Nikon D3200 vs D5100

J

jdeg

^ broke something
Staff member
Here are the main differences between the D3200 and the D5100:

FeatureD3200D5100
160_25496_D3200_front.png160_25478_D5100_front.png
Price w/ kit$597$547
Pixels24.216.2
ISO100-6400100-6400
Expandable ISOHi 12,800Hi-0.3
Hi-0.7
Hi-1 (ISO 12,800)
Hi-2 (ISO 25,600)
File FormatsCompressed 12-bit NEF (RAW)
JPEG: JPEG-Baseline Compliant with fine (approx 1:4),
Normal (approx 1:8) or Basic (approx 1:16) Compression
NEF (RAW) + JPEG: Single Photograph Recorded
in both NEF (RAW) and JPEG Formats		Compressed 14-bit NEF (RAW)
JPEG (Baseline Compliant)
MovieHD 1,920x1,080 / 30 fps
HD 1,920x1,080 / 25 fps
HD 1,920x1,080 / 24 fps
HD 1,280x720 / 60 fps
HD 1,280x720 / 50 fps
VGA 640x424 / 30 fps
VGA 640x424 / 25 fps		HD 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
Movie AudioBuilt-in,Built-in,
Scene ModesAuto
Auto [Flash Off]
Child
Close-up
Landscape
Night Portrait
Portrait
Sports		Autumn Colors
Beach / Snow
Blossom
Candlelight
Child
Close-up
Dusk / Dawn
Food
Landscape
Night Landscape
Night Portrait
Party / Indoor
Pet Portrait
Portrait
Sports
Sunset
Exposure Bracketingno3 frames ±2 EV in steps of 1/3 or 1/2 steps
Exp. Compensation±5 EV in increments of 1/3EV±5 EV in increments of 1/3 or 1/2 EV
While Balance Bracketingno3 exposures
HDR modenoyes
Wi-FiNikon WU-1a, Eye-fiEye-fi
Flip out screennoyes
Comes in redyesno
Battery life540 shots660 shots
Dimensions5.0 in. (125mm) x 3.8 in. (96mm) x 3.1 in. (76.5mm)5.0 in. (127mm) x 3.8 in. (96.5mm) x 3.1 in. (78.7mm)
Weight16 oz. (455g)19.7 oz. (560g)


They both have:
  • 4 FPS
  • 11 AF points
  • 1080p HD video
  • 3" 921,000 dot monitor (D5100 flips out)
  • no in-body focus motor
  • EN-EL14 battery
  • 1 sd card slot (supports SD, SDHC, SDXC)
  • 1/4000 and 30 second shutter speed
353_25492_D3200_front.png353_25478_D5100_front.png
353_25492_D3200_left.png353_25478_D5100_left.png
353_25492_D3200_right.png353_25478_D5100_right.png
353_25492_D3200_back.png353_25478_D5100_back_image.png


http://nikonites.com/d3200/5662-nikon-d3100-vs-d3200.html
 
J

jdeg

^ broke something
Staff member
It seems like a lot of people are trying to decide between these two cameras.

​If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask!
 
Jay Lente

Jay Lente

New member
atravelfanatic said:
I agree totally - the lack of exposure bracketing should be a showstopper...even for newbies.
Click to expand...

I've been shooting for almost 3 years and still consider myself a newb. Can you explain why this would be a show stopper? I shoot with a D3000 now and capture everything in RAW so I'm not sure how I would utilize the feature since the exposure can be fine tuned when the RAW image is processed.
 
R

Rick M

Senior Member
Jay Lente said:
I've been shooting for almost 3 years and still consider myself a newb. Can you explain why this would be a show stopper? I shoot with a D3000 now and capture everything in RAW so I'm not sure how I would utilize the feature since the exposure can be fine tuned when the RAW image is processed.
Click to expand...

With auto bracketing you capture 3 images a once, one at normal exposure, one over and one under. In HDR photography, the 3 images are combined to show greater dynamic range.
 
M

Mediaman09

Senior Member
First post, and a semi-newbie. I am in my late fifties now, so I grew up on legacy 35mm film SLRs ( Nikon, Pentax) and later whimped out on a number of P&S cameras for the family. Now I am slowly getting back into the game, looking at the Nikon DSLRS and some mirrorless ILC's (eg Samsung NX20).... but I will likely land on Nikon.

In the Nikon line up, its between the D3200 and D5100 ; both are about the price, high megapixel , etc

The differences to me that I need to get my head around are :
  • auto bracketing (big advantage 5100) .. new concept for me -is this a only a factor when manually setting exposure???
  • articualting screen (advantage 5100)
  • microphone/speakers ( both have mono mike - does 5100 has speaker??)
  • release date (state-of-the-art) - advantage 3200? - but only if known issues have been corrected/improved - have they? )
  • wi-1a wifi (advantage 3200?? or can it be used on 5100? how does it differ from Eye-fi? )
  • weight ( slight advantage 3200)
Would appreciate any thoughts/clarifications on the above.

Many thanks.
 
Last edited:
R

Rick M

Senior Member
Mediaman09 said:
First post, and a semi-newbie. I am in my late fifties now, so I grew up on legacy 35mm film SLRs ( Nikon, Pentax) and later whimped out on a number of P&S cameras for the family. Now I am slowly getting back into the game, looking at the Nikon DSLRS and some mirrorless ILC's (eg Samsung NX20).... but I will likely land on Nikon.

