This camera has been an outstanding upgrade from my Nikon D60, which was my first dSLR after having used point-and-shoot cameras. The D60 was a great camera entry-level dSLR when I bought it in 2008, but the more I used it, the more I became aware of its limitations. The biggest issue I had with the D60 was its low-light performance. Even with an add-on flash and reasonably good ambient lighting, there were too many indoor shots that simply didn't look very good. Cranking up the ISO helped with exposure, but it introduced too much digital noise. When a camera's inherent technological limitations are keeping you from getting the shots you want, it's time to look at alternatives.I looked at both the D5100 and the , because they are closely matched in terms of price, features, and performance. Both cameras get very good reviews. You can Google "Nikon D5100 and Canon T3i" and see for yourself: most review sites give them almost identical overall scores, citing certain strengths and advantages for each camera. I was considering the Canon because I only had my Nikon 18-55mm kit lens and my Nikon SB-400 flash, so I didn't have a huge investment in the Nikon line-up. While the list price of the two cameras is similar, it was much easier to find really good discount prices on the T3i, and there are also more options for buying the T3i body with several different kit lens options (as of this writing, Nikon is only offering the D5100 with the same 18-55mm kit lens that I had from my D60).
However, there was one thing about the T3i that I didn't like. The main control on the back of the T3i (Nikon calls it the multi-selector; I'm not sure what Canon calls it) is placed lower on the camera than on the D5100, which means that you have to move your thumb down to access it. Ergonomically, this didn't work as well for me as Nikon's more central placement of this control. The advantage of Canon's placement is that it leaves space for a bigger thumb grip at the upper right corner of the camera. However, since the multi-selector is the primary way you access the camera's menus to adjust settings, I preferred Nikon's placement. This is such a subjective decision that it's important for a buyer to go to a retail store, handle both cameras, and see for him or herself.
The other thing that made me choose the Nikon is my goal to eventually upgrade to the Nikon 18-200mm lens. As far as I can tell, there is no equivalent lens in the Canon line-up.
I also looked at the , but at $1,199 for just the body, I couldn't justify the expense. Besides the fact that it's almost twice as much as the D5100, I still prefer the smaller size and lighter weight of the D5100, which has a form factor that is almost identical to the D60. If you routinely use longer lenses or prefer a larger camera, the D7000 is very impressive and would be an excellent choice.
I've been very happy with the D5100. It offers higher ISOs than the D60 and you can use them without adding noise to your images. It performs much better in low-light shooting situations, which was my main reason for upgrading in the first place. Even with flash, my indoor photos are more evenly exposed, without the washed-out foregrounds and dark backgrounds that I was getting with the D60. The menu system is similar to the D60, but I find it more intuitive and easier to navigate. I also like the controls and buttons better on the D5100.
One major upgrade that the D5100 offers over the D60 is high-definition video recording. The D60 had no video recording at all. I have only used this feature on the D5100 for a few quick tests, but for anyone interested in video, this is a major addition.
The D5100 also has an articulated LCD display, which is larger than the D60's. The Live View feature allows you to shoot photos using the LCD instead of the viewfinder. This feature might be handy if you wanted to shoot with the camera above or below your own position (for example, taking photos over the heads of a crowd). Instead of aiming and hoping you get your shot, you can use the articulated LCD to view what you are shooting. The same is true if you want to shoot with the camera aiming directly down. Instead of leaning over the camera to look through the viewfinder, and perhaps casting your shadow on the image, you can use the LCD to compose your shot.
In Live View, the LCD also allows you to view the effects of various white balance settings on a shot you're about to take. I haven't found that the white balance as shown on the LCD before shooting is exactly the same as what I get after I shoot, but it is helpful to give you an idea of what to expect.
Several things to keep in mind if you buy this camera:
1. Update the firmware, as there are reported issues with the camera having trouble with certain SanDisk cards.
2. Buy a good quality UV filter to protect your lens. Do not skimp on this. B + W, Nikon, and Hoya get good reviews.
3. Get a good memory card. Costs for these have come down, so I'd get a class 10 card that's at least 8 GB, in case you end up shooting any video. If you do a lot of video, you'll want at least a 16 GB card, probably even larger.
4. Consider buying a spare battery. Live View uses more battery power, and you don't want to be limited in using it. The extra battery will cost about $50, but it's worth the peace of mind knowing that you can go out for an all-day shoot with battery back-up ready in case you need it.
5. Buy one or more of the books that provide detailed, illustrated directions on getting the most out of the camera. Nikon provides a fairly good, basic manual in printed form, but the complete Nikon manual is only provided as a PDF on a CD, or to download (also readable on an iPad or iPhone, which is convenient). The Nikon manuals are much better than the ones that came with the D60, but the third-party books that deal specifically with this camera are even better. I recommend the following:
by Rob Sylvan. This book starts off with 10 tips suggested by the author to get you off to a good start, including some changes to the camera's default settings, and then takes the reader through a series of chapters that focus on one topic at a time. Each chapter ends with assignments that are designed to help you actually apply what you have learned.
Ignore the title, the book itself is very good, and contains more detailed information than the book by Sylvan. Think of it as a reliable reference to go to when you need more specifics than Sylvan provides.
David Busch has two books about the D5100, one a small field guide that would fit in a camera bag: , and the other a full-sized and very comprehensive guide: . These are both very good, too.
You can preview these books on Amazon or download samples to your Kindle or iPad, so take a look before you make a decision.
In summary, the Nikon D5100 is an excellent entry-level dSLR that offers features and performance that simply were not available at this price just two or three years ago. If you are ready to make the move from point-and-shoot photography, this would be a great camera. You could set it on Auto and you will get excellent results just aiming and shooting, though you will want to move past using Auto after you've had a chance to get to know the camera better.
If you have an older dSLR that lacks some of the advanced features and capabilities of this camera, you will be pleasantly surprised at how far the technology has come. In my case, the improved ease-of-use prompted me to learn more about the camera and I'm now much more comfortable making adjustments as I shoot, instead of relying on the camera to do all my thinking for me.
Highly recommended.
Review by pm444 "pm444"
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