Nikon D5100 CYBER MONDAY, LOVE IT.
Lots of features. Good camera for the beginner who wants a camera that will not limit them in the future and has many features for the professional as well. Large screen which folds away when not needed. Will save photos in BOTH JPEG and RAW. I did a lot of research before buying and this camera beat competitors in features and performance. I would recommend a card reader however. The rubber cover over the cable connections seems a little flimsy. I decided to get a card reader instead of toggling the cover over and over again. Other than that - love it.
Nikon D5100 CYBER MONDAY, So Good.
This has been great so far, still learning. The video is ok but really didn't buy it for the that. It will get used for some video and for that it will be fine I am sure.
Would highly recommend this camera.
Friday, November 25, 2011
Nikon D5100 BLACK FRIDAY
Nikon D5100 BLACK FRIDAY, BEAUTIFUL CAMERA!!
It's a beautiful camera! I am still learning just some of the features - I had used a Minolta 35mm film SLR for 9 years, often in either aperture priority or manual, sometimes in P mode. The D5100 has all these capabilities and much much more. I would recommend that a new owner immediately go to the Nikon site and download the D5100 Reference Manual (about 250 pages) and save it in PDF format on your computer for when you need it. If you later want to print the manual (I did), you'll need to input your D5100 S/N. I used the PDF print capability to print full size pages because I wanted the bigger print. Then I spent 20 minutes punching 3 ring binder holes and bought a decent large 3 ring binder to hold all these pages. You can certainly learn to operate the D5100 from the User's Manual that comes in the camera box, I just like to have the ref. manual on the computer for questions I might have.
Nikon D5100 BLACK FRIDAY, Great camera for the Point-and-shoot photographer upgrading
This review is not going to cover the specs and advanced features of this camera because others have done that with far greater finesse than I could ever manage. If that is what you need or want, then please move on to the next review. I am going to focus on the advantages for someone moving from a point and shoot to this DSLR camera. I have seen comments posted on the web from serious photographers who question why a rank amateur would want anything more than a point and shoot and would like to address those concerns. First of all, this is a teaching camera. You can learn from it and your skills will advance, no matter how humble the skills are in the beginning. In the process of learning, the camera is idiot proof so you will still get great pictures in spite of your lack of sophistication. Secondly, if you have a home with poor lighting, this camera will do far better than any point and shoot that I have ever used. Thirdly, if you don't want to win photography awards but it is still important to you to accurately capture the beauty of whatever it is that you love, this is a great camera. I love to take pictures of my cats, dogs and wildlife on my rural property. This camera, in very bad lighting, accurately takes pictures of my cats' beautiful eyes. I don't need fancy filters, lenses, flashes or lighting. The color is not off and you don't get red eye, blue eye or no eye. I don't really have to do a whole lot of advanced adjusting to accomplish this. Also, the kit lens is much, much better than I expected for my needs. My cats' coats with subtle but beautiful color markings are accurately captured with this camera and kit lens. I have cats that I have taken pictures of for years and never got a good shot of until I got this camera. I got my first great picture of one of my black cats in poor lighting. I have shown that picture to many friends and posted it on Facebook and no one can believe that the photo was taken in such lousy lighting. The thing about pets is they do their cutest stuff in the darkest corners of the room. I have loved that feature the most about this camera. It is an easy camera to use. It is well made and idiot proof when it comes to removing the battery, sliding the SD card in and out, changing from photo to video. Nothing is awkward. My last point and shoot had a lot of "quirks" when putting in batteries and the SD card. No such quirks here. No hard to close hinges. Everything works as it should. For a beginner, this is not something to be taken lightly. Some of us get frustrated rather easily. You can concentrate on learning how to take better pictures rather than how to make the camera work. The menu is idiot proof. No quirks there. Very common sense and intuitive. The camera display is very, very sharp. Very easy to view pictures. You can do some editing of the photos before you load them onto your computer which is sometimes very, very helpful. You will become a better photographer for having this camera. In the process, you will have a lot of fun and get great photos--all without any frustration.
One thing I forgot to add, the battery life is wonderful. It was 2 months before I had to recharge. I took about 600 photos at my leisure during that time. That alone is worth the price of the camera.
Nikon D5100 BLACK FRIDAY, Best camera I've ever owned.
I've owned several Nikon and Canon cameras, and camera lenses, over the years. This Nikon D5100 camera is the best I've ever owned. I purchased it from Amazon a couple of months ago, with the 18-200mm lens. I highly recommend this combo. The 18-200mm lens is superb - very fast and sharp throughout the range. If you own this lens, you will need no others. I used to use a 400mm lens for bird photography, a 200mm macro lens for insect photography, and smaller lenses for general photography. The 18-200mm lens replaces all of them. 16.2 megapixel images taken with the D5100 camera and 18-200mm lens combo are so pixel-dense that you can severely crop a photo of a bird or insect and still have a very sharp high-resolution photo. Of course, normal photos of family, friends, pets, landscape are also superb - sharp, with beautiful color.
It's a beautiful camera! I am still learning just some of the features - I had used a Minolta 35mm film SLR for 9 years, often in either aperture priority or manual, sometimes in P mode. The D5100 has all these capabilities and much much more. I would recommend that a new owner immediately go to the Nikon site and download the D5100 Reference Manual (about 250 pages) and save it in PDF format on your computer for when you need it. If you later want to print the manual (I did), you'll need to input your D5100 S/N. I used the PDF print capability to print full size pages because I wanted the bigger print. Then I spent 20 minutes punching 3 ring binder holes and bought a decent large 3 ring binder to hold all these pages. You can certainly learn to operate the D5100 from the User's Manual that comes in the camera box, I just like to have the ref. manual on the computer for questions I might have.
