Nikon D5100 Consumer Reviews

Now that the Nikon D5100 has been on the market for a few weeks I was curious to see what customers are saying about it. Not only that but I wanted to let you know I’ve been monitoring a number of online retailers and have found a great deal on the D5100.

Click here to get your Nikon D5100 for the lowest possible price

AND

pay absolutely no shipping!

As promised here are some excerpts from actual consumer reviews of the Nikon D5100:

What Do Amateur Photographers Have To Say?

Nikon D5100 DSLROn May 5 Chloe wrote:

“The D5100 is my new baby. Better than Canon T3i and almost like a D7000! I’m just awed by how great this camera is for the price. I have a good feeling that I’ll be satisfied with this thing for a while.”

On May 3 Sam from New York wrote:

“I was about to get the Canon T3, but decided to wait for the D5100 to come out – it was well worth the wait. Overall, it is the perfect balance of tech-nerd features and amateur ease-of-use. Every day I learn a new trick, technique, and feature.”

“Video – all I can say is “wow”… at first I didn’t “get” the quality of video…then I watched some raw video on my 50″ 1080p tv…so good.”

“Overall, I would recommend this to any amateur photographer looking for a tool that offers amazing flexibility and limitless creative options.”

On May 2 Trudy Veselka from Minnesota wrote:

“I did do my homework before purchasing the item, and have also purchased an additional 55x300mm lens to go with it which also came today. Right out of the box the camera was great. The ease of going through the menus and changing settings is great. From a beginner’s stand point this couldn’t be easier to use. I highly reccomend this camera.”

What About Professional Reviews of the Nikon D5100?

Nikon D5100 DSLR TopOn May 6 Dainus Juras from Montreal, Canada wrote:

“None of the color preset options on the D5100 render natural red! Every red flower has indistinguishable detail due to over-blown red. Nikon has a 4 axis color chart where you can tweek their colors in a sub-menu but that option is too coarse for fine tuning.”

Note: even with this review Dainus rated the Nikon D5100 3/5 stars.

On May 1 Valente Riolo wrote:

I’m a professional architectural photographer who shoots with a Nikon D700. I have achieved amazing results over the years with my D700+14-24mm lens. However, when you’re almost 70 years old with a bad back, lugging around a heavy camera and wide angle lens can be a daunting task – not to mention having to stoop down constantly to look through the viewfinder. Enter the Nikon D5100. Yep. I will dare to admit that I was astounded by the quality of the Nikon D5100 + Sigma 10-20mm lens.”

Conclusion

Now I was about to concede that perhaps the Nikon D5100 may be better suited to amateur photographers but that last review makes me wonder. Mr. Riolo also makes a good point regarding the Sigma lens. Don’t feel compelled to automatically go for a Nikon lens – many professional photographers actually prefer Sigma lenses.

Regardless, I think I can safely say that the Nikon D5100 sets a new standard in the competitive entry-level DSLR market.

Free Shipping

The good news is you can currently purchase the Nikon D5100 with absolutely no shipping charges by visiting the link below:

==>  Nikon D5100 – Free Shipping Offer  <==

Did You Know…

You can also designate your order as a gift. This is a nice option to have if you want to ship this directly to the recipient (still free shipping within the US)! Not only can you include a free gift note but you can have the camera gift wrapped for only a few dollars (prices will be removed from the packing slip included with the order).

==>  Nikon D5100 - Send As A Gift  <==

           

For a closer look at all the benefits and features of Nikon’s latest entry-level DSLR check-out the full

Nikon D5100 Review.

Review Of The Nikon D5100 DSLR

Nikon D5100 DSLRINTRODUCTION

Nikon’s latest entry-level DSLR is finally here. This Nikon D5100 Review will focus on some of the new features and technology that set it apart from its predecessor the Nikon D5000. As well it is worth remembering that there is also another entry-level DSLR camera in Nikon’s line-up, the D3100, that for some may still be a better option.

Be sure to read through to the end for details on where to find not only the best prices on these cameras but also FREE SHIPPING!

If you haven’t had a chance to check-out the comparison of specifications for these three models in an earlier post don’t forget to do so before making any decision as you should find it very helpful to cut through all the noise and figure out which model best suits your needs.

THE D5100 REVIEW - ASK YOURSELF ONE QUESTION

Do you already have a pretty good idea what features you are looking for in an entry-level DSLR? Is it screen resolution or megapixels? Maybe you want to be able to capture your family on film! It can be easy to get excited by technology these days but I always recommend asking yourself one simple question when checking out product reviews –  “will I ever use this feature?”.

