Отзывы о Цифровой Фотоаппарат Nikon D5100

In terms of sensor and picture quality, I have nothing to complain. An excellent camera from that point of view. As people have spoken enough about the good side, I would like to mention some thing that I do not like.Following the market trend, the D5100 is trying to load a lot of things into the camera. The manufacturer is focusing too much on marketing strategies and forgot that simplicity is also important and welcome. A classic example: the aperture priority and speed priority. These are actually the same thing, and one of them is redundant. But now even more unnecessary options are packed into a small machine and only few of them are truly needed. The pixel size racing is also becoming ridiculous. For that type of camera, 10MP is good enough. More is not positive anymore. If people do want to make huge prints, they should go with full-frame or medium format cameras. Many of the in-camera photo treatment options are also unnecessary or even childish. Serious photo editing should be taken care of by computer software as the small camera screen will make the job rough anyway. I wish more efforts are made for dynamic range improvement (D5100 did well in this aspect) and cost reduction (this can be improved). It does not make much sense to spend $900 (current street price) for something plastic that will become obsolete in 2 to 3 years.The D5100 is supposed to be a premier entry level camera. "Premier entry level" is actually a bad idea (it is almost an oxymoron in reality). For those who do not know how to take good pictures, the extra cost will not help them improve picture quality much, as they may not even fully utilize the capacity of the lower entry level cameras while they are less expensive. For those who are serious about photography, a lot of features are either trivial (e.g., scene selection, live view, in-camera editing, etc.), or not good enough (e.g., movie). If they are serious, even if they are not good now, they will be determined to learn how to manipulate exposures instead of relying on things like scene selections. For some people, the D5100 offers high ISO for dark objects, but it will be wiser to spend the extra money on a good lens, e.g., the 50mm/f1.8D, 50mm/f1.8G, or 35mm/f1.8G. These fast lens will help in low lighting situations and produce better pictures, and they will not become obsolete in 20 years. In addition, filters also help in many ways to expand the capabilities of the camera. In my opinion, the D5100 should be modified in one of the following two directions:1. For those who are serious about photography and do not have the budget for D7000, the D5100 could offer them a less expensive model with same sensor quality but even lower price (by minimizing the unimportant features), or the current price but more functions/features for professionals instead of those for populace.2. For those who do not intend to learn photography, the D3100 is good enough as it also has the live view, video option, and improved high ISO. They do not need the D5100 (except they have no other place to spend the additional $200). If they do need an upgrade, then auto HDR and high resolution screen in D5100 can be good additions, but these should be enough. The price difference could be within $50-100, not $200 (by dropping other "improvements").Here comes a question of how to segment customers. The current popular categories of 'beginners' and 'enthusiasts" are misleading. A more useful segmentation should be enthusiasts or not, i.e., those who want to learn photography and those who do not, and all the features and functions should be designed and packaged in these two directions. But today, things are mixed in one direction (for entry level cameras), the distinctions are mostly a matter of degrees, i.e., more or less features, not different types of features.By the way, I also would like to talk about the appearance design. The D5100 is elegant, but not as good as D40 and D3000 (in appearance). Nikon made one of the D5100 body's corners round (lower-right side viewing from front). That part does not match the the overall sleek looking. The childish treatment makes that part look silly and the entire body fatty. Another design issue: Viewing from the right side, the gap between the display panel and the camera body is unnecessarily too wide. I think a tight fit will make it look more robust and elegant. Forgive me for being fastidious, but appearance is as important to me as functions and quality. And appearance promotes sale (think about Apple's gracious designs).Overall, the D5100 is a good camera, but it is not the best in combination of features and price: both enthusiast and non-enthusiasts will pay for many features they do not need, in different ways. The problem is camera manufacturers are trying to blend different needs instead of separating them in the entry level DSLR section.