Nikon D5100 BLACK FRIDAY, Great camera for the Point-and-shoot photographer upgrading
This review is not going to cover the specs and advanced features of this camera because others have done that with far greater finesse than I could ever manage. If that is what you need or want, then please move on to the next review. I am going to focus on the advantages for someone moving from a point and shoot to this DSLR camera. I have seen comments posted on the web from serious photographers who question why a rank amateur would want anything more than a point and shoot and would like to address those concerns. First of all, this is a teaching camera. You can learn from it and your skills will advance, no matter how humble the skills are in the beginning. In the process of learning, the camera is idiot proof so you will still get great pictures in spite of your lack of sophistication. Secondly, if you have a home with poor lighting, this camera will do far better than any point and shoot that I have ever used. Thirdly, if you don't want to win photography awards but it is still important to you to accurately capture the beauty of whatever it is that you love, this is a great camera. I love to take pictures of my cats, dogs and wildlife on my rural property. This camera, in very bad lighting, accurately takes pictures of my cats' beautiful eyes. I don't need fancy filters, lenses, flashes or lighting. The color is not off and you don't get red eye, blue eye or no eye. I don't really have to do a whole lot of advanced adjusting to accomplish this. Also, the kit lens is much, much better than I expected for my needs. My cats' coats with subtle but beautiful color markings are accurately captured with this camera and kit lens. I have cats that I have taken pictures of for years and never got a good shot of until I got this camera. I got my first great picture of one of my black cats in poor lighting. I have shown that picture to many friends and posted it on Facebook and no one can believe that the photo was taken in such lousy lighting. The thing about pets is they do their cutest stuff in the darkest corners of the room. I have loved that feature the most about this camera. It is an easy camera to use. It is well made and idiot proof when it comes to removing the battery, sliding the SD card in and out, changing from photo to video. Nothing is awkward. My last point and shoot had a lot of "quirks" when putting in batteries and the SD card. No such quirks here. No hard to close hinges. Everything works as it should. For a beginner, this is not something to be taken lightly. Some of us get frustrated rather easily. You can concentrate on learning how to take better pictures rather than how to make the camera work. The menu is idiot proof. No quirks there. Very common sense and intuitive. The camera display is very, very sharp. Very easy to view pictures. You can do some editing of the photos before you load them onto your computer which is sometimes very, very helpful. You will become a better photographer for having this camera. In the process, you will have a lot of fun and get great photos--all without any frustration.
One thing I forgot to add, the battery life is wonderful. It was 2 months before I had to recharge. I took about 600 photos at my leisure during that time. That alone is worth the price of the camera.
Nikon D5100 BLACK FRIDAY, Best camera I've ever owned.
I've owned several Nikon and Canon cameras, and camera lenses, over the years. This Nikon D5100 camera is the best I've ever owned. I purchased it from Amazon a couple of months ago, with the 18-200mm lens. I highly recommend this combo. The 18-200mm lens is superb - very fast and sharp throughout the range. If you own this lens, you will need no others. I used to use a 400mm lens for bird photography, a 200mm macro lens for insect photography, and smaller lenses for general photography. The 18-200mm lens replaces all of them. 16.2 megapixel images taken with the D5100 camera and 18-200mm lens combo are so pixel-dense that you can severely crop a photo of a bird or insect and still have a very sharp high-resolution photo. Of course, normal photos of family, friends, pets, landscape are also superb - sharp, with beautiful color.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Nikon D5100 BEST PRICE
Nikon D5100 BEST PRICE, First dSLR, Loving it.
After seeing some beautiful HDR photos, I was inspired to start taking photos for myself. I settled on the Nikon D5100 and have enjoyed the experience so far. Never having used a dSLR, the first thing one notices is, "Wow. These photos are great! You mean, I can actually take a photo in this dark room and not have it blown out with harsh camera mounted flash?! This is awesome!" :)
One of the things that I like about the D5100 that I did not think I would is the articulating LCD screen. I didn't think I'd need it, thought it would be in the way, and thought I'd want those buttons on the left hand side of the screen more than the ability to move the screen around. I have used this feature many, many times and have gotten some good photos because of it. It works well to frame shots when the camera is low to the ground or in an otherwise hard area to put your eye to the viewfinder. Also, if you're out in the bright sun, you can angle the screen so you can actually see what's on it instead of sun glare.
What pushed me over the edge in getting the D5100 over the D3100 is the availability of the wireless remote. With the D3100, you need to get the cable remote. The wireless remote works with the D5100 from both the front and back of the camera. There were other points; MP, fps, etc.; but the remote pushed me over the top.
The camera has many features I am still learning to use and enjoy. If this is also your first dSLR experience, I recommend reading up on photography on the web and taking a beginning photography course. Knowing what f-stop, shutter speed, exposure value, depth of field, ISO, mean and how you use them to take great photos is the first step in taking the camera off automatic and in to manual mode. It's not that hard, and with a fun camera like the D5100, you'll be going from snapshots to photographs in no time.
Nikon D5100 BEST PRICE, very good.
My first "good" camera was a Nikon N60 with various lenses. Taking multiple shots of a subject got tedious, being not able to review the pictures till they were developed. Switched to a Canon S5 IS( a wonderful camera) that took fantastic pictures for a point and shoot. Also with it being digital allowed me to easily use digital programs to fix shots, or be more artistic. Then I foolishly went to a Canon SX30IS which took lousy pictures of anything other than extreme telephoto. I quit taking pictures because of it. I decided to check out digital SLRs and found the D5100, it has impressive specs, and now I own one, it has impressive performance. It has let me fall in love with taking photos again. I didn't rate it for video, having not used that yet. I'd say it would be a good camera for a beginner digital SLR user who really wants to learn, but will still be able to make good shots using the auto functions till more is learned.
After seeing some beautiful HDR photos, I was inspired to start taking photos for myself. I settled on the Nikon D5100 and have enjoyed the experience so far. Never having used a dSLR, the first thing one notices is, "Wow. These photos are great! You mean, I can actually take a photo in this dark room and not have it blown out with harsh camera mounted flash?! This is awesome!" :)
One of the things that I like about the D5100 that I did not think I would is the articulating LCD screen. I didn't think I'd need it, thought it would be in the way, and thought I'd want those buttons on the left hand side of the screen more than the ability to move the screen around. I have used this feature many, many times and have gotten some good photos because of it. It works well to frame shots when the camera is low to the ground or in an otherwise hard area to put your eye to the viewfinder. Also, if you're out in the bright sun, you can angle the screen so you can actually see what's on it instead of sun glare.
What pushed me over the edge in getting the D5100 over the D3100 is the availability of the wireless remote. With the D3100, you need to get the cable remote. The wireless remote works with the D5100 from both the front and back of the camera. There were other points; MP, fps, etc.; but the remote pushed me over the top.
