Nikon D5100 - The Sequel is Better

Introduction

In mid-2009, Nikon introduced a brand-new camera into their line-up. The D5000 swung in between the then-base model, the D60, and the prosumer-class D90. The D5000 had similar (though not equal) performance to the D90, with fewer dedicated controls and lesser features. The upside was that it cost less, and was smaller.

When the D90's successor - the D7000 - was released last year, it looked like a replacement for the D5000 wouldn't be too far off. And here it is in the form of the D5100. Mirroring the relationship between the D5000 and the D90, the D5100 takes after the D7000 like a younger sibling. The D5100 has the same 16MP DX-format CMOS image sensor and EXPEED 2 image-processing engine as the D7000, with the same recommended ISO 100-6400 range, and the same sensitivity boost that brings it up to ISO 25600.

A brand-new High Dynamic Range (HDR) mode has been added, which takes two shots of varying exposure and combines them in-camera into a single image. The LCD monitor size and resolution have been increased, from 2.7-inch and 230,000 dots to 3.0-inch and 921,000 dots, and the swivel hinge has been moved from the bottom of the LCD lid to the side of the camera. The D5100 now records in full HD at 1920 x 1080 (30fps, 25fps, 24fps), has subject tracking AF in movie mode and an audio jack for an external microphone. Nikon also introduces a brand new Special Effects mode with the D5100, which includes seven special effects or filters which can be applied to both stills and video.

The D5100 comes with so many upgrades that it's not so much a refinement of the D5000 as it is a dramatically different camera. With the inclusion of the same sensor as the D7000 it'll be interesting to see if the D5100 can deliver similar high resolution and low-noise high-ISO performance at a reduced price.

Design & Handling

The D5100 is a shorter and slightly slimmer camera than the D5000, and also slightly lighter. Like the entry-level D3100 and the D5000, the D5100 shaves size and weight off by excluding the auto-focus motor found on higher-end models. That means the number of lenses the D5100 can use with auto-focus is limited to those lenses with AF motors built-in. 

Another notable difference is how the D7000 comes with 39 focus points, while the D5100 has 11. The D7000 shoots a quicker 6 frames per second, the D5100 manages 4 frames per second. And while the D7000 has a maximum flash sync speed of 1/250 second, the D5100 does 1/200 second. 

While the D5000 had an articulating LCD which pivoted from the bottom, the D5100's screen pivots from the side of the camera. It's easier to use this way, and it doesn't get in the way when the camera is mounted on a tripod.

As a result of the LCD screen now pivoting from the side, the buttons on the side of the camera have all been shifted. While the Play and Zoom buttons find easy to reach locations beside the d-pad, the Menu and Info button have now been shifted to odd and hard to reach places above the screen. The thumb-rest has been widened, and in line with the curvier shapes of the D5100, is more contoured than the D5000's, making for a more comfortable grip.

In a confusing move, Nikon has eschewed the easy-to-use design of the Live View cum Record flip seen on the recent D7000 and D3100 bodies, and created a new LV lever which sits beneath the mode dial. The video Record button has been moved to beside the shutter release on top of the camera. Both new designs don't work as well as the previously integrated Live View and Record switches: the LV switch is now harder to flip, and the Record button can be difficult to locate.

Like on the D7000, there's no dedicated Video mode on the mode dial, which wouldn't be so bad if Live View has black bars to approximate 16:9 HD shooting. But it doesn't, so you're not able to frame a video shot precisely before pressing the Record button, which is the only time the black bars appear.

We've made this criticism of the Canon EOS 600D, so it's fair to repeat it here. The video Record button does nothing unless you're in Live View mode, and that's a drawback in this day and age when competing cameras like the Panasonic Micro Four Thirds G-cameras let you record video immediately with their Record buttons no matter which mode you're in.

Even though there are a few inconveniences with the camera, the D5100 handles well most of the time. It's a more comfortable camera to hold than the D5000 as it is smaller and lighter. Swiveling the LCD from the side makes more sense than swiveling it from the bottom. The Menu and Info buttons are more difficult to reach as a result but it's nothing you can't live with. It's too bad Nikon re-designed an already good Live View flip lever and made it more difficult to use on the D5100.

Image Performance I

The D5100 improves upon the D5000's ISO performance, taking after the D7000's lead in this area. It produces quite clean images up to ISO 1600, and even though ISO 3200-5000 produces more usable noise, the images still look workable. The images return approximately 2000 x 1800 LPH (horizontal x vertical) on our resolution chart, almost (but not quite) as detailed as the D7000's 1800 x 2200 LPH. Above ISO 6400 into the Hi settings, image noise becomes overwhelming. Auto-focus is fast and accurate, and makes shooting with the camera fun and easy.

Image Performance II

Nikon introduces a new Effects mode, with seven effects that are applied as you shoot. They include a miniature effect, which makes your subjects look like toys, high key and low key effects for an over or underexposed look, and color sketch for a sketch-like picture. While they may seem like gimmicks, they can actually be quite fun in practice. If you don't like applying destructive filters to your images, most of the effects are actually available in the Retouch menu.

We had mixed results while playing with the new High Dynamic Range (HDR) function. When using the HDR function, the D5100 shoots two shots of varying exposures and combines them in-camera into a single image. Depending on the scene, you might even be able to shoot handheld if neither of the two exposures are too long. The HDR effect is more subtle than fantastical; unlike the more intense HDR images out there, the D5100 produces HDR images which are more realistic.

