For the opportunity Nikon D5100 body camera review Many thanks to Sergey Svirida.
Nikon D5100 review
I want to write everything at once about the Nikon D5100 - it's just awesome multimedia harvester, which manages to squeeze just the prohibitive image quality. In this review, information is only about the camera itself Nikon D5100 body. Very often, the Nikon D5100 is sold along with universal lenses, and this set is called Kit. Usually in a set Nikon D5100 Kit such lenses as:
- Nikon 18-105mm f / 3.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S DX Nikkor
- Nikon 18-55mm f / 3.5-5.6G ED AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor (or one of its 3 modifications)
- Nikon 18-200mm f / 3.5-5.6G IF-ED AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkorcan be met very rarely
- Nikon 55-200mm f / 4-5.6 AF-S VR DX Zoom-Nikkoras optional included
- Nikon 55-300mm f / 4.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S DX Nikkor as optional in kit
The best option is an 18-200mm lens, it is enough for all occasions - from a wide angle for a landscape or a small apartment, to photographing birds and bunnies. If you still need to start somewhere, then the kit lens 18-55m is quite suitable, and do not believe that the kit lens is so terrible, just important how to take pictures, and not on what technique. For portrait shooting, I advise you to look towards the lens Nikon 50mm f / 1.8G AF-S Nikkor, and as a good sharp fast aperture fixed lens for every day can act Nikon 35mm f / 1.8G AF-S DX Nikkor.
View of the Nikon D5100 camera from different angles
Nikon D5100 - This is an amateur SLR camera from Nikon, a highly updated version of the Nikon D5000. The camera can shoot Full HD video and take pictures at a speed 4 frames per second.
Sample photo on Nikon D5100
Important points:
Matrix Nikon D5100 matrix based Nikon D7000. The matrix Nikon D7000 can give out a picture high dynamic range, excellent color reproduction and low noise at high ISO. The Nikon D5100 does the same. When I took the first test shots on Nikon D5100 and ISO 6400, I was just amazed at the image quality. The result was really very juicy and lively picture, and this is at 16,2 megapixels, because in this review there are many night photos as examples. ISO camera can be set from value 100 to 25,600, values ISO 12.800. и ISO 25.600. are denoted as Hi1 и Hi2, I do not recommend shooting at such high ISO.
Nikon D5100 installed CMOS 16.2-megapixel sensor. Yes, the Nikon D5100 has as much as 16,2MP, which is the same as that of Nikon D7000 and full frame Nikon D4. More megapixels can only be found in the very expensive Nikon D3x, Nikon D800,D800E, D3200, D600, D5200 (at the time of writing). The number of megapixels is not a serious indicator of the quality of a photograph, but still, the more the better. If you are chasing megapixels, I advise you to pay attention to my note Battle of Megapixels. I shoot 6.2 megapixel without any problems Nikon D40I advise you to go to the review page Nikon D40 and make sure that even at 6.2MP you can get an excellent image result.
Nikon D5100 uses a sensor manufactured by Sony, the same sensor is found in cameras:
- Nikon D7000
- Pentax K-30
- Pentax K-5
- Pentax K-01
- Sony a580
- Sony A55
- Sony NEX-5N
Photo on Nikon D5100 - saturated colors of the camera
Actually, the matrix is the heart of the camera, and the better it is, the better your photographs will be. Nikon D5100 has the same matrix size as the more advanced ones Nikon D7000, D90, D300s. The Nikon D5100 APS-C sensor available, which means that the matrix is 2.25 times smaller in area than the matrix of full-frame SLR cameras, such as Nikon D700 or D3s. This entails an effect. crop factor. When using lenses from full-frame cameras, the viewing angle will be narrower than on film or in a full frame. More details in the article Crop Factor.