With this in mind this Nikon D5100 review is actually divided into two distinct sections. Features that anyone will benefit from and features that are more…optional.

NIKON D5100 - ”MUST HAVE” FEATURES

There are a number of significant enhancements found in the D5100 that will help anyone take better pictures.

Screen Design

Nikon D5100 Vari-Angle LCD ScreenLeading the way as far as enhanced screen design would have to be screen resolution. Both the D3100 and D5000 offer only 230k dots while the D5100 has 920k dots. This is effectively 4 times greater screen resolution. High resolution screens let you see more detail in the photo you’re about to take and in photos you’ve taken, making it easier to determine if the photo you’ve just taken is in focus.

Next we have the eagerly awaited addition of what Nikon is calling the vari-angle screen. Basically the LCD monitor opens horizontally a full 180 degrees and also flips up and down over a range of 270 degrees. What this means is you are now able to shoot from high or low angles with a stable posture which makes is easy to check your composition even if shooting from ground level. There is also a protective covering for the monitor to protect it from dirt or damage when not in use.

Finally the D5100 features a 3″ screen compared to the D5000′s 2.7″ screen this represents an increase in size of 10%.

Sensor

Some people buy cameras, certainly the point and shoot variety, based solely on Megapixels which in general determines the amount of detail you are able to capture in your images. While it is not quite that simple, the Nikon D5100 certainly makes a statement in this category of DSLRs by offering a 16.2MP sensor. Compare this to only 14.2MP for the D3100 and 12.3 for the D5000.

The D5100′s maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better than the D5000 (6,400 ISO vs. 3,200 ISO). This gives you a better chance to avoid blur or shoot in low light situations which can definitely come in handy. The D3100 also maxes out at 3,200 ISO.

Related to the point above is the boost ISO. All three of these models have a special boost setting to let them use a higher ISO outside of the normal range. As long as you are aware that image quality and/or resolution is reduced as a trade-off this may be important to you as well. The D5100′s boost ISO of 25,600 is a full 2 f-stops better than the D5100 and 1 f-stop better than the D3100.

Features

The Nikon D5100 is the only model to offer HDR. HDR stands for high dynamic range, which refers to how much range in lights and darks are captured in a photo. Basically, it can take multiple exposures of the same scene, and combine them together for you to produce a photo which captures both brights and darks really well.

Also unique to the D5100 is the Effects setting found on the mode dial. There are seven possibilities. A few seem, well…silly but three that got my attention were the High Key effect which intentionally overexposes images to create beautiful bright images filled with light (think winter scenes), the Night Vision effect actually dials up the ISO to 102,400 and produces black and white images and the Selective Color effect allows you to select up to three colors to emphasize in your image.

Miscellaneous

The D5100 has a 20-30% longer battery life, measured in shots, than either the D5000 or D3100. As far as size is concerned the D5100 is approx 10% smaller and lighter than it’s predecessor the D5000 and also more streamlined looking. The D3100 is actually about 10% smaller and lighter than the D5100 but both have a similar look and feel.

===>  Nikon D5100 – Free Shipping Offer <===

NIKON D5100 - ”OPTIONAL” FEATURES

Basically these features fall under one category:

Movies

The Nikon D5100 can shoot high resolution Full HD (1080p) movies at 30fps versus only 720p at 24fps for the D5100. The D3100 also shoots 1080p movies however like the D5000 it does so at only at the slower frame rate of 24fps.

Nikon D5100 ME-1 Stereo MicrophoneWhile higher resolution movies look great when played back on a large HD television, it is worth remembering that they typically take more disk space, and can be more difficult to edit and store.
The D5100 and the D3100 also feature continuous focus when recording movies which is currently rather uncommon in entry-level DSLRs and mirrorless cameras that record movies. This feature is not available with the D5000.

Finally, one of the more obvious improvements to the Nikon D5100 is the external mic jack. Monaural recording is possible with the built-in microphone but the D5100 can now record in stereo by attaching the optional Stereo Microphone ME-1 into the hotshoe. You will also find that the noise caused by lens vibration during autofocus shooting is reduced by using the Stereo Mic.  This sets the D5100 apart from both the D5000 and D3100.

SO IS THE NIKON D5100 RIGHT FOR YOU?

