Nikon D5100 Review

The Nikon D5100 is an upper-entry-level DSLR with a state-of-the-art 16 megapixels CMOS sensor capable of ISO sensitivities from 100 to 25600, plus 2 extra stops for NightVision, and full 1080p HD video recording. It has an electronic-only lens-mount and most features usually found among entry-level digital SLRs.

The D5100 is targeted at novice photographers who want top image-quality in an affordable camera with a simple interface. Since most such people are likely to be upgrading from fixed-lens cameras which can record videos, this DSLR is equipped with the latest video-recording advancements, including continuous autofocus and external stereo sound input.

This detailed digital camera review takes a close look at the Nikon D5100's features, ergonomics, usability, image quality, performance, photographic controls and video recording features.

While the D5100 is similar in ergonomics and features to the D3100, Nikon keeps playing with the design and feature set, so this review is substantially different. Still, it shows that these two cameras have the same basic design, although we can certainly say the D3100 has better ergonomics.

The Nikon D5100 is a simple and versatile DSLR due to a wide selection of lenses, extensive ISO range and full manual controls. It is quite suitable for most types of photographic subjects, although not ideal for action photography due to its limited speed continuous-drive. The Nikon D5100 is fully compatible with Nikon lenses with built-in focus-motors and Nikon Speedlights. See Nikon and third-party lenses with built-in super-sonic motors to view compatible models.

This DSLR can record 1080p HD video with stereo sound when using an external microphone. Nikon coincidently sells the ME-1 hot-shoe mounted unidirectional microphone to that effect. Like both the lower-end D3100 reviewed here and higher-end D7000 review here, this digital SLR can autofocus continuously while filming using contrast-detection.

For specific photographic subjects, lens versatility is key and the Nikon lens lineup covers a wide variety of focal-lengths from the ultra-wide to super telephoto. Most third-party manufacturers produce lenses for Nikon mounts too. Keep in mind that an internal focus motor is required for autofocus with the D5100, so not all lenses which fit work completely. With Nikon, image stabilization is provided by VR (Vibration Reduction) which is not available on all lenses.

Being one of the smallest DSLRs currently available, the D5100 brings more discretion than is afforded by a typical SLR. While this is a feature that professionals can appreciate, the D5100 is not made for efficiency and requires more button pressed and trips through the many system them most DSLR cameras.

As noted in the introduction, the Nikon D5100 has all basic DSLR capabilities, including spot metering and AEB. It also has a built-in dust-reduction mechanism which is now standard on all non-Sigma DSLRs. This Nikon DSLR features a lens mount with no mechanical coupling for driving auto focus lenses without a built-in motor.

This limits the D5100's choice of lenses to recent Nikon and third-party offerings. Lenses using a mechanical coupling still work but only in Manual Focus mode. The D5100 includes a Rangefinder to help focus manually. This mode swaps the exposure indicator in the viewfinder with a focus direction indicator.

The Nikon D5100's rotating power-switch surrounds the shutter-release and works in the most obvious way. The shutter-release on this DSLR is a standard 2-stage release with a distinct halfway point. Pressing the shutter-release halfway normally locks focus and exposure but an option allows to disable exposure-locking.

There is also a combined AE-L/AF-L button which can be set to lock both exposure and focus, to lock either focus or exposure, to lock and hold exposure or to activate the auto focus Setting this button to trigger auto focus has the unexpected side-effect of disabling AF activation when pressing the shutter-release halfway. For people who like to lock focus and exposure independently and to lock both without changing settings, you must set the AE-L/AF-L function to AE-L Only and lock exposure first when desired.

Exposure modes on the Nikon D5100 are controlled by a typical mode-dial. The available modes include the four ubiquitous exposure modes: program (P), shutter-priority (S), aperture-priority (A) and full manual (M) mode. In Manual mode, the shutter-speed selection includes a Bulb mode that keeps the shutter open as long as the shutter-release is pressed. The mode-dial also includes a fully Auto mode, six direct scene modes, one extended scene mode and an effects position.

The Auto mode almost completely automatic. Specifically, only 3 flash modes are available and focus modes are limited to AF-A and MF. Auto mode disables ISO settings, white-balance, exposure-compensation, flash-compensation, program-shift, metering options and image parameters.

The Auto-ISO behavior of the D3100 is a little strange, except in Auto mode where it behaves as usual. Users normally select between Auto and a set sensitivity. The camera then honors the selected ISO or, in the case of Auto-ISO, selects an appropriate ISO for the subject. With the D5100, normal exposure modes require that a specific ISO to be chosen. The selected ISO is honored when the Auto ISO option is set to OFF in the Camera Settings menu. Otherwise, the selected ISO becomes the default and the camera is free to choose a different ISO.

The Nikon D3100 has detailed control over white-balance including automatic white-balance, preset white-balanceIncandescent, Fluorescent, Sunlight, Flash, Cloudy and Shade., and custom white-balance. All white-balance options except custom white-balance can be fine-tuned in 13-steps from magenta to green and blue to amber. There is a single custom white-balance register which can be set by taking a picture of a white object or by using an existing picture as reference.

Exposure compensation can be adjusted ±5 using the EC button combined with the command dial. This ties for the most latitude among digital cameras. Contrarily to its predecessors, the Nikon D5100 supports 1/3 and 1/2 EV increments which are used for aperture, shutter-speed, EC, FC and bracketing steps. ISO always advanced in 1/3 EV steps though.

Diagonal from the EC button is the Info button. This one normally invokes or dismisses the status screen which also appears when touching certain buttons like EC. This is unfortunate since it adds glare right bellow your eye when composing a photograph. In Live-View mode, the Info button cycles through different display modes.

The Status screen is read-only, although an extremely similar screen appears when pressing the [I] button twice. This makes Info mostly redundant since the [I] button shows the status screen after one press. It also shows an editable display with the same information on the second press! It would be preferable if the Info button would be used by something more useful like ISO, WB or Drive-Mode.

Active D-Lighting is Nikon's automatic image contrast correction feature. This feature brightens darker areas to produce a less contrasty image. For high contrast scenes this can produce an image with more detail while increasing noise in shadow areas. Low contrast scenes are unaffected by D-Lighting. Medium contrast scenes are a little hit-or-miss with Active D-Lighting because they can lose their punch when the contrast is reduced.

Drive modes on the D5100 are selected via the menu system or editable status screen. This is the biggest step backwards compared to the D3100, which has a hardware lever for this, and makes it particularly inefficient when shooting from a tripod since the self-timer resets itself after each use.

This digital SLR offers the standard Single-Shot and Continuous drive modes, plus a highly flexible self-timer, 2s Delayed Remote, Quick-Response Remote and Quiet Shutter-Release. In continuous drive mode, the Nikon D5100 can shoot up to 100 JPEG images or 16 RAW files at 4 FPS. The self-timer has a customizable delay of 2s, 5s, 10s or 20s and can fire between 1 and 9 shots. Quiet-Shutter slows down the mirror and only lets it return into position when the shutter is released.

The Nikon D3100 supports JPEG and RAW images. JPEG images are available in 3 quality levels. There are also 3 image sizes available. A combined JPEG+RAW mode is also available. The image sensor is protected by a moving plate which serves to shake off dust, reducing its accumulation. While we have not measured its efficiency, these systems are generally not 100% effective and they only remove light dust-particles. Any stuck particle requires manual cleaning.