I feel kind of weird giving such a low grade to a camera that seems to be so well regarded. Nevertheless, this is an honest review from a "vacation/street photographer, as I believe most of you are. Here is the explanation:For more than three years I have been using a refurbished Sony W-150 that I broke the very same day I received it from Amazon. You can find the story in my review of that purchase. However, I am an avid reader of users reviews here, and I enjoy taking casual photos, as well. On May 22, this year (2012) I saw this Nikon camera on sale at my Costco store as part of a kit including a bag and two lens (a 18-55 mm and a 55-300mm) and few more smaller stuff. The total price, tax included, was a little above $1000. I rushed home, searched the internet for prices and reviews and decided that it was my opportunity to buy a "real" camera. So I did. I took a few casual pictures, they came out good, but I did not see much of a difference from the ones I took with the old point and shoot. I little frustrated I decide to take some pictures side by side, with the two cameras. Well, in all my attempts the pictures, for regular printing, did not show much of a difference and in some cases the point and shoot even gave better results. I don't want to be hated by the hordes of this camera devotees, so I will refrain from saying much more. I will limit myself to add a few of the pictures I took so you can judge by yourself. You may be able to download and see them with your viewer software and see the parameters (F number, ISO, shutter speed).I want to tell in advance that I did not take any "specially difficult conditions" photo. I am sure that in special situations like sports with fast action or low light the Nikon would crush the Sony. However, those special conditions are not were I take the vast majority of my pictures. I take pictures when I go out with friends, parties or any interesting thing I see on the street. I take more time enjoying the events than trying to make an "astonishing photo". For that purpose, I did not see any clear advantage between the old point and shoot and this semi-pro camera. Considering the load I had to carry - bag, camera, two lenses and more, in addition to the $1K + price I paid, it definitely made me feel unhappy with my purchase. I don't have the opportunity to test other SLR cameras in the same league, like the Canon 3ti or the Sony Alpha. However, unless they are really much better than this Nikon, for the regular/casual use, they will give similar results.Therefore, if you are just a casual photographer, do yourself a favor, buy a more modern point and shoot that will cost you a few hundred bucks and you can easily carry with you everywhere. No matter what people say, my reason is in the pictures. I attached some of them to this review. I have seen the wonderful photos posted by others in this camera review. The vast majority were worked with photo shop or are not what regular vacationers would take. My photos were takes in JPG mode, direct out of the camera.Finally, please understand I am not so dumb to directly compare an expensive, modern SLR with an old point and shoot. All I am saying is that it does not bring any noticeable advantage to the casual photographer. My pictures prove that. I will some taken outside soon. Now, if what you want is to enter a photo contest, the D5100 and the others in its league is the way to go.

This is my first SLR camera and also my first Nikon. I know nothing about photography beyond what I read in tutorials and guides. Of course, reading about photography won't make anyone good at it. I shot some good pictures in the past using a Panasonic point and shoot, but I gave the camera away as it was just sitting around. Recently, I received a gift card and I thought I should buy a decent SLR, and take up this hobby again.I am a little concerned by people reporting problems with the shutter, resulting into black images. But because I bought a reconditioned camera, Nikon may have actually fixed the problem before selling this piece again. At least that's the hope! I bought it despite the concern, but overly concerned people should just go with the brand new version that comes with 1 year warranty. Reconditioned ones come with a 90-day warranty from Nikon. OneCall, my seller on Amazon gives a 30 day return warranty. I took one star off for this very reason, which is not necessarily a problem as of now, but the concern will hang over my head all the time.The camera is quite small in size as compared to some DSLR cameras we see. It's actually just as big as my previous mega zoom point and shoot Lumix DMC-FZ35. I am sure people with smaller palms will absolutely love this fact. People with big-to-humongous palm sizes may find the grip a little too small, though.Right away, after recording a few pictures, I noticed how much better the photos looked than a point-and-shoot I owned. Even though we already know this, it was satisfying to actually discover it myself to justify the upgrade. I also tried the manual modes (PSAM), and I was happy with what I saw. The Nikon on-screen menus can be and will be overwhelming for starters like me, but I hope to not give up. The body's construction, neck strap, the eye piece, the screen, and the 18-55 VR lens supplied seem to be of pretty high quality for $500. But of course, some people will quickly outgrow this lens, and since I heard the lenses make up for most of the DSLR experience, more money will eventually be spent in this department.One tip for beginners. Please make sure you do not buy a low-speed memory card. Always shoot for at least a class 10 SDHC card which is at least 8GB. It makes all the difference in the world when working with a DSLR camera that records big sized raw images. And if you care about the product, please buy a well-protective camera bag. Zeikos has a bag on sale on Amazon under $10 that's got good reviews. I bought the same.Lastly, please use great care, and refer the manual when fitting the lens for the first time. You don't want it to break or fall on the floor accidentally. Also please handle the battery cover with care. No it is not flimsy, but I found the opening mechanism prone to be put unnecessary pressure on until you figure it out.Enjoy the toy! Please comment if you like the review and find it helpful. Thanks.