The camera has many features I am still learning to use and enjoy. If this is also your first dSLR experience, I recommend reading up on photography on the web and taking a beginning photography course. Knowing what f-stop, shutter speed, exposure value, depth of field, ISO, mean and how you use them to take great photos is the first step in taking the camera off automatic and in to manual mode. It's not that hard, and with a fun camera like the D5100, you'll be going from snapshots to photographs in no time.
Nikon D5100 BEST PRICE, very good.
My first "good" camera was a Nikon N60 with various lenses. Taking multiple shots of a subject got tedious, being not able to review the pictures till they were developed. Switched to a Canon S5 IS( a wonderful camera) that took fantastic pictures for a point and shoot. Also with it being digital allowed me to easily use digital programs to fix shots, or be more artistic. Then I foolishly went to a Canon SX30IS which took lousy pictures of anything other than extreme telephoto. I quit taking pictures because of it. I decided to check out digital SLRs and found the D5100, it has impressive specs, and now I own one, it has impressive performance. It has let me fall in love with taking photos again. I didn't rate it for video, having not used that yet. I'd say it would be a good camera for a beginner digital SLR user who really wants to learn, but will still be able to make good shots using the auto functions till more is learned.
Nikon D5100 BEST BUY
Nikon D5100 BEST BUY, AWESOME CAMERA!!!
I looked at all of the entry to mid-level dslrs and the D5100 best fit my needs as an "experienced beginner". Initially, I was a bit hesitant, because I was afraid I'd outgrow it rather quickly, so I also bought a D7000 intending to return one of them (I know, this is sometimes frowned upon, but Amazon's excellent return privileges are there for a reason).
They're both great cameras and you can't go wrong with either. But I've decided to keep the D5100 for a number of reasons, including:
- To my eyes, image quality is virtually indistinguishable between the 2 cameras, and I engaged in some serious pixel-peeping while reaching this conclusion. Both use the same Sony sensor. Where the D7k probably has an edge is with sports and capturing moving subjects in low light (neither of which I had the chance to shoot).
- Both of the D7000's I tried had backfocusing problems due to faulty bodies. What are the odds of that?
- The D7000 overexposes in bright/high contrast scenes, requiring -ev adjustment to prevent loss of detail from highlight clipping. Some may not mind this, but I think that, in its default state, the camera shouldn't overexpose to the point of losing detail, unless you're shooting in full manual mode and have chosen the wrong settings. Sometimes you don't have time to set ev comp to take advantage of a great photo op.
- My trusty D5100 has had no problems whatsoever. Focus is tack sharp. Everything works and it's been an absolute pleasure to use. I also don't recall reading reports of any known problems or design flaws with the D5100, unlike the D7000.
- The small form factor and light weight of the 5100 make it great for traveling. The articulating screen can also come in handy. It's well-made and the mostly-plastic build isn't a problem. Besides, the D7000 uses magnesium alloy only on the back and top (as if it was used more for show than for real ruggedness). The rest of the body shell is plastic, which is fine for most of us amateurs. If you want real ruggedness, you need to step up to a pro model.
- The 5100 is often referred to as a beginner's camera, but it's actually capable of most of the things even an advanced user would need. Some of the secondary essentials (WB, release mode, bracketing) are in menus, but they're quick to access. All of the key functions, however (aperture, shutter speed, exposure comp, flash mode, AE/AF lock, ISO) are controllable via buttons (ISO can be assigned to the function button) and once you get used to the layout, it becomes second nature. There's a plethora of settings, and it *is* a camera one can grow with and hold onto for awhile. The D7000, otoh, has lots of features that I (and perhaps many other amateurs) would rarely or never use.
- Being my first dslr, I didn't have any old Nikkor AFS lenses and I don't plan to buy many more lenses beyond the three that I already have. So the internal focus motor of the D7000 wasn't of any value to me. The D7000's larger, brighter, 100% coverage viewfinder is missed, but I can live without it. The D7000's glass prism adds a fair amount of weight.
- Cost wasn't an issue, but I don't exactly mind saving $400 especially when I'm getting the same image quality. To me, the 5100 was a better value. The money is better spent on lenses. Furthermore, given the short life cycle of electronic products, it doesn't make sense to invest in a more expensive body with extra non-essential (to me) features, since there will be interesting developments in the next couple of years (e.g. advancement in mirrorless cam technology and lens selection), tempting me to upgrade.
I'd recommend buying the D5100 body only, passing on the 18-55 kit lens in favor of the 35mm 1.8. Then add a 16-85VR and 70-300VR as budget permits. These lenses are all super sharp and should cover almost any shot that comes up. The 18-105 is a good, cheaper alternative to the 16-85.
Nikon D5100 BEST BUY, AMAZING!!!
The image quality of this camera is amazing. I own a D90, D3100, and D5100 and I have to say this camera is the sharpest. It features the same sensor as the D7000. Even when comparing the images to my friends D700 it matches the image quality. The only thing that was hard getting used to was changing setting in manual mode. This is a lot more convenient in the D90 and D7000, that I am used to.
I looked at all of the entry to mid-level dslrs and the D5100 best fit my needs as an "experienced beginner". Initially, I was a bit hesitant, because I was afraid I'd outgrow it rather quickly, so I also bought a D7000 intending to return one of them (I know, this is sometimes frowned upon, but Amazon's excellent return privileges are there for a reason).
They're both great cameras and you can't go wrong with either. But I've decided to keep the D5100 for a number of reasons, including:
- To my eyes, image quality is virtually indistinguishable between the 2 cameras, and I engaged in some serious pixel-peeping while reaching this conclusion. Both use the same Sony sensor. Where the D7k probably has an edge is with sports and capturing moving subjects in low light (neither of which I had the chance to shoot).
- Both of the D7000's I tried had backfocusing problems due to faulty bodies. What are the odds of that?
- The D7000 overexposes in bright/high contrast scenes, requiring -ev adjustment to prevent loss of detail from highlight clipping. Some may not mind this, but I think that, in its default state, the camera shouldn't overexpose to the point of losing detail, unless you're shooting in full manual mode and have chosen the wrong settings. Sometimes you don't have time to set ev comp to take advantage of a great photo op.
