kit" lenses: 18-55 and 55-200mm. As background, I have 45 years "serious amateur" experience in photography, but little in digital photography. My first "serious" digital SLR was a SONY A100 that I bought so I could use my Minolta AF lenses. I wanted to update my camera because technology has advanced so much! It was a major decision to change camera brands because of my investment over the years in Minolta AF mount lenses. BUT, I wanted something lighter than the SONY "professional" cameras, and something with a better imaging reputation.

I shot approximately 90 test images with each of the lenses. After carefully reviewing them at 100% magnification in Photoshop, I can honestly say that only 1 of the 180 photos was genuinely sharp.

The 55-200 had trouble focusing under certain circumstances even in mid-day on a mostly cloudy day. Either the lenses, the sensor or the in camera software did a poor job with contrast and color rendition, in addition to the lack of sharpness. Neither zoom ring moved "smoothly." Both felt "rough." I understand that they are relatively cheap "kit" lenses, but I expect better from a lens with the Nikkor name!

The mirror in the SLR body did something indicative of poor design, poor quality and/or poor manufacturing. It shifted at the last moment as it seated itself. It was not aligned properly for its travel and seating.

There is something about the design of the D5100 body front where it is supposed to fit your right hand that was VERY uncomfortable for me. This could be a personal issue since hand sizes vary.

Fortunately, I was able to return the camera for a full refund!

Overall, I was EXTREMELY disappointed! I expected MUCH better from Nikon. I then bought a Canon T3i with 18-55 and 55-250mm "kit" lenses, which is roughly equivalent to the Nikon D5100 package but $100 more. I had read MANY reviews, both professional and user. They almost unanimously favored the Nikon which is why I first tried the Nikon. I have now had the Canon for about a week and shot perhaps 80 test images. Out of the 80 images, most are extremely sharp even magnified to 200% in Photoshop. While both lenses appear to focus quickly and properly in all lighting conditions, I had trouble at the 250mm end. In defense of the lens, I do NOT yet know how to change the focusing parameters and I was trying to capture either a distant deer or bird both partly hidden in a mess of branches or trees. The camera did not know what I wanted to focus on. Exposure, color and contrast rendition are excellent!

Oddly, in the full automatic setting, the camera wants to use the flash in situations that I do NOT believe call for flash. Interestingly, and useful for idiot-proof photography, in full automatic the camera's brain alters the ISO setting to afford "optimum" settings for a decent photo. They may not be the settings a knowledgeable photographer would choose, but they work!

The camera body appears to be solid, properly designed, engineered and manufactured. Unfortunately, it is slightly heavier than the Nikon, which is a major factor for me.

So far, I am very pleased with the Canon T3i. I am only pondering TWO "walk around" lenses versus buying the Tamron 18-270.

Great little camera at a good price

Excellent Nikon DSLR with most of the features of the much higher priced D7000. The body is plastic so not as rugged as the more advanced models and like other "consumer" Nikons, you can only auto-focus with lenses having built-in motors. Virtually all the non-pro lenses have motors so this is not a major concern to most novice and casual photographers. You don't get the more advanced focusing system and the more sophisticated flash capabilities of the more expensive models, but again the target audience won't miss these features that much. However, you do get the same sensor and LCD panel as the D7000 so picture taking quality is just as superb. The articulated LCD panel comes in handy in some situations as I found out in framing a difficult shot in the woods. And I love the HDR setting for helping exposure in high-contrast situations though the need to reset every time is somewhat bothersome . The camera can take 1080p movies and the interface is sophisticated for a consumer model. Live View is excellent for a DSLR. Controls and menus are not as smooth as the larger cameras but functional. As numerous reviews have pointed out, the lack of ISO and White Balance buttons are annoying, but again for the target consumer not a big negative.

In every way that matters to me, this is the best DX camera Nikon makes!

I have been a Nikon photographer, part time pro and full time enthusiast, for most of my life, and I am surprised to find that the D5100 is the best camera I have ever owned! I was really reluctant to buy it because of the lack of a top screen, buttons and focus motor, but I have never been happier. It has a seemingly endless list of features including HDR, which no other Nikon has. I read the reviews and did not think I would use HDR much, but I was wrong. I put in on my function button! The low light capability is nothing short of astounding! I used to work so hard with my monopod to get good twilight shots, but now I can handhold and get better results. The exposure has probably surprised me the most. It is always correct, 99.9%. This is the first Nikon I have not had to bracket with. Battery life is better than advertised too, but I always use an external flash when I need one. So bottom line, if you are like me and afraid to "move down," take the reviews with a grain of salt. This is an incredible camera, better in every way that matters to me, and you quickly get used to working the menus and learning to not look at the top of the camera. My only wish is that it was a little bigger, but that is just my preference.