I've always been interested in photography as a hobby but I've never had more than a compact point-n-shoot and usually resorted to using my iPhone 4s, which only produces decent images up close and in good lighting. I primarily enjoy landscape photography, especially sunrises and sunsets, as well as photographing nature in general (storms, animals, plants), all of which the iPhone is awful for.So I decided to get a DSLR and I knew that Nikons were pretty good. After much research I decided on this one and so far I love it.The D5100 has incredible value and bang for your buck. It's somewhere in between the D3100 and D7100 in terms of quality, but it's only a little bit more expensive than the D3100 (while offering a lot more, including significantly higher picture quality) and MUCH less expensive than the D7100, which is only slightly better. If you're looking for a high quality, non-professional camera at a reasonable price, this is the one to get. Canons are great as well, but a Nikon of equal quality tends to be a bit less pricey.I really have no complaints about this camera. The grip is nice, the design is intuitive, and it feels very sturdy and of high quality. The interface is fairly easy to pickup, with the question mark button available to anyone who isn't sure what something means (though it's not always the greatest description). My pictures almost always turn out sharp and colorful and if they don't it's usually because of user error (i.e. I didn't use the best settings for the occasion). The battery lasts surprisingly long if you turn it off when you're not using it (I've been on 5-6 hour hikes and taken over 1500 pictures with the battery still going at 2/3 bars, though I am not using the flash).A few suggestions to someone who was new to DSLR. First, the manual is your friend. I suggest learning to use M/A/S modes, as the auto modes on this can be pretty awful (e.g. the sunset one, which tends to mess up the colors). I also suggest buying a few accessories if you don't have them - obviously a memory card, a lens cleaner and cloth (really a must), a lens hood if you photograph outdoors, and possibly an inexpensive UV filter to protect the lens.In conclusion, I've had a lot of fun with this camera and it takes fantastic pictures. It's even more amazing with a higher quality lens (I suggest trying a 55-200 or 55-300 to complement the lens that the camera came with).

COMPARISON TO CANON:The Canon T2i was finicky and would stop recording if I didn't use the right brand and speed of SD card. I sold it and replaced it with a Nikon D5100. The first thing I noticed is the Nikon works well with nearly any SD card.My Canon had the upgraded 18-135mm kit lens. The Nikon arrived with the 18-55mm kit lens, which, apart from less telephoto range, is actually a much sharper lens with less chromatic aberration in the corners of the frame than the Canon 18-135.PHOTOS:The Nikon takes sharper photos than the T2i (comparing the two lenses I had), despite having 16 megapixels vs 18 for the Canon. The Nikon also has a one F-Stop advantage in low light, getting great pictures even at ASA 6400. The T2i was good in low light. The Nikon is great. It just looks cleaner in low light.In the default standard setting mode, the color saturation and the contrast is a little bit less in the Nikon, but the image is more realistic. The automatic white balance seems to be more accurate in the Nikon, getting truer whites in more types of lighting conditions without having to resort to manually setting white balance all the time. Of course, both cameras have tons of control over the color and contrast. The Nikon has infinitely more manual control over white balance, allowing you to dial in the perfect setting by hand with an X-Y color grid. The Canon has the usual half dozen presets.VIDEO:As with still photos, all the color and contrast characteristics are similar from the photo mode to the video mode. It's here where the Canon wins out with it's more filmic saturation and contrast. The Nikon wins out in sharpness, which may not make it look as pretty for films, but it is a more natural looking image for general video use.Both cameras max out at 1920x1080 resolution at 30 frames per second, and both have 24 frame film modes. What's missing on the D5100 is the 720-60 frame mode found on the T2i. In the 720-60 frame mode, video motion is silky smooth. In 30 frame mode, it has a filmic looking stutter in the motion. Some users prefer this effect. But the Nikon, even though having only 30 or 24 frame modes, allows you to select high video quality or normal video quality. Using the normal mode doubles your capture time on the SD card at the expense of barely more digital artifacting.The Canon allows you to control the ASA, the iris and the shutter speed manually in the video mode. When set to fully automatic, the iris is very smooth when transitioning from light to dark subjects.The Nikon does not allow you full manual control over the iris in video mode, and the iris sort of steps