- My trusty D5100 has had no problems whatsoever. Focus is tack sharp. Everything works and it's been an absolute pleasure to use. I also don't recall reading reports of any known problems or design flaws with the D5100, unlike the D7000.
- The small form factor and light weight of the 5100 make it great for traveling. The articulating screen can also come in handy. It's well-made and the mostly-plastic build isn't a problem. Besides, the D7000 uses magnesium alloy only on the back and top (as if it was used more for show than for real ruggedness). The rest of the body shell is plastic, which is fine for most of us amateurs. If you want real ruggedness, you need to step up to a pro model.
- The 5100 is often referred to as a beginner's camera, but it's actually capable of most of the things even an advanced user would need. Some of the secondary essentials (WB, release mode, bracketing) are in menus, but they're quick to access. All of the key functions, however (aperture, shutter speed, exposure comp, flash mode, AE/AF lock, ISO) are controllable via buttons (ISO can be assigned to the function button) and once you get used to the layout, it becomes second nature. There's a plethora of settings, and it *is* a camera one can grow with and hold onto for awhile. The D7000, otoh, has lots of features that I (and perhaps many other amateurs) would rarely or never use.
- Being my first dslr, I didn't have any old Nikkor AFS lenses and I don't plan to buy many more lenses beyond the three that I already have. So the internal focus motor of the D7000 wasn't of any value to me. The D7000's larger, brighter, 100% coverage viewfinder is missed, but I can live without it. The D7000's glass prism adds a fair amount of weight.
- Cost wasn't an issue, but I don't exactly mind saving $400 especially when I'm getting the same image quality. To me, the 5100 was a better value. The money is better spent on lenses. Furthermore, given the short life cycle of electronic products, it doesn't make sense to invest in a more expensive body with extra non-essential (to me) features, since there will be interesting developments in the next couple of years (e.g. advancement in mirrorless cam technology and lens selection), tempting me to upgrade.
I'd recommend buying the D5100 body only, passing on the 18-55 kit lens in favor of the 35mm 1.8. Then add a 16-85VR and 70-300VR as budget permits. These lenses are all super sharp and should cover almost any shot that comes up. The 18-105 is a good, cheaper alternative to the 16-85.
Nikon D5100 BEST BUY, AMAZING!!!
The image quality of this camera is amazing. I own a D90, D3100, and D5100 and I have to say this camera is the sharpest. It features the same sensor as the D7000. Even when comparing the images to my friends D700 it matches the image quality. The only thing that was hard getting used to was changing setting in manual mode. This is a lot more convenient in the D90 and D7000, that I am used to.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Nikon D5100 REVIEW
Nikon D5100 Excellent Starter Camera
I received this as a gift just recently. I had quite a difficult decision between the D3100 & D5100 as my FIRST DSLR. I was aware that they were both 'starter' cameras and they had very similar features. What really set me for the D5100 is that it had the swivel screen for the tricky shots and the durability. I like the texture of the body better than the D3100. My specifications were that it had to last a few years, it needed to withstand some wear and tear, it needed quality pictures and videos, but also ease of use. And because it is my first DSLR, I am a little confused with the usage, but I'll learn. I know it takes a lot of practice and a few terrible pictures. I find the Nikon manual very clear and helpful. I do love that it's not a thick, giant camera and it's light and easy to hold with my tiny hands. I did so some research to see that the buttons were placed differently from the D3100, but I find them easy to locate and understand their meaning because it is my first. It takes some awesome shots. Fast. 4fps is very nice to get those quick shots. Crisp, detailed, clean. I haven't had much time of playing around with the special effects. I believe that my current settings are on manual. I'm not a big fan of automatic mode. I had a digital camera and that mode was pretty terrible. And I don't want to miss any special shots on auto-mode. Overall, I would recommend this camera. The price is a bit much for pretty much a step up starter camera. It has come down from $899, but by $40. I would recommend this. Still need some getting used to, but so far, it's worth the price and hopefully will last for a long time. :)
Nikon D5100 BEST DSLR for your $$
I am not a professional in the 'DSLR field' but I can tell you this.
I've had Nikon D3100, Nikon D7000, Nikon D5000 all for one month, and D5100 is the best DSLR for your money.
D3100 is good but compared to D5100's feature, why not pay little more and get D5100? (Microphone slot, rotating screen, faster system, etc)
D5000 is okay but D5100 is going to be the definite upgrade from it. Why? I personally think that D5100 has better image quality, better rotating screen function, and.. it looks better- smaller in size, less bulky.. D5100 looks much sharper than D5000.. i think at least.
D7000 takes the best picture but it goes over $1000 and it feels very similar to D5100, so why not get D5100 for $400-500 cheaper?
So bottom line, I decided to keep D5100 for a while and I am loving this beast every bit of it. Plus, Amazon had a great deal on this camera! ($849!! in Best Buy it's $899+tax=$980!!)
If you want to own a DSLR for the first time and is on the search for the right one, D5100 is your choice. It will NOT disappoint.
Nikon D5100 If image quality is your highest priority.
As a former D90 shooter, I can say without reservation that the D5100 is now Nikon's biggest bang for the buck. The AF accuracy on this camera is much better than what I experienced with the D90. Image quality is astoundingly superior (i.e, great noise reduction while image stays sharp, sharp, sharp).
Contrary to what has been written by others, I find the "i" (Information menu) option for changing settings (e.g., ISO) to be quite fast and easy, once you "get" how to use it (in lieu of hunting for buttons or dials or button/dial combinations for everything). And, most importantly, the Command dial is still where it should be for quickly changing exposure settings.
In agreement with others, if you want a heavier APS-C camera and want to pay $400(US) more for all those buttons, be my guest and buy the Nikon D7000 instead. Perhaps you need a larger viewfinder, or have older and/or AF-D lenses you want to keep, so you need a built-in AF (camera) motor to focus. If so, then spending the additional money for the D7000 might be worth it. But if you stay with Nikon's line-up, only a heavier/more expensive FX D700 can truly produce better IQ (and I would say perhaps, depending on conditions, because the resolution of the D5100 is really phenomenal).