It is clear from this review that the Nikon D5100 outperforms its predecessor the D5000 in virtually every way. Having reviewed all of the features of each there does not seem to be any segment of the entry-level DSLR market that would be better served by the D5000. The D5000 is roughly $200 less expensive than the D5100 but the enhancements to the LCD screen and sensor alone more than justify this added cost.

There may be some instances however where the D3100 is a better fit than the D5100. It too is approximately $200 cheaper than the D5100 and since it is a newer model than the D5000 some of its specs more closely match the D5100. The main exception though is the discrepancy in screen resolution between the D3100 and D5100. Many people consider screen resolution to be a critical feature if you hope to ever take high quality shots. For far more detailed as technical reviews of the D5100 you may also want to check-out dpreview or engadget.

Finally, if you are an aspiring videographer or simply want to capture all your family memories in video format then there is no doubt that the Nikon D5100 is the DSLR for you. Don’t forget you do not need to invest in the ME-1 Stereo Microphone to enjoy many of the movie-making features of the D5100.

===>  Nikon D5100 – Free Shipping Offer <===

===>  Nikon D3100 – Free Shipping Offer <===

Nikon D5100 vs Canon Rebel T3i

One of the most popular Nikon digital cameras, the D5100 is a mid to upper-entry-level DSLR camera aimed at beginners who are looking for more than just a basic model.  One major competitor of the Nikon D5100 is the Canon Rebel T3i (also known as the Canon EOS 600D). So, let’s take a look at the Nikon D5100 vs Canon Rebel T3i.

The Canon EOS Rebel T3i with 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 optional kit lens is a complete picture taking machine. Those two compete head to head with each other. So, which one is better for you?

First of all you have to know that both digital cameras target beginners or amateurs of digital photography. That doesn’t mean they are bad quality. It simply means that they have their own limitations.

My first question will be- which one is best suited for you personally? On the surface they seem to share much in common with high-resolution still images, fully articulated screen and Full HD video with an external microphone inputs. They are also about the same size and weight, not to mention the price when purchased in a kit with their respective 18-55mm kit lens. While both Nikon and Canon lenses are widely available Canon lenses tend to be more expensive. If you don’t have an established lens collection, then Nikon may be a more affordable option.

When it comes to focusing, Canon Rebel T3i employs the same nine-point, diamond shape, auto focus system as it predecessors. It’s good, but when compare it to the Nikon D5100 there is no competition. Nikon use eleven-point auto focus, and is more accurate then Rebel T3i. Also with Nikon, features like 3D Point Tracking give it an edge over the Rebel T3i.

For exposure modes and metering Nikon D5100 shares the same modes as its’ predecessor with few changes. As for the Canon it also shares modes and metering with predecessors like TTL Evaluative, center-weighted, Spot (4% of the viewfinder area) and partial (9% of the viewfinder area). As well the viewfinder uses a circle to indicate the spot metering area. Also, it uses the 63 zone Focus Color Luminance or iCFL metering system found in the advanced EOS 7D. But this time engineers from Canon made some tweaks in this configuration and it works great. Mostly even better then Nikon system.

As for the sensors the Canon Rebel T3i features an 18 MP CMOS. This is the same resolution as the EOS 60D, EOS 550D / T2i and the high-end EOS 7D. On the other hand D5100 uses the same 16.2 Megapixel CMOS sensor as the more advanced D7000. This gives the D5100 four additional Megapixels over the D5100.

In conclusion both cameras are great in their class, but if I had to choose one right now I would choose the Nikon D5100. Canon Rebel T3i is a very good digital camera, but for amateur photographers the Nikon D5100 provides more overall value and will tend to cost less when it comes to lenses.

Nikon D5100 vs Sony SLT-A55

If you’re debating between the Nikon D5100 vs Sony SLT-A55 hopefully this comparison will help you decide which is the best choice based on your needs.

The D5100 produces some of the best image quality that I have ever seen but in saying that the A55 image quality gives little for complaint either with reliable exposure, color, white balance and focus reliable enough that you can concentrate on the important stuff, like framing and actually taking the picture. But what exactly is the difference.

If you purchase the Nikon D5100, what exactly are you getting? First and foremost you are getting the top of the line 16.2 Megapixel Sensor. Its the best DX Sensor we have on the market today, best image quality and very good in low light. Secondly it has 1080p in 30 frames per second which shows Nikon stepping up their game to compete with the video side of things.

