The Nikon D5100 is a little late to the market, but it's quite welcome. While we liked the preceding D5000 model, its larger size and especially the bottom-hinged swivel screen didn't make it our favorite, among an overwhelming number of recent Nikon digital SLRs that fairly knocked our socks off. That's changed with the Nikon D5100, as it pushes most all the right buttons. It's also better aimed at the Canon T3i, its major competitor.
Based around the same 16.2-megapixel DX-format CMOS image sensor and EXPEED 2 image processing as featured in the prosumer nikon D7000, the D5100 offers similarly good image quality in a more affordable, approachable body. ISO sensitivity ranges from 100 to 6,400 equivalents by default, but can be extended as high as 25,600 equivalent if desired.
Compared to its predecessor, the Nikon D5100 makes a number of important changes, and it also includes several features which are unique among the company's DSLR lineup. Despite being the company's first SLR to feature a side-swiveling LCD display, the D5100 has a smaller overall body design than that of the D5000. Unlike the earlier camera's bottom-swivel display, the side-swivel is a versatile design that allows the live view feed to be seen when framing self-portraits.
The D5100 is also Nikon's first SLR to include in-camera high dynamic range (HDR) imaging capability. A single press of the shutter release captures two shots, with the first intentionally underexposed, and the second overexposed. The two are then combined in-camera to yield a final exposure with much wider dynamic range than is possible in a single exposure.
the Nikon D5100 can record high definition video at resolutions up to 1,920 x 1,080 pixels, using MPEG-4 AVCHD / H.264 compression. Full-time autofocus is available in the D5100's live view and video modes, including a face detection function which can locate up to 35 faces in a scene simultaneously. Note, though, that the D5100 features an AF-S lens mount, and hence can't autofocus with screw-drive lenses.
Basic Specifications
- Resolution : 16.20 Megapixels
- Kit Lens : 3.00x zoom 18-55mm (27-83mm eq.)
- Viewfinder : Optical / LCD
- LCD Size : 3.0 inch
- ISO : 100-25600
- Shutter : 30-1/4000
- Max Aperture : 3.5
- Dimensions : 5.0 x 3.8 x 3.1 in. (128 x 97 x 79 mm)
- Weight : 19.9 oz (565 g) includes batteries