I've put together a very affordable D5100 kit:(wide-angle)Tamron 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 DI-II B.I.M., (walk-around) Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 OS HSM, Nikon 35 F/1.8 (honestly not used much), (tele) Nikon 70-300mm. For under $2800 (US), I now get a broader focal range, and the kind of image quality that I used to think was out of reach for my wallet.
Nikon D5100 Awesome Camera
Bought this as a gift for my wife for mothers day. We had been reviewing different cameras and this one had it all for the price. Loved that it came with the lens instead of having to purchase after the fact. We really liked the mega pixels and the fact that it has video recording in HD. Pictures and video are incredible. When we compare our pictures we took from our 10mp point and shoot camera with our new camera its like looking at a TV at 720p vs a flat screen with 1080p. Even our pictures look like High Def now!
Love this camera and definitely recommend it!
Nikon D5100 Camera Impressed
I recently purchased this Nikon D5100 camera and have since replaced the kit lens with the Nikon 18-200mm VRll and have a 35mm f/1.8G AF-S on order. I have absolutely no complaints about this camera or it's lens, everything works perfectly. I don't mind the use of a plastic body for lighter weight as there's enough heft to this camera (and the 18-200 lens) to make you aware that you are holding something of significant value. I've reassigned the 'Fn' button to adjust the ISO on the fly since I primarily use aperture priority (nice touch btw). I'm currently looking into the ideal camera bag for travel... possibly the Lowepro Fastback 250, as I want to keep the 18-200 lens attached.
The built-in flash does NOT work as 'commander' for wireless flash use... not a deal breaker though.
Nikon D5100 Better than the d7000, for my needs.
I spent a few months looking at the d7000, but I was afraid of some of the reported problems with dead pixels and overexposure. Plus, the d7000 is a lot of camera for someone like me. I know how to shoot in manual mode, but I don't always need to. Sometimes the scene modes are enough for me when I'm trying to get pictures on the fly. I'm just looking to take great pictures and I wanted a great camera with low-light performance.
The d5100 turned out to be exactly what I was looking for. Don't underestimate the usefulness of the articulating screen. Its really great for taking self-portraits, or pictures of you and your friends when you don't have a tripod. I have used that feature alone a lot more than I thought I would, and this makes it well more suited than the d7000 for me. The d5100 is also alot lighter than the d7000, and I appreciate some of the gimmicky features that it has (the special scene modes, like sketch and miniature). No overexposure/metering issues in bright sunny days and the same low-light performance of the d5100 makes it a winner for me.
Another point is that the battery life of the d5100 is really good. I thought it would be too short, especially when the d7000 gets almost twice as many shots as the d5100 on the included battery. But as long as you charge the battery each night, you should be fine for a full day's worth of shooting.
Nikon D5100 Best Price, Best Light Weight DSLR EVER
Being in Graphic Design, I was in the market for a DSLR, and was reading up on the specs of the D5100. I had only had previous experience with a Canon D60 and proudly owned and used a Nikon FM2 Film Camera for a decent amount of years. (Hence why I went with Nikon again, for the lenses) Since I was looking for a camera for on-the-go shots and night shots, this little baby seemed to come into my life just at the right moment.
It is an unbelievably light weight camera, which makes it nice for lugging it around. The body IS Plastic, so it is definitely not ment for you rough and tumble types. The rotating flip screen is a serious plus, for getting those wierd angled shots you would otherwise need to dig a hole to get. All of the features, such as portrait, landscape, etc like point and shoot cameras are featured, although I just use manual settings to custom taylor to my needs. ISO can get up to 6400, Shutter Speed can get up to 1/4000. The white balance is very nicely programed, pictures come out as if it were my own eyes. (*personal settings apply) Auto focus can be turned on in constance and is pretty responsive when moving the camera around.
Never mind the Video capability. (1080p HD?! COOL!) Even little on-unit touch ups like upping digital lighting, or adding a "Miniature effect" to the photos, it has been quite joyful to even do slight color correcting on the camera in playback.
I have only had this camera for a few days, keep in mind. And I did not buy it from Amazon (even though they have the same great price i paid for it.) This camera is a bargain for what you get. I couldn't be any happier, especially with the price. What can I say- I am already in love.
Nikon D5100 Best Price, What a camera.... and what a steal
I bought my D5100 just 4 weeks ago and 2000 shots later have to report that this is one of the very best and certainly the very cheapest Nikon (D)SLR's I ever owned in more than 50 years. Not being as dextrous as I once was I wanted something that gave me pin sharp pics out of the box without having to fuss through lengthy menus for a custom set up. The 5100 did not disappoint in any department. With my 5 year old 18-200mm attached the camera at first felt just a little unbalanced but 5 minutes later it felt a lot better to me than it did on my old D200. Results have amazed me especially at the ISO6000 level and above, and just for fun,I put it up against the D200, my neighbors D3 and my son's D2X - have to say the 5100 blew them all away using an old 50mm f1.4 ai-s in manual focus of course! I cannot fathom the comments from a recent reviewer, who signs off as a pro, and who mentions a Canon Rebel having better IQ than the 5100. No pro I know would use either camera as a day to day working tool, they are just not made for that kind of hard work. Although when you think about it you could buy 6 of the 5100's for less than the price of a D3s. Now that's a thought for a pro who wants to go ultra lightweight! But getting back to the image quality issue, I have to report just one thing - There Is No Issue!! It is a super sharp machine with any decent lens you care to put on it. The video output is excellent and on a Samsung 50" LCD in HDMI mode the picture quality was better than I could ever have hoped for. Crystal clear with outstanding sound quality. OK so it doesn't have a waterproofed Titanium and Kevlar shell, the buttons seem to be getting smaller on all Nikons,the video controls and logic are problematic but no doubt curable with a firmware upgrade.The liveview switch is not exactly conveniently placed either and I could go on with other picky findings. But overall this Nikon rocks!
Nikon D5100 Best Price, I LOVE this camera...and i'm pretty green.
