D5100 vs D7000

jdeg

^ broke something
Staff member
There are several differences to consider when deciding whether to purchase the D5100 or D7000. They both share some of the same features, but the D5100 is just a step before the semi-pro D7000.

First the differences:

D5100D7000
160_25478_D5100_front.png160_25468_D7000_front.png
MovieHD 1,920x1,080 / 30 fps
HD 1,920x1,080 / 24 fps
HD 1,280x720 / 30 fps
HD 1,280x720 / 24 fps
VGA 640x424 / 30 fps
HD 1,920x1,080 / 24 fps
HD 1,280x720 / 30 fps
HD 1,280x720 / 24 fps
VGA 640x424 / 30 fps
File FormatsCompressed 14-bit NEF (RAW)
JPEG (Baseline Compliant)
NEF (RAW): Lossless Compressed or Compressed 12 or 14 bit
JPEG: JPEG-Baseline-Compliant; can be selected from Size Priority and Optimal Quality
Card Slot1 SD slot2 SD slots
Viewfinder95% coverage100% coverage
VF Magnification0.78x0.95x
Lens focus body motornoyes
Fastest shutter speed1/40001/8000
Top Continuous FPS46
Exposure Bracketing3 frames ±2 EV in steps of 1/3 or 1/2 steps2 to 3 frames in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 1 or 2 EV
AF Points11, 3d tracking9, 21, 39, 3d tracking
Flash bracketingno2 to 3 frames in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 1 or 2 EV
White balance bracketing3 exposures2 or 3 exposures
Top FP High Speed Syncnoup to 1/8000
Nikon CLSsupportedsupported, Built-in flash Commander Mode
White BalanceAuto
Cloudy
Direct Sunlight
Flash
Fluorescent (7 types)
Incandescent
Preset Manual
Shade
Auto (2 types)
Auto (TTL white balance with 2,016-pixel RGB sensor)
Cloudy
Direct Sunlight
Fine Tune by Kelvin color temperature setting (2,500 K to 10,000K)
Flash
Fluorescent (7 types)
Incandescent
Preset manual (up to 5 values can be stored)
Seven manual modes with fine-tuning
Shade
BatteryEN-EL14EN-EL15
Battery life660 shots1050 shots
Dimensions5.0 in. (127mm) x 3.8 in. (96.5mm) x 3.1 in. (78.7mm)5.2 in. (132mm) x 4.1 in. (103mm) x 3.0 in. (77mm)
Weight19.7 oz. (560g)24.3 oz. (690g)


They both have:
  • The same 16.2mp CMOS sensor
  • 100-6400 ISO - Expandable 12,800, 25,600
  • Video full time auto-focus
  • Live view shooting
  • Microphone jack
  • The same 3.0in monitor (D5100 swivels)
  • Plastic bodies
  • SDXC card compatibility
353_25478_D5100_front.png353_25468_D7000_front.png
353_25478_D5100_left.png353_25468_D7000_left.png
353_25478_D5100_right.png353_25468_D7000_right.png
353_25478_D5100_back_image.png353_25468_D7000_back.png


http://nikonites.com/d5100/2498-d5100-vs-d5000.html
http://nikonites.com/d5100/2499-d5100-vs-d3100.html
http://nikonites.com/d5100/2507-d5100-vs-d90.html
http://nikonites.com/d3200/5672-nikon-d3200-vs-d5100.html
http://nikonites.com/d5200/9382-d5200-vs-d5100.html
 

jdeg

^ broke something
Staff member
Does anyone care to comment that was actually deciding between the two cameras? Which one did you choose and why?
 

seamlesslinc

New member
I chose the the D7000 for it's wider selection of lenses I look at them as an investment. I also like how I can fine tune almost every feature in it based on the way I shoot. Plus, more direct function buttons rather than fiddling with the menu.
 

gqtuazon

Gear Head
I still have Nikon "D" lenses which requires the use of a screw drive camera body. That just takes the D5100 out of the equation. The swivel LCD is really not the deciding factor for me. The more robust AF feature, 100% view finder, command and sub command dials matters more to me and would not settle for anything less.
 

Curt

Senior Member
Wow, who would choose the D5100 over a pro camera like the D7000?
The D5100 is a nice camera, but more of a entry level. The D7000 is a state of the art camera.
So many features that make it a fantastic camera. But if you are on a budget I can understand picking the D5100.
 

Jigger

New member
I purchased the 5100 over the 7000. Price was an issue. With difference in cost I picked up flash, extra card, remote. The size of the 7000. I liked the smaller size of the 5100. I use the 7000 at work and it's a fabulous camera. But the price difference was a major issue for us. We upgraded from a d 50. I watched and read everything I could find on the net before buying the 5100. So far we are very happy with it
 

Rick M

Senior Member
I think the best feature of the D5100 is it makes the fantastic sensor of the D7000 affordable for folks on an entry level budget. Almost half the cost.
 

silverthornne

Senior Member
The D7000 has a magnesium alloy body; the comparison says both are plastic. The D7000 is also weather sealed.

I chose the D7000 because of the magnesium alloy body, the auto focus motor, and the diopter adjustment range. On the D5100, it ranges from -1.7 to +0.7. The D7000 ranges from -3 to +1. Since I need -2.25 correction, this was actually a very important spec for me.