through many ranges from light to dark. It isn't a smooth transition in manual or automatic mode. Since you can't lock down the exposure in video mode, the camera is not suited for advanced film makers who need total image control. Too bad, because the Nikon doesn't cease up during the video shoot if you put class 6 or even class 4 SD cards in it. The Canon will simply stop recording on it's own if it doesn't like the brand or speed of card you use.SOUND:Both cameras have an external mike jack and no headphone jack. The Nikon has a few presets to eliminate or lower the AGC function and control the audio level. The Canon has no control over audio levels and you can not defeat the AGC unless you buy special software that can re-program the camera's firmware (some users have frozen up their cameras doing this the wrong way).CONTROLS:I found the Canon easier to program than the Nikon, especially in video mode. The Nikon takes some experimenting (or reading the dreaded instructions) to discover the extra layers of image control it possesses. Once you delve in and learn the menu, there's far more intricate image control with the Nikon.With the Canon, you set it to video mode, turn it on and press the red button to begin recording video. The Nikon requires the extra step of setting the live view mode each time you power it up, while the Canon can be left in the video mode all the time.The image stabilizer in the Canon is better for walk-around hand held shooting than the Nikon, providing much smoother shots in the steady hands of a seasoned user.SUMMARY:I liked the Canon better for it's filmic look and ease of use, but I value the Nikon for it's better low light performance, sharper image and most of all, it's total reliability and not being dependent upon the choice of SD card.

As with any review, a lot is dependent on the reviewer's taste, expectations and understanding of the product. So let me make it clear where I fit in there and then how this camera performed.I have a lot of photography and video experience but I am not a professional. What I EXPECT is a camera that is easy to use but powerful in features. I like seeing new technology even when it is sometimes inferior to older technology (I know some of you can relate to that). I expect good build quality and I expect that a camera does what it is advertised to do. This camera basically did not disappoint. But I will say honestly that I was comparing this to the D7000 even though the latter is a good $400 more expensive. But the D5100 was newer and it had some things the D7000 does not have that I thought were important to me:1. A swivel screen (I've never had a still camera with that). I am upgrading from a D70.2. Capable of HDR pictures with in-camera processing.3. Cheaper and lighter weight.Many of you may choose the D5100 for other reasons but these were mine. In the end, I returned it and bought the D7000 (that review is coming soon). Here is why:I like the idea of HDR photography and the D5100 can do it right in the camera! To explain why I gravitated towards this particular feature, I need to step back and mention an in-camera feature I had once on a point-and-shoot. I used to have an HP camera and it helped you frame a panoramic picture. When you were done, it stitched it together. Voila! You had a panoramic picture ready to go. When I upgraded to the next model, it also had a panoramic feature to help you frame it, but it did not do in-camera stitching (as most all cameras do not these days). Instead, you are supposed to stitch it with the software the camera comes with. So guess what happened? Nothing....I stopped doing panoramic pictures, because I was too lazy to take the time to find the right pictures, import them into the software, stitch and then export it back to the right folder - too much hassle.Well, the idea with in-camera HDR was a real selling point for me on the D5100. As of this writing, I am not aware of any other camera that does this (I'm sure someone will correct me?). So this may be the #1 reason I ended up getting the D5100 and it is the #1 I returned it. If you look at Nikon's website they advertise this feature and show an example of a lighthouse - the result is stunning, just as you would expect from HDR. Let me just say flat-out: this will not be the result you see in the real-world. I took about 100 different high-contrast shots and most of them looked better with the HDR processing but most of them only looked *marginally* better. The shadows had more detail and the bright areas were less blown out. So it works. But I then bracketed +2,0,-2 images and plugged them into Photomatrix and BAM! Now that's HDR! No comparison whatsoever. It turns out, the Nikon D5100's version of HDR is to take just two shots (-3,+3 , or some variation on the stops) and then it combines it into one image. If the (+3) shot was a little blurry, because over-exposed shots tend to be this way, then the final HDR image is blurry too. Now when this happens on a bracketed set, that is OK, because