I wanted a camera that was a little bit beyond me. I was tired of buying expensive point and click's only to have them stop working after 1 1/2 years...I shelled out decent money over 3 years for two coolpix...Nikon D5100 16.2MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens they were ok, but i was looking for something that produced more professional looking shots and to have a camera i could grow into. I had a problem with my D5100 at first, i couldn't get the darned thing to focus - it turned out to be a menu item was on AF-M instead of AF-C (auto focus continuous)...an easy fix, thank goodness. There is nothing i can't do with this camera. Yes, it cost some extra clamshells...but with proper maintainance and tlc, i know i'll have this camera and be satisfied with the results for a long time. I don't find it too cumbersome to deal with...i took it on a recent trip and was able to set up perfect shots quickly, and i didn't tire of it on my shoulder. This to me would have been a sticking point - to have a great camera but it being too heavy or awkward to be able to just point and shoot, that i wouldn't want to bring it everywhere and anywhere. It has the best of both worlds - the ease of a point and shoot with very impressive results.
Nikon D5100 Best Buy, Awesome DSLR.
I've been on the hobby for about 5 year now, my last camera was a Nikon D60 and let me tell you, this D5100 completely obliterates the D60, it even outperforms the D90 as this camera has the same excellent sensor as the High end Nikon D7000, just in a smaller package, sadly it does not have an integrated autofocus motor in the body so AF it only works on newer AF-S lenses, but that is not a problem anymore because we have a big variety of AF-S lenses.
Image quality is superb, specially on low light conditions, we can crank up the ISO Speed and it looks great, even at ISO 6400. Video quality is just as great but my true passion is photography so I can't get deep into reviewing the video recording feature.
If you want the BEST DSLR for under 1000 Dollars this is the one to get.
Nikon D5100 Best Buy, Very Happy.
I bought the camera as an upgrade to a D60. I took the camera on a cruise with me and it worked great. I posted some of the pictures I took on a cruise forum and many people have posted positive comments regarding the pictures. I've only had the camera for a short period of time (I have not even had the chance to do any serious editing of the photographs yet), but I am happy with the camera.
Nikon D5100 Best Buy, Fantastic Picture Quality; Great High ISO performance.
I sold my D3100 and purchased the D5100. I really liked my D3100, but there are 2 features I wanted that the D5100 has: 1.) bracketing function and 2.) ISO 1/3 increments. I like HDR photography, and the 3 exposure bracketing mode makes it easier to do on the D5100 (although I wish it had a 5 exposure bracketing mode). I take a lot of night photos, and the D3100 would only go from 800 to 1600 to 3200. The D5100 will let you shoot at ISO 1000, 1250, 2000, etc. The high ISO performance on the D3100 is very good, but it is outstanding/phenomenal on the D5100. I have taken quite a few ISO 5000 and 6400 photos on the D5100 that come out awesome with almost no noise, even with the stock lens. I recently took a photo at ISO 5000 and posted on flickr that looks like ISO 200 on almost any other camera I have ever used, including my Panasonic GH1. I will share it on Amazon. I believe the incredible low light, high ISO performance is because the D5100 shares the same sensor as the D7000. So this is a big upgrade from the D3100 as far as the sensor in low light environments. I have taken about 500 photos so far, and pictures come out tack sharp with the stock lens. Combined with the 35 mm F1.8 Nikon lens, the camera takes as fantastic of pictures as I could possibly imagine. Battery life is incredible--after 500 pics the battery indicator still showed the full 3 bars. I also like the adjustable swivel screen for when I am shooting on a tripod or above my head. The one thing I do not like about the camera are the placement of the buttons and settings. There is not a button for ISO; you have to press the "i" button then scroll down on the screen and change it. You could assign ISO to the Fn button (which is in a difficult location on the left side of the camera), but then you can't set the camera to a 2 second self-timer without going through the menu. I use the 2 second timer a lot for shooting on a tripod at night, so I didn't change the Fn button. On the D3100, the self timer was on a switch on the top; not sure why they removed that. Overall the controls are somewhat cumbersome in the dark without looking at the camera. I am getting used to them, but they could make it easier. Finally, the D5100 does not autofocus on older Nikon lenses like the D7000 does. But I think the picture quality of the D5100 is probably equal to the D7000 because they use the same sensor. Other than the controls/button placement issue, I love this camera and highly recommend it. I think it is certainly worth the 200 dollars more than the D3100 if you are considering between the 2.
I received this as a gift just recently. I had quite a difficult decision between the D3100 & D5100 as my FIRST DSLR. I was aware that they were both 'starter' cameras and they had very similar features. What really set me for the D5100 is that it had the swivel screen for the tricky shots and the durability. I like the texture of the body better than the D3100. My specifications were that it had to last a few years, it needed to withstand some wear and tear, it needed quality pictures and videos, but also ease of use. And because it is my first DSLR, I am a little confused with the usage, but I'll learn. I know it takes a lot of practice and a few terrible pictures. I find the Nikon manual very clear and helpful. I do love that it's not a thick, giant camera and it's light and easy to hold with my tiny hands. I did so some research to see that the buttons were placed differently from the D3100, but I find them easy to locate and understand their meaning because it is my first. It takes some awesome shots. Fast. 4fps is very nice to get those quick shots. Crisp, detailed, clean. I haven't had much time of playing around with the special effects. I believe that my current settings are on manual. I'm not a big fan of automatic mode. I had a digital camera and that mode was pretty terrible. And I don't want to miss any special shots on auto-mode. Overall, I would recommend this camera. The price is a bit much for pretty much a step up starter camera. It has come down from $899, but by $40. I would recommend this. Still need some getting used to, but so far, it's worth the price and hopefully will last for a long time. :)
Nikon D5100 BEST DSLR for your $$
I am not a professional in the 'DSLR field' but I can tell you this.
I've had Nikon D3100, Nikon D7000, Nikon D5000 all for one month, and D5100 is the best DSLR for your money.
D3100 is good but compared to D5100's feature, why not pay little more and get D5100? (Microphone slot, rotating screen, faster system, etc)
D5000 is okay but D5100 is going to be the definite upgrade from it. Why? I personally think that D5100 has better image quality, better rotating screen function, and.. it looks better- smaller in size, less bulky.. D5100 looks much sharper than D5000.. i think at least.
D7000 takes the best picture but it goes over $1000 and it feels very similar to D5100, so why not get D5100 for $400-500 cheaper?