Sample photo on Nikon D5100
Other important points that really affect the operation and functionality of the camera
- Large rotary display. The display has 921.000 points. Nikon D5100 uses the same number of pixels as the camera D3, D3s, D3x, D700, D300, D300s, D90, D7000, D3200 и Nikon D5200
- Very fast EXPEED-2 processor, with which the camera shows excellent speed.
- Nikon D5100 uses 11 focus pointsfor which the focus module is responsible Nikon Multi-CAM 1000. The same module is on such cameras as Nikon D90, D3100, D3000, D80, D200 and D5000. Focusing is accurate. Focusing speed is highly dependent on the lens and shooting conditions.
- Measurement exposure implemented using a 420-pixel sensor, the same as that of Nikon D80, D90, D60, D40x, D50, D5000 and D3100. The camera measures the exposure perfectly, the only one, because Active is on D-lighting the camera sometimes exposes the frame.
- The shooting speed is 4 frames per second. This is just a little less than 4.5 fps for a more advanced Nikon D90. 4 fps is enough for any type of shooting. Even a full-frame professional Nikon D800 can shoot a maximum of 4k \ s. Personally, I always have enough even 2.5 frames per second on my old woman Nikon D40. A high rate of fire is needed only for certain situations. A high rate of fire requires a large frame buffer and a fast memory card. For example, when I reviewed the Nikon D5100, the camera used a slow 8GB SD flash drive. Since I was shooting in RAW for review, the camera was very slow after 2 seconds of shooting in fast mode. Due to the fact that RAW files from the camera weigh about 15mb, I had to wait a very long time until the files were written to the memory card. Indeed, the whole charm of fast continuous shooting at 4 fps can be estimated by shooting only in JPEG.
- Frame buffer when shooting in RAW format is 11 frames. This is as much as that of Nikon D90 when shooting in RAW. How much the camera will slow down during serial shooting will greatly depend on the buffer capacity. In an earlier model Nikon D3100, frame buffer is 13 pieces in RAW.
- Attention: Nikon D5100 Nikon's first amateur camera to use RAW with 14 bit color depth. This is very good news for fans of processing RAW photos. Unfortunately, like all Nikon amateur cameras, the D5100 does not have a choice of RAW compression levels or a choice of color depth.
Example photo on the Nikon D5100. Snowy glass.
- Full HD movie shooting 1980 * 1080, with maximum quality you can shoot videos up to 20 minutes long. Believe me, 20 minutes is enough for the video. You can choose different shooting modes in different quality. Another important detail to shoot video on the desired aperture, you first need to install it, and therefore already enable Live View and start recording. When Live View is on, aperture change is not available.
- Convenient menu and overall camera ergonomics. At first, it might seem that controlling the camera with one hand is difficult, but then you can quickly get used to the control.
Example photo on Nikon D5100 at high ISO
- A bunch of useful additions - automatic correction of distortion, aberration, Active D-lighting, Breckening, Live View, Timelapse, etc. Important! Automatic correction of distortion and chromatic aberration is removed only when shooting in JPEG.
- The camera has one great feature - HDR. HDR takes two frames with different exposures and saves them in one file. Very comfortable and interesting. The HDR function is not available when shooting in RAW. The HDR function is conveniently programmed with the FN button.
Example photo on Nikon D5100 at very high ISO
- A little about the shortcomings - this is an amateur camera, because in the camera no many features from more advanced or professional cameras. Personally very important to me fast flash sync, flash command modeFine tune focus manual exposure metering and availability focus motor - Nikon D5100 doesn't have them. Highly I consider “picture braking” a strong drawback when sighting through Live View and approaching the image area 1 to 1 (or similar) - the picture slows down quite a lot. There is no such effect on Nikon D90. Such an approximation helps to very accurately sharpen the desired focus point.
All sample photos on the Nikon D5100 from this review were shot in RAW -> JPEG, without processing, only resized to 720 * 477 pixels with imprinted EXIF in order to be able to judge the shooting parameters. Please note that at high ISO photos are more or less acceptable.