you still have the normal (0) exposure to take back with you at the end of your vacation. But if the D5100 made a bunch of blurry shots, you are hosed. There is no way to recover from that. You would have to analyze every shot closely on that little 3" screen to verify you got the shot or you would need to take duplicates with normal exposure just to make sure. Also, the HDR feature is not even written in the instruction manual - go ahead and look...no where to be found! I had to look it up in the longer online pdf manual to see how to use the feature, and it turns out you have to press about 6 buttons pretty deep in the menu just to get the camera to take an HDR. Once you depress the shutter, you have to go back through the whole menu again. Ridiculous! Finally, I figured out you can assign the "Fn" button to handle this, which was really a very good workaround. So all in all, I was really excited about in-camera HDR and in reality, it was a big disappointment. Now on to the other stuff:The swivel screen: You either love it or hate it. I hated it, but that has nothing to do with the actual camera, just the concept. Basically I think it's mechanically the weakest point of the camera. That little swivel is just asking to snap off the next time I chase my son around the house and back into a corner or cabinet. I can guess it would cost a fortune to have Nikon fix that. Also, I am not into swiveling the screen closed so the screen faces the camera when I am done shooting. I am simply not that meticulous. I want to have a spontaneous camera that I can pick up and shoot whenever I want. So what's the point if I have to un-swivel the screen every time I want to use it and then swivel it closed when I am done. Also, think of all th

As a long-time owner of the Nikon D5000, and former owner of the Nikon D60, I was eager to purchase the D5100 after seeing the announcements and pre-reviews. Being one of the lucky ones to buy the D5100 with 18-55VR kit earlier this week, I've had a few days to play with this camera and can honestly say it's a solid upgrade to the D5000 I'm replacing, and should be on the short list of consideration for any "prosumer" looking to purchase a D-SLR with outstanding image quality, performance, and low-light capability in a lightweight, compact (for an SLR) body. And, unlike the D5000, this D-SLR finally has a usable Live View and HD video capabilities both with continuous autofocus.First of all, it's important to understand where the D5100 fits in Nikon's capabilities. It is considered a "high-end enthusiast" D-SLR which means that it shares the same image sensor as the high-end D7000 without some of the higher-end features. If you're like me, very few of the D7000's features justify its extra cost and weight. The D5100 offers nearly the same image quality as its bigger brother in a less-expensive, smaller package, while adding a few tricks the D7000 doesn't have including an articulating display that helps you frame hard-to-reach spots.Compared to its lesser-priced but still excellent brother the D3100, the D5100 offers improved image quality, speed, and resolution, along with a higher-resolution articulating display. For me, this is the sweet spot in Nikon's consumer D-SLR offerings.The 18-55VR (3x) f3.5-f5.6 kit lens provides surprisingly good performance and image quality, although you'll likely outgrow it quickly. I have uploaded a few sample images taken with the D5100 and 18-55VR to show its performance and surprisingly good bokeh (pattern of blurred background) in large-aperture and macro shots.For lens upgrades that include an AF-S autofocus motor, if you don't mind changing lenses, the Nikon 55-200VR is an outstanding value with excellent image quality, or consider the Nikon 18-105VR (5.8x) lens included with the D7000. If you don't mind some distortion and image softness, the 18-200 VRII (18x) lens may be your perfect "walkabout" lens. For me, I bought the pricey but outstanding Nikon 16-85mm VRII. Don't forget the Nikon AF-S 35mm f1.8 (if you can find it).Low-light performance is outstanding with this camera, and the level of detail captured by the D5100 is excellent, even at higher ISOs. You're best capturing in RAW or RAW+JPEG mode (three different JPEG compression levels are offered) if you need to go back and fine-tune exposure or other settings after the shot. Nikon also offers "Active D-Lighting" which is a highly effective method for improving dynamic range of a photo to equalize the difference between high and low-light areas of a photo.Interestingly, the improvement in image quality compared to my D5000 isn't dramatic. Given the incredible improvement I saw when upgrading from my Nikon D60 to the D5000 perhaps I had unrealistic expectations for this new sensor. But in most image settings, even low light, the improvement is noticeable but subtle. That speaks more for the outstanding quality and low-light sensitivity of the D5000 sensor (which is shared with the D90) than it speaks against the D5100. With the D5100 