This camera represents a perfect entry point into serious, DSLR photography. With its 16.2-megapixel, DX-format CMOS sensor, full HD movie capabilities, built-in High Dynamic Range (HDR) capabilities and high-speed, 4 fps continuous shooting, the D5100 provides plenty of creative tools for anyone looking to take their photography to the next level.
Falling in between the entry-level D3100 and the higher-end D7000, this smartly priced camera offers many high-performance features which are extremely user-friendly. Its 3" Vari-angle LCD monitor allows you to explore every angle of your subject, from overhead shots to ground level, and even makes it easy to create fun self-portraits. This camera is also highly adaptable to low-light situations, with an impressive ISO range of 100 to 6400 with reduced noise, which allows you to shoot interiors at faster shutter speeds with less blur.
The D5100 also provides some unique, easy-to-use, special-effects features for either still or HD movies, including Selective Color, Night Vision, High Key, Low Key, Miniature Effect and Color Sketch.
From the Manufacturer:
Stimulate your creativity. The NIKON D5100 offers a host of new photographic and video tools that deliver superior performance and exceptional image quality with surprising versatility. With 16.2 megapixels, a swivel Vari-Angle LCD monitor, full HD movie capabilities, new EFFECTS Mode and new HDR setting, you hold the power and performance to capture beautiful moments and the freedom to get creative.
Vari-angle LCD Monitor — The D5100's 3.0 inch, super sharp, 921,000-dot Vari-angle LCD monitor allows you to be creative from any point of view. Explore every angle, with overhead shots, waist level candids, ground level and fun self portraits.
Effects Mode — The D5100 incorporates an amazing array of special effects for use when taking still pictures or recording D-Movie Full HD movies. Selective Color isolates any color within the scene; capture details in places too dark for your own eyes using Night Vision; create bright, glowing images with High Key; emphasize the mood of a scene using Low Key; Miniature Effect makes a scene look like a miniature scale model; and Color Sketch creates color outlines of the subject that are played back as a series of stills in a slide show.
Full HD 1080p D-Movie with Sound — The D5100 delivers exceptionally high-quality movie performance due to its full HD capability while the latest in Full-time autofocus takes the guess work out of tracking your subjects while in motion. Effortless moviemaking is at your fingertip thanks to D5100's ergonomically placed Live View and Movie start button.
HDR (High Dynamic Range) — In scenes with extreme contrasts, such as bright, sunlit clouds and a foreground deep in shadow, it was once quite difficult to render the textures of both equally. Not any more. The D5100 can combine two exposures to create an image revealing an extremely wide dynamic range, but with less noise and richer color gradation than ever before.
Stunning Image Quality — The D5100 delivers outstanding image quality with the latest Nikon D-SLR technologies such as the 16.2MP DX-format CMOS sensor and EXPEED 2 image processing engine. Its CMOS sensor offers a remarkably wide ISO range (ISO 100 to 6400) with reduced noise which enables you to shoot at faster shutter speeds and capture scenes and subjects with less blur.
Speed and Superb Performance — With high-speed continuous shooting at approx. 4 frames per second, you'll never miss a moment and with D5100's large optical viewfinder providing accurate and realistic composition, you'll get a precise view and focus in every situation.
Capture Your Subjects Precisely — D5100's 11-point AF system provides flexibility to compose the shot you want ensuring your subject is captured sharply wherever it's located in the frame. Working together with the Scene Recognition System, the camera can keep your main subject in focus even if the composition changes using Nikon's exclusive 3D-tracking.
Lens Mount: Nikon F bayonet mount
Picture Angle: Effective picture angle 1.5x (Approx.) conversion factor (Nikon DX format)
Effective Pixels: 16.2 million
Sensor Size: 23.6 x 15.6mm
Image Sensor Format: DX
Image Sensor Type: CMOS
Total Pixels: 16.9 million
Dust-reduction system: Image sensor cleaning
Image Area (pixels): DX-format
(L) 4928 x 3264
(M) 3696 x 2448
(S) 2464 x 1632
File Format: Compressed 14-bit NEF (RAW)
JPEG (Baseline Compliant)
MOV
Picture Control: Landscape
Monochrome
Neutral
Portrait
Standard
User-customizable Settings
Vivid
Storage Media: SD
SDHC
SDXC
Card Slot: 1 Secure Digital (SD)
File System: Compliant with DCF (Design Rule for Camera File System) 2.0
DPOF (Digital Print Order Format)
EXIF 2.3 (Exchangeable Image File Format for Digital Still Cameras
Viewfinder: Eye-level pentamirror single-lens reflex viewfinder
Viewfinder Frame Coverage: 95% Approx.