Example photo on the Nikon D5100. Loss of juiciness of the color gamut when raising ISO
Recommendations
In order to speed up focusing, use the optical viewfinder. When focusing in Live View, the focusing accuracy will be very high, but the speed will be very slow, since the camera and the lens will need to measure contrast at different focusing distances and only then put the lens in the desired position. When focusing through the optical viewfinder (through the eye), the camera is much quicker to cope with focusing. It is for this reason that older cameras such as Nikon D300, D300s, D700 etc., there are two Live View shooting modes. These are tripod mode and hand mode. In hand-held mode and Live View on, when you press the shutter button halfway, Live View turns off and autofocusing occurs through the phase sensors, after a successful focus is achieved, Live View turns on again.
Photo at Nikon D5100 at low ISO in low light
If desperately needed maximum frame buffer, then you need to turn off all functions that reduce the number of photos in the buffer. I think you will be surprised when in paragraph 5 it is written about 11 frames in the buffer, but in reality there will be less of them. The number of frames that the buffer can fit is shown in the lower right corner of the viewfinder when you press the shutter button halfway. Usually, with noise reduction turned on for high ISOs and slow shutter speeds, as well as when active D-lighting the number of frames in the buffer drops sharply. Therefore, by disabling these functions you can get the claimed 11 frames. Well, if you do not need RAW, then in high-quality JPEG with advanced settings enabled 16 frames - and this is for 4 seconds of continuous shooting. It is unlikely that someone takes a burst of longer than 4-5 seconds.
Photo on Nikon D5100
When you place the camera in a case (in a photo bag), turn the display with the dark side out, and the LCD monitor in the middle so that the monitor does not scratch during transportation. If shooting in JPEG, I recommend turning on noise reduction at high ISOs and slow shutter speeds. For a saturated picture you can use Active D-lighting in HIGH mode. You can also configure the FN programmable button, which is located next to the flash up button. I usually program the FN button for the ISO control function.
Sample photos on Nikon D5100 using a lens Nikon 50mm f / 1.8G AF-S Nikkor. Photos without processing.
Don't know what to choose?
Usually, a person who wants to buy a camera of this level stops at 2-3 Nikon models. it Nikon D3100, Nikon D5000, Nikon D5100, D5200. I recommend taking a simpler model Nikon D3100, which can do the same thing as the D5100, but its price is much less. D5100 is more suitable for those who like to shoot in poor lighting conditions at high ISO. Saturation and image quality on the D5100 and D3100 very similar to low and medium ISO. Of course newer Nikon D5200 in many ways beats the Nikon D5100.
| D5000 | D5100 | D5200 | |
| Exit time | June 2009 | April 2011 | November 2012 |
| RAW color depth | 12 bit | 14 bit | 14 bit |
| Number of megapixels | 12,20 | 16,08 | 24,00 |
| Burst Speed | 4 fps | 4 fps | 5 fps |
| Minimum ISO | 200,00 | 100,00 | 100,00 |
| Minimum Extensive ISO | 100 (Lo1) | - | - |
| Maximum ISO | 3200,00 | 6400,00 | 6400,00 |
| Maximum Extended ISO | 6400 (Hi1) | 25600 (Hi2) | 25600 (Hi2) |
| Video length max. qualities | 5 minutes | 20 minutes | 20 minutes |
| Video | 1280 x 720 24fps | 1920x1080 30fps | 1920 x 1080 60i |
| Sound | mono | mono | stereo |
| Display | 2.7 inches, 230.000 points | 3 inches, 921.000 points | 3 inches, 921.000 points |
| Focus module | Multi-cam 1000 | Multi-cam 1000 | Multi-CAM 4800DX |
| Number of Focus Points | 11,00 | 11,00 | 39,00 |
| Measurement exposure | 420-pixel RGB sensor | 420-pixel RGB sensor | 2016-pixel RGB sensor |
| Memory cards | SD,SDHC | SD, SDHC, SDXC | SD, SDHC, SDXC (UHS-I) |
| Weight without battery, g | 550,00 | 510,00 | 505,00 |
| HDR | no | Yes | Yes |
I do not recommend buying an older Nikon D5000, it does not have autofocus when shooting video, and it is quite difficult for an ordinary user to focus on sharpness manually.