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2
 

Curt

Senior Member
Congrats on get the 5100 great camera enjoy.UOTE=Jigger;57845]I purchased the 5100 over the 7000. Price was an issue. With difference in cost I picked up flash, extra card, remote. The size of the 7000. I liked the smaller size of the 5100. I use the 7000 at work and it's a fabulous camera. But the price difference was a major issue for us. We upgraded from a d 50. I watched and read everything I could find on the net before buying the 5100. So far we are very happy with it[/QUOTE]
 

nick9

Senior Member
We have one of each. The wife uses the D7000 but complains about the grip size being a little big. I, being the wonderful husband I am, offered to trade and let her use my D5100, which has a grip a little small for me. For some reason she has decided to tough it out!
Honestly, the D7000 has a much better feel, but picture quality under similar circumstances is pretty close to equal.
 

Oomph

New member
I was looking at the 5100 but the lack of Auto FP and max 1/200 second shutter speed with my SB-700 made me go with the D90. As a new user the faster shutter help with my bad form.
 

Debrus

Senior Member
I am having serious issues with my D5100 and Nikon is probably going to offer me an upgrade, I was wondering if the 7000 would be the next step up or is there another model I should get? Thanks for any input
 

Dave_W

The Dude
I am having serious issues with my D5100 and Nikon is probably going to offer me an upgrade, I was wondering if the 7000 would be the next step up or is there another model I should get? Thanks for any input

Depending upon your lens collection (ie - DX vs. FX) you may want to consider the soon-to-be-announced D600. However, if you're DX lens heavy then I would suggest following your gut and put the D7000 on the short list.
 

WhiteLight

Senior Member
Is the D7000 the logical step forward in that price bracket?
i currently have the 5100 and my wife wants a dslr too, so we were contemplating the options...
i have the kit lens 18-55, the70-300 vr and the 35mm 1.8..

would you suggest d7000 the way to go?
have read rumors that a d7100 is going to release at around the same cost & also the d70000 price would drop i na couple of months?
 

Marcel

Happily retired
Staff member
Super Mod
Is the D7000 the logical step forward in that price bracket?
i currently have the 5100 and my wife wants a dslr too, so we were contemplating the options...
i have the kit lens 18-55, the70-300 vr and the 35mm 1.8..

would you suggest d7000 the way to go?
have read rumors that a d7100 is going to release at around the same cost & also the d70000 price would drop i na couple of months?

If you're in no hurry, there will be some new models on the market soon. What they will be, I have no idea. I do think that the D7000 is a wonderful camera. I don't know what the next generation will be and also when it will be available in stores. Maybe they announce it in september as rumors have it, but when will you actually be able to have it in your hands is another story all together.

There is also the 3200 that I haven't tried. Apparently the image quality is really good. But it's missing things that the D7000 has (bracketing, screw focus motor etc.). So depending on who will be using the newer camera, you have options.
 

Dave_W

The Dude
Well, the D7000 and the D5100 share the same sensor so with the move to a D7000 you'll be getting a slightly stronger body, access to D lenses and an expanded AF system. Otherwise, the two cameras are pretty much the same. As for a D7100, I don't think that's going to happen anytime soon. For instance, the D300 is several years older than the D7000 and is much more likely to get an update than is the D7000. And to argue just the opposite, Nikon dropped the price of the D7000 by $100 just a month ago which often times signals a newer model is coming. So who knows. One thing for certain is that Nikon has already released 3 brand new dSLR's in the last 9 months (4 if you count the 800 & 800E as different cameras) and it's pretty clear that the next one to be released will be the D600. Or maybe I should say it this way - the only new camera who's photos have been "leaked" has been the D600. And leaked photos are generally followed by the real deal within 3 months after the leak.

So my question to you is this - what are you looking for in a new body and how soon would you like to have this second body?
 
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WhiteLight

Senior Member
Thanks Marcel.. Though technically it would be for my wife, i don;t think she would mind me using it...
she too is learning with me on the d5100..

I don't think we are actually in a hurry..looking at the next couple of months, latest by Christmas i'll possibly gift it to her if we don't get any by then..

i see you have a d7000 yourself, is it advisable to pick up the body only or go for the 18-105mm pack?
the additional cost is around the actual cost of the lens anyway.. would like to know if it a good lens or just a starter like how the 18-55 is for the 5100?
 

stmv

Senior Member
another advantage of the D7000 is that it can meter old manual AI glass, which you can pick up at low cost. In addition, I believe the D7000 has better weather sealing than the 5100. I really like my D7000, and consider it a really good replacement for the D300 I sold. Yes, they crippled the bracketing (only 3), but the rest of the package really holds up great. I bought the D7000 waiting for the D800, but do not regret the purchase at all.
 

WhiteLight

Senior Member
Well, the D7000 and the D5100 share the same sensor so with the move to a D7000 you'll be getting a slightly stronger body, access to D lenses and an expanded AF system. Otherwise, the two cameras are pretty much the same. As for a D7100, I don't think that's going to happen anytime soon. For instance, the D300 is several years older than the D7000 and is much more likely to get an update than is the D7000. And to argue just the opposite, Nikon dropped the price of the D7000 by $100 just a month ago which often times signals a newer model is coming. So who knows. One thing for certain is that Nikon has already released 3 brand new dSLR's in the last 9 months (4 if you count the 800 & 800E as different cameras) and it's pretty clear that the next one to be released will be the D600. Or maybe I should say it this way - the only new camera who's photos have been "leaked" has been the D600. And leaked photos are generally followed by the real deal within 3 months after the leak.

So my question to you is this - what are you looking for in a new body and how soon would you like to have this second body?

Thanks Mojo-Fstop..
i was thinking of the D7000 as a startup camera for her.. and since there already is the d5100.
like i just wrote in my reply to marcel, no hurry as such.. the latest would be by christmas i hope :)
at the present moment, it is only general photography.. but hoping for more than that in the near future :)


 
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