Viewfinder Magnification: 0.78x Approx.
Viewfinder Eyepoint: 17.9mm
Viewfinder Diopter Adjustment: -1.7 to +0.7 m¯¹
Focusing Screen: Type B BriteView Clear Matte Mark VII screen
Reflex Mirror: Quick-return type
Lens Aperture: Instant-return type
Lens Compatibility at a Glance***: AF-S Lens Required for Autofocus
Compatible Lenses: AF-S, AF-I: All functions supported
AI-P NIKKOR: All functions supported except 3D color matrix metering II
IX NIKKOR lenses can not be used
Non-CPU: Can be used in mode M, but exposure meter does not function; Electronic Rangefinder can be used if maximum aperture is f/5.6 or faster
Other AF NIKKOR (Excluding lenses for F3AF): All functions supported except 3D color matrix metering II
Type G or D AF NIKKOR not equipped with an autofocus motor: All functions supported except autofocus
Type D PC NIKKOR: All functions supported except autofocus and some shooting modes.
Shutter type: Electronically controlled vertical-travel focal-plane
Shutter Speed: 1/4000 to 30 sec. in steps of 1/3 EV
Flash Sync Speed: Up to 1/200 sec.
Bulb Shutter Setting: Yes
Shutter Release Modes: Continuous
Delayed remote
Quick Response Remote Mode
Quiet shutter-release
Self-timer mode
Single-frame [S] mode
Top Continuous Shooting Speed at full resolution: 4 frames per second
Self-timer: 2, 5, 10, 20 sec. Timer duration electronically controlled
Exposure Metering System: TTL exposure metering using 420-pixel RGB sensor
Metering Method: Matrix: 3D color matrix metering II (type G and D lenses); color matrix metering II (other CPU lenses)
Metering Range: 0 to 20 EV (3D color matrix or center-weighted metering)
2 to 20 EV (spot metering)
Exposure Meter Coupling: CPU
Exposure Modes: Advanced Scene Modes
Aperture-Priority (A)
Auto
Auto (flash off)
Manual (M)
Programmed Auto with flexible Program (P)
Shutter-Priority Auto (S)
Special Effects Mode
Advanced Scene Modes: Autumn Colors
Beach / Snow
Blossom
Candlelight
Child
Close-up
Dusk / Dawn
Food
Landscape
Night Landscape
Night Portrait
Party / Indoor
Pet Portrait
Portrait
Sports
Sunset
Exposure Compensation: ±5 EV in increments of 1/3 or 1/2 EV
Exposure Bracketing: 3 frames ±2EV in 1/3 steps
Exposure Lock: Yes
ISO Sensitivity: ISO 100 - 6400
Hi-0.3
Hi-0.7
Hi-1 (ISO 12,800)
Hi-2 (ISO 25,600)
Lowest Standard ISO Sensitivity: 100
Highest Standard ISO Sensitivity: 6400
Highest Expanded ISO Sensitivity: HI-2 (ISO 25,600 equivalent)
Long Exposure Noise Reduction: Yes
High ISO Noise Reduction: Low
Normal
High
Off
Active D-Lighting: On
D-Lighting Bracketing: 2 exposures
Single-point AF Mode: Yes
Dynamic AF Mode: Number of AF points: 11 (3D-tracking)
Auto-area AF Mode: Yes
Autofocus System: Nikon Multi-CAM 1000 autofocus sensor module with TTL phase detection
Lens Servo: Autofocus (AF): Single-servo AF (AF-S); continuous-servo AF (AF-C); auto AF-S/AF-C selection (AF-A); predictive focus tracking activated automatically according to subject status
Focus Point: Can be selected from 11 focus points
Focus Lock: Focus can be locked by pressing shutter-release button halfway (single-servo AF)
Focus Modes: Auto AF-S/AF-C selection (AF-A)
Continuous-servo (AF-C)
Face-Priority AF available in Live View only and D-Movie only
Full-time Servo (AF-A) available in Live View only
Manual focus (M): Electronic rangefinder can be used
Normal area
Single-servo AF (AF-S)
Wide area
Maximum Autofocus Areas/Points: 11