By the way here a list of all CZKs from Nikonmaybe he will help in choosing.
Photo on Nikon D5100
Prices for modern Nikon cameras in popular stores can look at this link.
Comments on this post do not require registration. Anyone can leave a comment. Many different photographic equipment can be found on AliExpress.
Conclusions
Nikon D5100 gives a very good picture one click on the shutter button. Camera for photo lovers who just need a good result in a photo without unnecessary troubles. Full HD and a swivel display makes the camera even more attractive. Given that the camera has a matrix of very high quality Nikon D7000then Nikon D5100 can be used by advanced amateurs as well.
Material prepared Arkady Shapoval. Training/Consultations | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Telegram
Good day Arkady. Help with the choice. Hesitating between D3200 and D5100. Interested in equally photo and video. Many thanks.
D3200 did not use, I can not tell.
Thank. Another interesting feature. On the site, the whale version of the D5100 is about 200 hryvnias cheaper than the device itself without a lens. Is it possible that body versions are better quality whale versions. Thank.
The quality of the camera is the same.
Well, if you compare D3100 and D5100 as not a pro, but a simple amateur will be able to feel a significant difference or it makes no sense to overpay for a simple amateur. The camera is planned for family - amateur photography. Thank you for your responses.
The D5100 has one major advantage over the D3100 - it can perform better in poor lighting conditions. In normal light, even I can't tell the difference between the two cameras.
Yes, I admit, you puzzled me. Perhaps it’s worth taking not the D5100 with an 18-55mm lens, but the D3100 but with an 18-105mm lens. After all, he is the best option for a start and at the cost of these configurations are equivalent. Worth thinking. And as I understand it
In both cases, the Soviet optics will work in the "M" mode?
Yes, only in M.
If it is possible to buy exactly 18-105 in the whale set, then this glass should definitely be chosen.
Of course, this statement does not apply to those who already have an optics park for Nikon.
Please note that the 5100 is a small camera. If you plan to shoot for a long time with heavy glasses, then misalignment will tire you very much!
And the grip is not the most comfortable. The rotary display is the prerogative of reportage fans. Not everyone needs it.
5100 is an excellent device. 3100 is much lower in functionality .. For centering it would be nice to take a batlock, it certainly will not be superfluous. A glass should be taken normal, not whales.
Hello Arkady! What would you advise, the D5100 with an 18-55mm lens or D3100 but with an 18-105mm lens.
To all newcomers, I recommend the D3100, in this case from 18-105.
Arkady, good time! Recently became the owner of the D5100 with a lens of 18-105. My first acquaintance with the DSLR, although for many years before the numbers appeared, I enthusiastically shot on Soviet DSLRs. I didn’t seem so sharp as I expected 18-105, although the impression is twofold: looking at the picture, it seems soft, but when you enlarge the image you see all the small details of the face)) Paradox ..
But my question is not about that at all, sorry. Is it true that you cannot force a stock flash to work regardless of lighting conditions? Anyway, I tried in vain to find such a mode (such as flash force) in the menu. I'm thinking about purchasing an external flash, but the question remains the same - forced inclusion. thanks
In the raised state, the built-in and external flash in P, A, S, M modes always fire.
I didn’t have the quickness to check it myself ..))) Thank you!
Hello, I want to buy a DSLR and now I settled on two Nikon d90 and Nikon D5100 models, please help me decide !!! In the price category D90 for a penny but cheaper, they are practically the same for the price !! Thank you for your earlier!
In order for me to be able to answer your question, from your side it is required to describe the goals for which the DSLR is taken, work experience, etc., and to guess - with your finger to the sky.
