Which One? Nikon D7000 or Nikon D5100

With the recent announcement of the Nikon D5100′s technical specs, it only makes sense that some consumers may be confused about whether to purchase the Nikon D5100 or D7000. Here’s a quick comparison of the two to help you figure out which one is right for you.

Update: Available with the kit lens or body only on Amazon and also available at B&H in both kit and body only.

Before we begin, you can check out the progress of the Nikon D7000 review in the following links:

Day 1: Our initial impressions

Day 2: High ISOs

Day 3: Tested for product photography

Day 4: Tourist time

Day 5: Leisurely walking around

D5100 Images

The D5100 seems to have a USB port, A/V out, GPS capabilities with Nikon’s units, HDMI out and a port for the newly announced ME-1 microphone as well.

The grip seems to be very standard with the SD card port on the right side.

The top of the camera is what seems to make the difference. The mode dial is on the right side, as opposed to the left with the D7000. Additionally, this mode dial has more modes on it: which is easier for consumers. The D7000 is targeted towards more advanced users and that is why its dial is more clutter-free. Below is the D7000′s top view where you also see a back and front dial for changing apertures and shutter speeds. The D5100 doesn’t have that.

Clearly the D7000 is targeted towards more advanced users and the design harkens to the higher range cameras like the D300s.

Once again though, the D5100 seems to be squarely aimed at cameras like the Canon Rebel T3i which was recently reviewed here.

The new vari-angle LCD screen will make this camera a joy to shoot movies with. This means that Nikon is now taking more serious steps towards shooting video and targeting videographers.

Specs

Specs	Nikon D7000	Nikon D5100
Megapixels	16.2 MP CMOS 2.016 pixel RGB sensor (DX)	16.2MP DX-format CMOS sensor
Processor	EXPEED 2	EXPEED 2
Video	1080p HD with full time AF MPEG 4, 20min movie recording, 1080 at 24p, AVC, 720 at 24 and 30p. The ability to save individual frames as a JPEG	Stunning Full 1080p HD Movies with Full Time Autofocus, 20 mins (30p and 24p)
ISO Range	ISO 25,600 at hi2	ISO sensitivity 100-6400, expandable to ISO 25,600 equivalent
Autofocus points	39 AF point, 9 cross type sensors	Fast 11-point Autofocus System
FPS	6	4
LCD Screen	3″ fixed LCD screen	3”, 921,000-dot Super-Density horizontal type Vari-Angle LCD
Memory	Twin SD card port	Single SD card port
Metering	2,016 pixel RGB 3D Matrix Metering System	Nikon 420-pixel RGB 3D Color Matrix Metering II
Scene Modes	20	16

D5100 Image Samples

The first thing I thought of when I saw this image was:

- it’s gorgeous

- how many wedding photographers would shoot with a Nikon D5100?

Foodies on the other hand would probably shoot with this camera.

Additionally, I see someone perhaps wanting to photograph their child’s dance performance.

Target Market?

This is where it all comes down to the clear divisions: The Nikon D5100 is targeted more towards HD video enthusiasts and beginners while the D7000 is targeted more towards semi-professionals and advanced amateurs. The D7000 has build quality that is on par with it’s bigger brother, the D300s as well as many more professional features such as faster FPS shooting, more autofocus points, a more advanced metering system, and twin SD cards.

The vari-angle LCD screen of the Nikon D5100 is much better for shooting videos and for discreet street photography. Additionally, the LCD screen can really come in handy when shooting difficult angles. Indeed, it is more akin to the Nikon D3100 which we reviewed, so you may want to take a look at that.

MSRP on the Nikon D5100 with the kit lens will be $1,012 and MAP is $899.95. Body only will be $900 MSRP and $799.95 MAP. You can see D7000 prices at Amazon at B&H at the according links.

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Tagged as: comparison, d3100, d5100, d7000, d7000 vs d5100, ME-1, microphone, nikon, review

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http://www.DaltonPhoto.com rick

At first glance, you can’t reveiw a product that you can’t get your hands on to review. Not so much in this case. You an get your hands on the D7000, and the D3100. With few exceptions, if you look at the D5100 features, they are a blend of the other two camera’s features. I would expect the low light images to look almost exactly like the D7000′s images. Same sensor, and same processor. Of course, same glass.

Hopefully Nikon has used the past few months since the release of the d7000 to work on the video auto-focus. That is a sore spot.

BTW, I have used my D7000 at several weddings for candids, and it has done very well. So, well, that it is my default camera for photojournalistic images. If it had a connection port for the PC flash connector, it could be called a “professional” camera.

I can see the D5100 being a very popular camera for those who want to take their photos and video a step beyond the beginner stage, but aren’t prepared to go to the professional level.

As usual, great design job Nikon. Now, get them on the street.
- Chris Gampat
  
  Hi Rick,
  
  Have you used your D7000 for weddings you were paid for?
  - http://anythingbutwindows.blogspot.com eha1990
    
    @Rick – I’d be interested in seeing your pictures from the wedding that you took with the D7000 too. If you have them or flickr or some other site, please share the link. I had been debating for months as to whether to buy the D7000 or wait to see what Nikon comes out with in regards to a replacement for the D400 and D800. I have decided to wait and continue saving, in the meantime, I picked up a D200 used for a super price and it works fantastic. After spending quite some time with the D200, I know waiting for the D400 or D800 is the right move for me because of the pro design build alone.
    - kamyar
      
      thanks for comparing.
      for those guys who said that they want to stay till the new nikon cammera come out ; Dslr cammeras are not computer that change suprisingly every week but if you chose the wrong one you’ll be notice the day after that.
      and also if i buy d5100 , i will do it for and extra lens not extra SD.
      rick is right d7000 is totaly for professionals who can recognize the differences between them.d7000 have faster shutter speed that makes you to get sharper images in less light you can even enhance it with F 1/4 lens or higher it compensation of you hand shakes or your subject.
      for the price i should say cheap thing made by cheap matterials like nikon 50mm briliant lens witch is about 100$
      to finde out more what is more essential chek this out
      http://www.digital-slr-guide.com/best-digital-slr-lens.html
Jon