So bottom line, I decided to keep D5100 for a while and I am loving this beast every bit of it. Plus, Amazon had a great deal on this camera! ($849!! in Best Buy it's $899+tax=$980!!)
If you want to own a DSLR for the first time and is on the search for the right one, D5100 is your choice. It will NOT disappoint.
Nikon D5100 If image quality is your highest priority.
As a former D90 shooter, I can say without reservation that the D5100 is now Nikon's biggest bang for the buck. The AF accuracy on this camera is much better than what I experienced with the D90. Image quality is astoundingly superior (i.e, great noise reduction while image stays sharp, sharp, sharp).
Contrary to what has been written by others, I find the "i" (Information menu) option for changing settings (e.g., ISO) to be quite fast and easy, once you "get" how to use it (in lieu of hunting for buttons or dials or button/dial combinations for everything). And, most importantly, the Command dial is still where it should be for quickly changing exposure settings.
In agreement with others, if you want a heavier APS-C camera and want to pay $400(US) more for all those buttons, be my guest and buy the Nikon D7000 instead. Perhaps you need a larger viewfinder, or have older and/or AF-D lenses you want to keep, so you need a built-in AF (camera) motor to focus. If so, then spending the additional money for the D7000 might be worth it. But if you stay with Nikon's line-up, only a heavier/more expensive FX D700 can truly produce better IQ (and I would say perhaps, depending on conditions, because the resolution of the D5100 is really phenomenal).
I've put together a very affordable D5100 kit:(wide-angle)Tamron 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 DI-II B.I.M., (walk-around) Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 OS HSM, Nikon 35 F/1.8 (honestly not used much), (tele) Nikon 70-300mm. For under $2800 (US), I now get a broader focal range, and the kind of image quality that I used to think was out of reach for my wallet.
Nikon D5100 Awesome Camera
Bought this as a gift for my wife for mothers day. We had been reviewing different cameras and this one had it all for the price. Loved that it came with the lens instead of having to purchase after the fact. We really liked the mega pixels and the fact that it has video recording in HD. Pictures and video are incredible. When we compare our pictures we took from our 10mp point and shoot camera with our new camera its like looking at a TV at 720p vs a flat screen with 1080p. Even our pictures look like High Def now!
Love this camera and definitely recommend it!
Nikon D5100 Camera Impressed
I recently purchased this Nikon D5100 camera and have since replaced the kit lens with the Nikon 18-200mm VRll and have a 35mm f/1.8G AF-S on order. I have absolutely no complaints about this camera or it's lens, everything works perfectly. I don't mind the use of a plastic body for lighter weight as there's enough heft to this camera (and the 18-200 lens) to make you aware that you are holding something of significant value. I've reassigned the 'Fn' button to adjust the ISO on the fly since I primarily use aperture priority (nice touch btw). I'm currently looking into the ideal camera bag for travel... possibly the Lowepro Fastback 250, as I want to keep the 18-200 lens attached.
The built-in flash does NOT work as 'commander' for wireless flash use... not a deal breaker though.
Nikon D5100 Better than the d7000, for my needs.
I spent a few months looking at the d7000, but I was afraid of some of the reported problems with dead pixels and overexposure. Plus, the d7000 is a lot of camera for someone like me. I know how to shoot in manual mode, but I don't always need to. Sometimes the scene modes are enough for me when I'm trying to get pictures on the fly. I'm just looking to take great pictures and I wanted a great camera with low-light performance.
The d5100 turned out to be exactly what I was looking for. Don't underestimate the usefulness of the articulating screen. Its really great for taking self-portraits, or pictures of you and your friends when you don't have a tripod. I have used that feature alone a lot more than I thought I would, and this makes it well more suited than the d7000 for me. The d5100 is also alot lighter than the d7000, and I appreciate some of the gimmicky features that it has (the special scene modes, like sketch and miniature). No overexposure/metering issues in bright sunny days and the same low-light performance of the d5100 makes it a winner for me.
Another point is that the battery life of the d5100 is really good. I thought it would be too short, especially when the d7000 gets almost twice as many shots as the d5100 on the included battery. But as long as you charge the battery each night, you should be fine for a full day's worth of shooting.
Nikon D5100 Best Price, Best Light Weight DSLR EVER
Being in Graphic Design, I was in the market for a DSLR, and was reading up on the specs of the D5100. I had only had previous experience with a Canon D60 and proudly owned and used a Nikon FM2 Film Camera for a decent amount of years. (Hence why I went with Nikon again, for the lenses) Since I was looking for a camera for on-the-go shots and night shots, this little baby seemed to come into my life just at the right moment.
It is an unbelievably light weight camera, which makes it nice for lugging it around. The body IS Plastic, so it is definitely not ment for you rough and tumble types. The rotating flip screen is a serious plus, for getting those wierd angled shots you would otherwise need to dig a hole to get. All of the features, such as portrait, landscape, etc like point and shoot cameras are featured, although I just use manual settings to custom taylor to my needs. ISO can get up to 6400, Shutter Speed can get up to 1/4000. The white balance is very nicely programed, pictures come out as if it were my own eyes. (*personal settings apply) Auto focus can be turned on in constance and is pretty responsive when moving the camera around.
Never mind the Video capability. (1080p HD?! COOL!) Even little on-unit touch ups like upping digital lighting, or adding a "Miniature effect" to the photos, it has been quite joyful to even do slight color correcting on the camera in playback.
I have only had this camera for a few days, keep in mind. And I did not buy it from Amazon (even though they have the same great price i paid for it.) This camera is a bargain for what you get. I couldn't be any happier, especially with the price. What can I say- I am already in love.