The next big thing they have included is the same resolution as all the top end Nikon cameras and its articulated screen. There is also a few new features with the 5100 like the in camera HDR, it’ll take two images, three stops apart and blend them into a nice HDR image in camera for you reducing the need for Software and any messing about. Then it has the new night vision that shoots in black and white at a very high ISO to eliminate all your color noise to give you a very clean image.

In comparison you have the SLT-A55 which had 10 frames per second continuous shooting. It gives 16.2 Megapixel photos CMOS sensor, you have also got a direct movie button which captures 1080i Video. It gives up to 12,800 ISO.

This camera also has GPS built in so it actually tags your images with location information. It isn’t quite as loaded with buttons and switches as other Sony Alpha cameras but it should have enough physical control points to satisfy anyone except the most menu-allergic of users. This camera may look like a traditional SLR from the outside but inside this compact package is a totally new approach. With its innovative translucent mirror technology the A55 distorts the line between traditional DSLR and newer interchangeable cameras.

Although it looks, feels and handles like a D-SLR its translucent mirror design offers a new approach at photography. It technically doesn’t have a mirror inside but a semi transparent one which allows 70% of the light through to the main sensor. This allows the camera to take a picture with no moving mirror and means you can get continuous auto focus both when snapping moving subjects and shooting videos.

A few extra features include an electric viewfinder rather than optical which allows you to preview your settings and see 100% of the frame. It also offers auto point magnification, a histogram and a digital spirit level. The continuous auto focus is impressively quick but in some situations the constantly refocusing is too much. It also leads to trouble when you are shooting a video and you and the subject are moving, this leads to focus jumping around.

Taking all this into consideration the winner for me is the Nikon D5100 but the Sony SLT-A55 is a very close runner up. The D5100 produces some of the best image quality that we’ve ever seen from an APS-C camera. Nikon just seems like the best choice for overall quality of pictures. The Sony has some fun features (endless panoramic, for example) and seems more instinctive when it comes to learning to use it. However, I have not been persuaded how good Sony is as a camera manufacturer (i.e. quality of the pictures).

Review of Nikon D5100 Specs

A full review of the brand new Nikon D5100 is coming shortly but in the meantime I have compiled a comparison of the major factors that people generally consider when evaluating a DSLR camera.

To make things easier, specs for the Nikon D3100 and Nikon D5000 have also been included.

If you are anything like me looking at the full specification list for cameras can be a little overwhelming so hopefully you will find this useful as a first step in making your decision whether the D5100 is right for you.

Nikon D5100 DSLR Specs

Nikon D5100 DSLR Specs

 

Note on Availability: This item is in high demand and supplies from the manufacturer are limited. Its availability will fluctuate, and if the item is not currently in stock, we cannot guarantee that we will receive additional quantities in a timely manner. We will not charge your credit card until we ship the product.

===>  Click here to purchase the Nikon D5100  <===

Nikon D5100 Preview

Here is a sneak preview of the Nikon D5100 DSLR

 

To summarize a few of the major points:

1.  the D5100 is approx 10% lighter than the D5000 (and is also more streamlined/attractive looking)

2.  vary-angle LCD screen now hinges from the side rather than the bottom making it much easier to use with a tripod

3.  live view on/off switch is now on the top plate next to the mode dial

4.  AF mode is significantly faster with the D5100 than with the D5000

5.  dedicated movie-mode button easy to access near the shutter button (20 minute record time)

6.  brand new Effects position on the mode dial (7 effects are available such as Miniature and Silhoutte)

7.  introduction of new ME-1 microphone (for movies) which fits into the hotshoe

8. D5100 features 16.2MP sensor vs only 12.3MP for the D5000

Well, hopefully this gives you a sense of some of the new and improved features found in the Nikon D5100.

Don’t forget to return for a more detailed Nikon D5100 Review which will include more comparisons to the D5000 and the D3100.

Note on Availability: This item is in high demand and supplies from the manufacturer are limited. Its availability will fluctuate, and if the item is not currently in stock, we cannot guarantee that we will receive additional quantities in a timely manner. We will not charge your credit card until we ship the product.

Updated Apr 19, 2011 – Click here to purchase the Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100 DSLR Expected In Stores April 21, 2011

Detailed review of the Nikon D5100 coming soon!

Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100 Vari-Angle LCD Screen

Nikon D5100 Vari-Angle LCD Screen