Autofocus Sensitivity: -1 to +19 EV (ISO 100, 20°C/68°F)
Built-in Flash: Yes
Guide Number: Approx. 39/12, 43/13 with manual flash (ft/m, ISO 100, 68°F/20°C)
Flash Control: Auto aperture: Available with SB-900/SB-800 and CPU lens
Distance priority manual: Available with SB-900, SB-800 and SB-700
i-TTL Balanced fill-flash, standard i-TTL flash for digital SLR
Non-TTL auto: Supported flash units include SB-900, SB-800, SB-80DX, SB-28DX, SB-28, SB-27, and SB-22S
Flash Sync Modes: Front-curtain sync (normal)
Slow sync
Rear-curtain sync
Red-eye reduction
Red-eye reduction with slow sync
Flash Compensation: -3 to +1 EV in increments of 1/3 EV
Accessory Shoe: Yes
Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS): CLS Supported
White Balance: Auto
Cloudy
Direct Sunlight
Flash
Fluorescent (7 types)
Incandescent
Preset Manual
Shade
White Balance Bracketing: 2 or 3 exposures
Live View Shooting: Yes
Live View Lens servo: Autofocus (AF): Single-servo AF (AF-S); full-time-servo AF (AF-F)
Live View AF-area mode: Face-priority AF
Wide-area AF
Normal-area AF
Subject-tracking AF
Live View Scene Auto Selector: Auto mode
Movie Metering: TTL exposure metering using main image sensor
Movie Frame size (pixels) and frame rate: 640 x 424 (24p): 24 fps (23.976 fps)
1280 x 720 (24p): 24 fps (23.976 fps)
1280 x 720 (30p): 30 fps (29.97 fps)
1920 x 1080 (24p): 24 fps (23.976 fps)
1920 x 1080 (30p): 30 fps (29.97 fps)
Movie Maximum recording time: 20 min.
Movie File Format: MOV
Movie Video Compression: H.264/MPEG-4 Advanced Video Coding
Movie Audio recording format: Linear PCM
Movie: HD 1,920x1,080 / 30 fps
HD 1,920×1,080 / 24 fps
HD 1,280×720 / 30 fps
HD 1,280×720 / 24 fps
VGA 640×424 / 30 fps
Movie Audio: Built-in microphone, monaural
Optional external stereo mini-pin jack (3.5mm diameter)
Monitor Size: 3.0 in. diagonal
Monitor Resolution: 921,000 Dots
Monitor Type: Super Density
Monitor Angle of View: 170-degree wide-viewing angle
Monitor Adjustments: Brightness, 7 levels
Playback Functions: Auto image rotation
Full-frame and thumbnail (4, 9, or 72 images or calendar)
Highlights
Histogram display
Image Comment
Movie Playback
Playback with zoom
Slideshow
In-Camera Image Editing: Color Balance
Color Outline
Color Sketch
D-Lighting
Distortion Control
Edit Movie
Filter Effects
Fisheye
Image Overlay
Miniature Effect
Monochrome
NEF (RAW) Processing
Perspective Control
Quick Retouch
Red-eye Correction
Resize
Side-by-Side Comparison
Straighten
Trim
Image Comment: Yes
Interface: Audio/Video out
HDMI output: Type C mini-pin HDMI connector
Hi-speed USB
NTSC
Stereo Microphone Input
WiFi Functionality: Eye-Fi Compatible
GPS: GP-1 GPS unit
Total custom Settings: 20
My Menu: Yes with customization
Recent Settings: Yes
Supported Languages: Arabic
Chinese (Simplified and Traditional)
Danish
Dutch
English
Spanish
Finnish
French
Italian
German
Indonesian
Japanese
Korean
Polish
Portuguese
Russian
Spanish
Swedish
Czech
Norweigan
Thai
Turkish
Date, Time and Daylight Savings Time Settings: Yes
World Time Setting: Yes
Battery / Batteries: EN-EL14 Rechargeable Li-ion Battery
Battery Life (shots per charge) : 660 shots (CIPA)
AC Adapter: EH-5a AC Adapter
Battery Charger: MH-24 Quick Charger
Tripod Socket: 1/4 in. (ISO1222)
Approx. Dimensions: Width 5.0 in. (127mm)
Height 3.8 in. (96.5mm)
Depth 3.1 in. (78.7mm)
Approx. Weight: 19.7 oz. (560g)
Supplied Software: ViewNX 2 CD-ROM