Nikon D5100 Best Price, What a camera.... and what a steal
I bought my D5100 just 4 weeks ago and 2000 shots later have to report that this is one of the very best and certainly the very cheapest Nikon (D)SLR's I ever owned in more than 50 years. Not being as dextrous as I once was I wanted something that gave me pin sharp pics out of the box without having to fuss through lengthy menus for a custom set up. The 5100 did not disappoint in any department. With my 5 year old 18-200mm attached the camera at first felt just a little unbalanced but 5 minutes later it felt a lot better to me than it did on my old D200. Results have amazed me especially at the ISO6000 level and above, and just for fun,I put it up against the D200, my neighbors D3 and my son's D2X - have to say the 5100 blew them all away using an old 50mm f1.4 ai-s in manual focus of course! I cannot fathom the comments from a recent reviewer, who signs off as a pro, and who mentions a Canon Rebel having better IQ than the 5100. No pro I know would use either camera as a day to day working tool, they are just not made for that kind of hard work. Although when you think about it you could buy 6 of the 5100's for less than the price of a D3s. Now that's a thought for a pro who wants to go ultra lightweight! But getting back to the image quality issue, I have to report just one thing - There Is No Issue!! It is a super sharp machine with any decent lens you care to put on it. The video output is excellent and on a Samsung 50" LCD in HDMI mode the picture quality was better than I could ever have hoped for. Crystal clear with outstanding sound quality. OK so it doesn't have a waterproofed Titanium and Kevlar shell, the buttons seem to be getting smaller on all Nikons,the video controls and logic are problematic but no doubt curable with a firmware upgrade.The liveview switch is not exactly conveniently placed either and I could go on with other picky findings. But overall this Nikon rocks!
Nikon D5100 Best Price, I LOVE this camera...and i'm pretty green.
I wanted a camera that was a little bit beyond me. I was tired of buying expensive point and click's only to have them stop working after 1 1/2 years...I shelled out decent money over 3 years for two coolpix...Nikon D5100 16.2MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens they were ok, but i was looking for something that produced more professional looking shots and to have a camera i could grow into. I had a problem with my D5100 at first, i couldn't get the darned thing to focus - it turned out to be a menu item was on AF-M instead of AF-C (auto focus continuous)...an easy fix, thank goodness. There is nothing i can't do with this camera. Yes, it cost some extra clamshells...but with proper maintainance and tlc, i know i'll have this camera and be satisfied with the results for a long time. I don't find it too cumbersome to deal with...i took it on a recent trip and was able to set up perfect shots quickly, and i didn't tire of it on my shoulder. This to me would have been a sticking point - to have a great camera but it being too heavy or awkward to be able to just point and shoot, that i wouldn't want to bring it everywhere and anywhere. It has the best of both worlds - the ease of a point and shoot with very impressive results.
Nikon D5100 Best Buy, Awesome DSLR.
I've been on the hobby for about 5 year now, my last camera was a Nikon D60 and let me tell you, this D5100 completely obliterates the D60, it even outperforms the D90 as this camera has the same excellent sensor as the High end Nikon D7000, just in a smaller package, sadly it does not have an integrated autofocus motor in the body so AF it only works on newer AF-S lenses, but that is not a problem anymore because we have a big variety of AF-S lenses.
Image quality is superb, specially on low light conditions, we can crank up the ISO Speed and it looks great, even at ISO 6400. Video quality is just as great but my true passion is photography so I can't get deep into reviewing the video recording feature.
If you want the BEST DSLR for under 1000 Dollars this is the one to get.
Nikon D5100 Best Buy, Very Happy.
I bought the camera as an upgrade to a D60. I took the camera on a cruise with me and it worked great. I posted some of the pictures I took on a cruise forum and many people have posted positive comments regarding the pictures. I've only had the camera for a short period of time (I have not even had the chance to do any serious editing of the photographs yet), but I am happy with the camera.
Nikon D5100 Best Buy, Fantastic Picture Quality; Great High ISO performance.
I sold my D3100 and purchased the D5100. I really liked my D3100, but there are 2 features I wanted that the D5100 has: 1.) bracketing function and 2.) ISO 1/3 increments. I like HDR photography, and the 3 exposure bracketing mode makes it easier to do on the D5100 (although I wish it had a 5 exposure bracketing mode). I take a lot of night photos, and the D3100 would only go from 800 to 1600 to 3200. The D5100 will let you shoot at ISO 1000, 1250, 2000, etc. The high ISO performance on the D3100 is very good, but it is outstanding/phenomenal on the D5100. I have taken quite a few ISO 5000 and 6400 photos on the D5100 that come out awesome with almost no noise, even with the stock lens. I recently took a photo at ISO 5000 and posted on flickr that looks like ISO 200 on almost any other camera I have ever used, including my Panasonic GH1. I will share it on Amazon. I believe the incredible low light, high ISO performance is because the D5100 shares the same sensor as the D7000. So this is a big upgrade from the D3100 as far as the sensor in low light environments. I have taken about 500 photos so far, and pictures come out tack sharp with the stock lens. Combined with the 35 mm F1.8 Nikon lens, the camera takes as fantastic of pictures as I could possibly imagine. Battery life is incredible--after 500 pics the battery indicator still showed the full 3 bars. I also like the adjustable swivel screen for when I am shooting on a tripod or above my head. The one thing I do not like about the camera are the placement of the buttons and settings. There is not a button for ISO; you have to press the "i" button then scroll down on the screen and change it. You could assign ISO to the Fn button (which is in a difficult location on the left side of the camera), but then you can't set the camera to a 2 second self-timer without going through the menu. I use the 2 second timer a lot for shooting on a tripod at night, so I didn't change the Fn button. On the D3100, the self timer was on a switch on the top; not sure why they removed that. Overall the controls are somewhat cumbersome in the dark without looking at the camera. I am getting used to them, but they could make it easier. Finally, the D5100 does not autofocus on older Nikon lenses like the D7000 does. But I think the picture quality of the D5100 is probably equal to the D7000 because they use the same sensor. Other than the controls/button placement issue, I love this camera and highly recommend it. I think it is certainly worth the 200 dollars more than the D3100 if you are considering between the 2.
@>> CHEAP Nikon D5100 16.2MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens
Nikon D5100
The Nikon 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 filled with atmosphere 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.Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #4 in Camera & Photo
- Brand: Nikon
- Model: D5100 18-55mm Kit
- Dimensions: 7.00" h x 5.00" w x 5.00" l, 1.23 pounds
- Display size: 3
Features
- 3-inch, 921,000-dot Super-Density horizontal type Vari-Angle LCD Monitor
- In-camera Special Effects Mode
- In-camera HDR (High Dynamic Range)
- Stunning Full 1080p HD Movies with Full Time Autofocus
- High Resolution 16.2 MP DX-format CMOS sensor
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