In the Nikon line up, its between the D3200 and D5100 ; both are about the price, high megapixel , etc

The differences to me that I need to get my head around are :
  • auto bracketing (big advantage 5100) .. new concept for me -is this a only a factor when manually setting exposure???
  • articualting screen (advantage 5100)
  • microphone/speakers ( both have mono mike - does 5100 has speaker??)
  • release date (state-of-the-art) - advantage 3200? - but only if known issues have been corrected/improved - have they? )
  • wi-1a wifi (advantage 3200?? or can it be used on 5100? how does it differ from Eye-fi? )
  • weight ( slight advantage 3200)
Would appreciate any thoughts/clarifications on the above.

Many thanks.
Click to expand...

Look into HDR photography, if it interests you, go with the D5100. The other gadgets don't impress me. 24 mp's over 16 is going to depend on low light performance for me, reviews of the sensor should be out soon.
 
F

fallingwalls

New member
I'm a newbie as well who's looking to get one of these two cameras. The MSRP of the D5100 is $849, but it sells for $699. Likewise, wouldn't the D3200 sell for less than MSRP once it starts shipping? Maybe fall to the 550-599 range?

Anyways Im curious to what people think might be better for me. Im most concerned with picture quality and not much else. The LCD, video quality, other stuff Im not too worried about. Also many of my pictures will be in low-light. Should I wait till the D3200 gets into the hands of the public to decide? Any help is greatly appreciated!
 
E

eurotrash

Senior Member
I really appreeciate the folding screen the 5100 has in low light. You'd be real surprised how convenient it is and I know ill miss it when it sells... A 16mpx sensor is plenty, and the low light capability of the 5100 is staggering. Take a look at my gallery, that may give you some kind of better understanding of how it performs even with the kit lens.
 
M

Mr. Pickle

New member
jdeg said:
It seems like a lot of people are trying to decide between these two cameras.

​If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask!
Click to expand...

I'm glad you asked! I want to buy one of these cameras and am having a hard time deciding which.

• My big question is about the sensor and image quality. I know the D3200 uses a newer chip with more MP but MP don't mean better pictures. Does the newer chip used in the D3200 provide better quality images than the older chip used in the D5100? Is the D5100 using old technology?

• After that my deciding factors are the wireless options of the D3200 (very cool) vs. the articulating screen of the 5100 (can come in handy). But overall, I want the best possible image quality in the price range.
 
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X

Xwing

New member
Hi Folks,

I just got back from Hunts Photo in Melrose, MA. The staff were excellent, my compliments.

I've got a D40x right now and I took my 40mm Nikon micro prime lens with me. I shot 2 shots inside of Hunts with the same lens on three cameras, one macro shot and one distance shot within the store. I shot with the D40x, the D3200 and the D5100.

Much to my amazement the D3200 came out on top with the best clarity of the lot.

I then took my SD card home and did some additional pixel crawling and I could clearly see that the D3200 has by far the best resolution of the lot, about twice that of the D40x and about 25% better than the D5100. I felt that the macro shot looked quite similar in all three, however the distance shot clearly had way more resolution and clarity as i zoomed further in.

I expected the D5100 to come out on top, but it didn't. I think I'll be upgrading to the D3200.

My advise to anyone interesting in the D3200 is to do as I did, get a few shots from your old camera and few from the new one with the same lens and of the same subjects.

Does it have HDR like the 5100, no. Does it matter, I don't think so. Do you have all the additional options of the 5100, no, do you need them, you judge. At the end of the day I just was crisper/sharper pictures. I don't even care about it's HD movies, I just want to shoot photos.

Xwing
 
Marcel

Marcel

Happily retired
Staff member
Super Mod
Xwing said:
Hi Folks,

I just got back from Hunts Photo in Melrose, MA. The staff were excellent, my compliments.

I've got a D40x right now and I took my 40mm Nikon micro prime lens with me. I shot 2 shots inside of Hunts with the same lens on three cameras, one macro shot and one distance shot within the store. I shot with the D40x, the D3200 and the D5100.

Much to my amazement the D3200 came out on top with the best clarity of the lot.

I then took my SD card home and did some additional pixel crawling and I could clearly see that the D3200 has by far the best resolution of the lot, about twice that of the D40x and about 25% better than the D5100. I felt that the macro shot looked quite similar in all three, however the distance shot clearly had way more resolution and clarity as i zoomed further in.

I expected the D5100 to come out on top, but it didn't. I think I'll be upgrading to the D3200.

My advise to anyone interesting in the D3200 is to do as I did, get a few shots from your old camera and few from the new one with the same lens and of the same subjects.

Does it have HDR like the 5100, no. Does it matter, I don't think so. Do you have all the additional options of the 5100, no, do you need them, you judge. At the end of the day I just was crisper/sharper pictures. I don't even care about it's HD movies, I just want to shoot photos.

Xwing
Click to expand...

Since I think the D7000 share it's sensor with the D5100, does that mean that the new D3200 has better definition and color depth than the D7000? If yes, I think we will be seeing the improved D7000 pretty soon, I hope.
 
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