While the new feature is welcome, there are a few things that could have been improved. The function is buried inside the Menu, making it more difficult to activate, and once one shot is taken the function is switched off automatically. It would have been simpler if the HDR function had been listed under Effects mode. The camera only saves the final combined image, and it could have been better if it saves the originals as well, in case the final image contains artifacts like ghosting from moving objects.

You can leave the difference in exposures to be set automatically by the camera, or manually set it to a difference of 1, 2 or 3EV. Depending on the scene, that might or might not give you a lot of latitude - it certainly won't give you as much latitude as a larger sequence of HDR images you shoot and combine yourself, and the D5100 doesn't manage to expose for all highlights and shadows in a image with a wide difference in brightness levels.

As such, the HDR function is a convenient and automatic supplement to your photography, not a replacement for a more complete but more tedious manually composed HDR image. With the 3EV limit in exposures, we found that the HDR function produces images that look more like higher dynamic range photos, rather than high dynamic range photos - which isn't a bad thing at all if you find yourself shooting in difficult lighting conditions.

While you can't vary the exposures too much or tweak the final image too much, we discovered that you can set the exposure while in HDR mode and thus have some control over how bright or how dark the final image would turn out.

Video Performance

The Nikon D5100 shoots HD video which looks a lot like the video we get from a Nikon D7000. Great for home movies, acceptable for more professional video situations, with the caveat that all the problems that plague DSLR video are still here. The jello effect is still evident if you pan the camera too fast, and aliasing can still be seen in some shots. Sound is still a weak spot: the built-in microphone on the D5100 is monaural, but it comes with a Mic. jack for an external microphone. AF is a hair faster than on other Live View DSLR cameras we've seen, but still takes time to find its focus.

Click here to watch in full HD.

It sounds like we're knocking the video capabilities, but we're not. Shooting video on a DSLR camera gives you a cheaper alternative to get HD video with beautiful bokeh, and is a convenient all-in-one solution for both moving and still images. Still, you should know that while most consumers will be happy with the results for home video, you'll need some work to get the most out of a HD DSLR's video abilities, like getting that external microphone and a grip for steady shooting.

At the same time, shooting video with the D5100 actually offers an advantage or two over shooting video with the D7000. The D5100 shoots video at more frame-rates; 1920 x 1080 (30fps, 25fps, 24fps), 1280 x 720 (30fps, 25fps, 24fps) and 640 x 424 (30fps, 25fps), while the D7000 only hoots at the following frame-rates; 1920 x 1080 (24p), 1280 x 720 (30fps, 25fps, 24fps), 640 x 424 (24fps). The D5100 also has an articulating screen, while the D7000 doesn't - but the D7000 does have a better integrated Live View and Record lever.

Besides straight video shooting, the new effects can also be applied on video, although for an effect like Miniature the video capture will slow down and the playback will be sped up (for an inaccurate example, you'll catch about a second's worth of video after shooting for three), giving you a time-lapse like effect.

The last point we want to make about shooting video with the D5100 is that there's an odd bug or feature regarding aperture control. You can set aperture manually before going into Live View, but you cannot change aperture settings while inside Live View and shooting video. You have to exit Live View into aperture priority or manual mode to change aperture settings and then go back into Live View.

Sample Photographs

These are sample photographs shot with the Nikon D5100. The photos have not been post-processed and are copyright to SPH Magazines. We kindly ask that you do not reproduce them elsewhere. Click to see the full-resolution originals.

Conclusion

The Nikon D5100 offers much more than its predecessor, improving upon it in every which way. The body is smaller, lighter and easier to grip. The LCD has been enlarged, has a finer resolution image and now swivels from the side instead of the bottom. ISO performance has been improved to a stunning level, following after the impressive D7000, letting you shoot at high ISO settings with less noise. The camera now comes with an external microphone jack for better sounding video, but alas, there isn't a PC jack for off-camera flash control.

Auto-focus is fast and accurate, even in Live View. AF in Live View is still slower than when shooting through the optical viewfinder, but it's a hair faster than the Live View AF we've seen on other DSLR cameras. Nikon already had a good thing going with the integrated Live View lever and video Record button on the D3100 and D7000, but unfortunately those have been re-designed for the D5100 and not in a better way. If there's one thing we dislike about the camera, it's that - but it's a rather small complaint in comparison.

The new Effects mode and HDR feature should provide some entertainment to the enthusiast, but the D5100 is targeted more toward an advanced beginner who's looking for something more compact and affordable than the D7000. In other words, while the D7000 is a semi-pro/advanced enthusiast (my, how the lines are blurring) camera, and the D3100 a simple, beginner's DSLR, the D5100 falls somewhere in-between.

However, the listed prices for the D3100 (S$949) and D5100 (S$1199) are so close that we're going to go out on a limb and say that if you're debating between both cameras and price is the deciding factor, it may be more worth your while simply to save up the S$250 and go for the D5100, which gets you so much more in terms of performance. Someone who wants a DSLR to grow with a deepening study of photography has a higher price bracket to climb though, with the D7000 kit at S$2299, which is the camera we'd recommend if you want a camera with more accessible controls, better ISO and frames per second performance, a built-in AF motor which is compatible with more lenses and a PC jack for external flash.

In our humble opinion, that's how the D5100 stands in isolation - a solid camera with great image quality - and in comparison - a tool that both a beginner and an advanced user will enjoy.

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