Thanks for the comparison.
- Chris Gampat
  
  Sure thing!
LA

It’s hilarious, because I was just thinking about how it would’ve been nice to have a swivel-screen on the D7000, which would’ve made it a perfect choice. And then Nikon comes out with this. Sure it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles, and it doesnt shoot as fast as the 7, but man, the swivel screen and the decent HD modes are enough to make me choose this one over the 7. the 51 will have enough for a majority of people to get excellent results, its lighter weight, more compact size, and a smaller price are all helping to forget about the 7.
- Chris Gampat
  
  Totally agreed, plus the 1080p 30p video? It’s a total steal.
  - LA
    
    Yepper! All this for $900? And possibly much cheaper? NO WAY. I’m in shock. I’m rather glad I didn’t go out and buy the 7 – I was so close to doing it about a month ago. I certainly also do not need a 2nd SD slot, they have SD cards at dirt cheap prices now, it’s no bother for me to carry 4 or 5 of them and throwing them in when I need to. Or, you could just buy a couple of 64GB size and that should be enough – the money you save on this camera can be used to buy an extra card. Awesome.
    - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=500221579 Lyubomir von Bogdanoff
      
      Well D7K and D5.1K are targeted for different market segments so there is no point comparing the quantity of SD slots or how you can profit from saving money and buying couple of 64Gb cards. This kind of level for discussion is pretty low, cause whether you save 500 or 600$ on buying 5.1K instead of 7K you can not buy later in addition the much more sophisticated 3D metering system or the 39 focus points, or the magnesium alloy on top and back etc. Besides that with another FW upgrade could be possible to squeeze additional frames for the Full HD movies at the D7K, who knows.
    - Miguelpintopereira
      
      There is a huge diference between both cameras that no one is mentioning: the 5100 has no internal focus motor (it won’t autofocus with several Nikon and third party lenses like the 7000 does).
      
      I have three lenses (out of 6) that won’t autofocus in the 5100…
WoodJester

Does it have the same sensor as the D7000?
- Chris Gampat
  
  Not sure
  - LA
    
    YES, it does, the SAME EXACT one.
- Ola Kristian Rian
  
  yes
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Heiner

Don’t forget that the 5100 is significat lighter than the 7 000, 560 gr. towards 780!! If you go for more expensice lenses, this difference gets even larger: the kit lense 18-55 weights only 265 gr. making the kit 825 gr.

Get a 7000 plus a “better” lense (around 560 gr. maybe even heavvier) we talk about 1 340 gr. Probably you can shoot better photos with this, but who cares if you don’t carry it with you because it is too heavy!!

I bought the 5100 a few weeks ago mostly because it is still light and not too bulky in my hands.

BR
Heiner
Heiner

Don’t forget that the 5100 is significat lighter than the 7 000, 560 gr. towards 780!! If you go for more expensice lenses, this difference gets even larger: the kit lense 18-55 weights only 265 gr. making the kit 825 gr.

Get a 7000 plus a “better” lense (around 560 gr. maybe even heavvier) we talk about 1 340 gr. Probably you can shoot better photos with this, but who cares if you don’t carry it with you because it is too heavy!!

I bought the 5100 a few weeks ago mostly because it is still light and not too bulky in my hands.

BR
Heiner
Love Top77

This ok ,,
I like this
http://twitter.com/DuffBrew85 Joe Hensel

I shot 3 weddings using the 5100 as my wide camera and my D90 with the telephoto lens. Worked great
Be Messias

Agradeço ao Ted, estou descobrindo a verdadeira arte da fotografia. Sou um apaixonado pelo novo lançamento da Nikon, e uma maquina e tanto…
Doug

A big difference that hasn’t been mentioned is the viewfinder. The D7000′s viewfinder is much larger and brighter (pentaprism vs. pentamirror).There is also a distinct difference in the build quality of both the body and the controls. The D7000 is built to a much higher standard and this can be felt in how the camera feels in your hand and in the feel of the controls. The D7000 is a joy to use for that reason. There is nothing wrong with the controls on the D5100, but those on the D7000 feel much firmer and more precise – everything from the wheels to the buttons. The D7000 also has many customizable buttons on the camera body plus the two customizable mode settings on the mode dial. The D7000 also has many controls built into the dual dials situated on the left. Some of these controls are buried in the menu system on the D5100. It’s not a dealbreaker for the D5100 by any means, but I do find those controls being on the dials on the D7000 to be quite handy. The body of the D7000 is larger, but I find that to be an advantage and not a disadvantage. It simply fits my hands much better than the D5100′s smaller body. There are many other differences, but I’ll end this by mentioning just one more. The D7000 also has a top LCD. You can easily get by without it, but I find it very useful. I’m not necessarily saying that all these differences make the D7000 better. What I’m saying is that you do get a lot for your extra few hundred dollars. In my case, it was the viewfinder, the incredible controls and ergonomics, and the extremely smooth and quiet shutter that sold me on the D7000 over the D5100.