I can’t set up nikon d5100 so that I can take a picture of the night Campaign was covered with a net for flash help plz help!
The backlight is activated only in automatic modes and in P, A, S, M in AF-A mode and the focus backlight function is on.
Tell me, maybe someone knows. I tried shooting video, but the camera does not change focus after I start shooting. That is, you need to constantly press the shutter button halfway, and after which it still focuses. And he himself does not want to change the distance to the object. Today I was poking around for half a day - well, nothing.
Thank you in advance.
Arkady, tell me, for a home \ family \ children \ travel, amateur, first DSLR, which is better to take Nikon D5100 or Kenon 550D with whale lenses? thanks for the help
This is a difficult choice. I would take the D5100 because of slightly better performance at high ISOs.
Hello Arkady. Help me decide, I will be very grateful to you.
I started with the Soviet technology ZENIT-3E, then switched to digital (ZOOM-PANASONIC Lumix DMC-FZ18), and now I have assembled it on the NIKON D5100 body.
Which one do you recommend choosing a lens:
1.Nikon 16-85 mm f / 3.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S DX Nikkor;
2.Tamron SP AF 17-50mm F / 2.8 XR Di II LD Aspherical (IF) Nikon F.
In the second case, there is a high probability of marriage, but there is the possibility of choosing an instance and a higher aperture compared to the first option.
In the first case, a larger range of FR.
I rent 50% landscapes (my weakness), 30% report (travel excursions, birthdays, holidays), 20% portrait
What would you advise me? I apologize for my maybe annoying, stupid or incorrect question ... THANKS in advance for your help.
Question as a question. I recommend 16-85 as a good native zoom lens. It is darker than Tamron, but has good image quality, assembly and stabilizer.
I choose a Nikon D90 camera (I really liked it) and 5100. I want to do photography, but I didn’t communicate with the DSLRs for long and close (I deal with photo-cameras, but so far only with soap dishes, I don’t have time to remove everything I want and the cage is not what I wanted. It suits customers, but I’m not at all). I bow to 90 but many advise 5100 (it is simpler).
For more or less serious shooting, the D90 is more suitable.
For work (I am a newspaperman) I need a reliable, “all-weather” SLR, since the compact Kenon C3 no longer satisfies. I want a 35 or 50 mm fix right away. I have been engaged in photography since 1977 (“Kiev”, “Zenith”, then digital cameras). Considering “Nikons”: 5100, 90 and 7000. What is the best option? Thanks in advance for the advice.
Best of all, the D7000 is weather resistant. I've met reporters using the D7000.
And what fix? The fact is that I’m not a reporter, I write mostly texts, but a photo illustration as an application. And what about skintones on the 7000th?
Skintons very much depend on the settings of your camera and on the lens.
Arkady, and what is the fix in that case? Thank.
For example, the https://radojuva.com.ua/2011/03/obzor-nikkor-af-s-35mm-f1-8-dx/
Arkady, I have a D5100 with Nikkor 18-105, but there was a need for a longer focus. Not a replacement for 18-105, of course, but in a pair. Due to the severe budget constraint, at present I can only allow used budget glasses to sell or give cheaply in a more favorable situation)). So, within reach I have such options, I will be very grateful for the advice. Sharpness is important.
Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm 1: 4-5.6 G
Tamron AF 70-300mm f / 4-5.6 Di LD Macro
SIGMA 70-300mm DL Macro Super Lens
SIGMA 70-300mm f / 4-5.6 DG APO macro
Offer at the price of 100-130 cu
Thanks in advance
I didn’t have work experience with more than half of the list, therefore, I can’t speak about the case. But, note that the Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm 1: 4-5.6 and a number of modifications of the Sigma and Tamron do not have a focus motor and the D5100 will only have manual focus.
Manual focus does not bother me, it's a usual thing. The picture is more important
Arkady - good evening! I am interested in your opinion, I have 5100 + 18-105 + Nikkor 50-1.8G + SB910 I plan to take d7000 - I started filming weddings (I live in the provinces - people are happy with it), do you think it's worth it? I take for the reason 1 the presence of 2 slots for flash - the possibility of duplication on both cards 2 more advanced customization options 3 closer cooperation with the flash 910 well and more capacious batteries, I want to order in the online store - a body with a guarantee - 950 bucks is your opinion worth it ? I have not yet earned a more expensive and professional camera (I think I will take 2 fotik - 5100 with a fixed for portrait shooting and for the main d7000 from 18-105 for now, by the way, which lens would you recommend as the main lens for a wedding reportage on a d7000?
Hello. It's difficult to shoot weddings on the D5100, I advise the D7000. I myself shoot in parallel on 2 cameras.
But what about the lens as the main one, what do you recommend? or until it goes 18-105
Yes, for starters.
Good afternoon! I ordered d7000 - they promise to deliver within 3 days, Arkady can you give any advice on working with this camera with 18-105 optics and 910 flash? thanks in advance
Happy for you. In the Nikon D700 review, 18-105The SB-910 is all written. There will be specific questions, I will be glad to hear.
Good afternoon, is a new SONY A57 camera review expected? I can not decide between D5100. Thank.
Unfortunately, it is not planned.
Arkadiyu, Good day!
After reading a lot of your Articles, Vidpovidei and Dumok ... and even more confused about that :-)
I love my PHOTIK є “Canon PowerShot S3 IS” - I’ll take a look at me… You can take a photograph in the distance - to those who can’t come to think about it, even if we have 12x - an optical mind ... swarm :-)
Yakbi didn’t laugh PROFI - ME VIN DUZHE TO LIKE AND MORE TIME VIRUCHAV ME
I take pictures for myself as if there were more people (Apartment – Nature – Gori – Sea – Lizhі-Podorozhі).
I think it’s 5100 (I don’t want to say that it’s easy and hopeful to catch it when riding on licks, when walking near the mountains) - it’s possible that it’s dodatkovy :-) DON'T KNOW YET ...
I got food from OB'KTIVI - here the rosary is about 300 $ :
Although it’s possible to get used to Nikon 18-105mm f / 3.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S DX Nikkor (for 250 c.o.) - ale zlyakav your vidguk - "pratsyuє, yak pilosmok" - FEAR TROHI, thai ZUUUMA BRACKNE Yak on me :-(
An alternative is something for me to leave є - KITOVIY 18-55mm f / 3.5-5.6G VR AF-S DX Nikkor (140 USD) + three more Nikon 55-200 f / 4-5.6G IF-ED AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor (180 USD) - Ale at the couple - I DON'T KNOW HOW TO BE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PHOTOSESSION REPLACE THE OBJECTIVE
And now, having read more about the CIRCULAR AND ROAD VIRIANT Tamron AF 17-50mm f / 2.8 SP XR Di II LD Aspherical [IF] VC, ale 500 cu - then trochs are expensive.
It is possible for such a CHAINICHKIV - Wartu to build up like a regular table, so there will be a decal of different options and a combination - with passages and shortcomings ...
SHOULD YOU PLEASE ME?
Ahead Dyakuyu for Vіdpovіd :-) Well, Dmitro.
For yourself and the conditions that require a compact camera, it's better to take a super zoom. With kit lenses, a DSLR camera will be rather weak and often indistinguishable from a soap dish. Among my colleagues, I sometimes take pictures with the simplest D40 and no one can guess what exactly was shot. A DSLR is a lot of hassle.
Arkady, please advise a good set of fixed lenses (not AV-S) in your opinion with a good aperture in the following groups: 1. Wide-angle (for landscapes) 2. Standard (for everyday use) 3. Portraits for Nikkon D5100. Or to take one N.18-200 AV-S for all occasions?
First decide whether you really want to use fixes or use universal zoom. If you are interested in AF (not AF-S) lenses, then they will not be able to automatically focus on the D5100.