you get higher resolution for improved cropping, and the 14-bit RAW images offer greater dynamic range for more flexibility after the shot is taken.Speaking of RAW format, as with any new camera, there is a bit of a wait until updates are available for your favorite camera software. As of May 18th, Adobe, Apple, and Nikon have added support for the D5100 RAW files, so you can use Aperture, iPhoto, Nikon View NX2 (v2.1.1 and later), Nikon Capture NX2 (v2.2.7 and later), Lightroom 3 or Photoshop CS5 (via Adobe Camera RAW 6.4 or later). If you use other photo software or another platform, you may want to verify RAW support for the D5100.Compared to my D5000, Nikon has gone back and addressed most of my concerns on ergonomics and performance:- camera body is roughly 10% smaller and 10% lighter- 16.2 megapixel CMOS DX-format image sensor (shared with D7000) captures 14-bit RAW images and offers +1fs greater low-light sensitivity- ISO 100-6400 range with expansion to 25,600 ISO (D5000 minimum is 200 and expansion to 12,300)- high resolution (920k pixel) display for greater detail in image previews (although I had to bump up the default brightness one notch for accuracy)- side-mounted articulating display no longer interferes with tripod (the D5000 display is inconveniently hinged at the bottom)- dramatically improved (now usable!) LiveView mode with continuous autofocus even in HD video mode (more on that later)- full HD 1080p movie capture without the "jelly effect" (unless you move VERY quickly from side-to-side), in more standard H.264 mode up to 22 min (D5000 is AVI format 720p up to 5min)- slightly better control position (LiveView is now a rocker switch on the mode dial, Video Rec

The Nikon D5100 brings the high quality 16.2 megapixel sensor, great low-light performance, and full HD video capability with all the frame rate options from the popular pro-sumer D7000 to the enthusiast level model - and then includes a fully adjustable side-mounted rotating screen to boot. The D5100 should prove to be an excellent option for new dSLR users plus those experienced enthusiasts wishing to upgrade their D50, D60, or even their D3000 to gain additional megapixels, shooting and processing speed, video, and an improved rear LCD screen. The variety of features and functions offered on the various Nikon dSLR cameras might make it difficult to choose between them, but there are some important differences.The new Nikon D5100 sits just above the D3100, a bit below the aging D90, and several steps below the fully-featured and highly customizable Nikon D7000. The D5100 boasts a 16 megapixel image sensor (just like the D7000), shoots 4 frames per second in continuous mode, has HD video capability at 24, 25, and 30 fps, and includes the fully rotating rear LCD screen improved in flexibility from the screen of the D5000.Generally as the cameras increase in price and capability from the entry level model to the enthusiast pro-sumer model they gain more sophisticated autofocus and exposure metering systems, shoot faster (more frames per second) in continuous shooting mode, have more controls and buttons for changing settings on the camera body, and offer more menu and custom function options.Sensor and Image Quality: The sensors of the D5100 and D7000 are greatly improved over the older D90 in a couple of ways. The D5100 and D7000 have 16.2 megapixel sensors, where the D90 has 12.3 megapixels. The relatively new D3100 has a 14.2 MP sensor. This increase in resolution allows for more intrusive editing of the files in Photoshop, the ability to crop a picture and still obtain an image with high enough resolution for printing or display, and allows for larger prints. In addition, the improved sensor results in better performance at high ISO settings and in low light, better dynamic range, tonal range, and color sensitivity. Have a look at the dxomark website to compare the sensors.Exposure Metering: The D5100, while sharing a similar sensor to the D7000, does not have the same advanced metering system. It shares the less sophisticated 420 pixel RGB metering sensor of the D3100 and offers matrix metering, non-adjustable center-weighted, and spot metering modes. This system may be more than sufficient for many users, especially those not intending to adjust their exposure settings and dig into their menus in reaction to complex lighting situations. But if your shooting demands require more precise exposure metering and control over the size of the areas being metered, you need to consider the D7000 or D90. The 2016 pixel RGB metering sensor of the D7000 is also improved compared to the D90, and will result in more accurate metering performance of straightforward and complex lighting scenes and situations. Both these cameras offer matrix metering, center-weighted, and spot metering modes. With center-weighted metering on the D90, you can select the size of the center-weighted area to be a 6, 8, or 10mm center circle, and the D7000 adds a 13mm circle option.Autofocus: The autofocus systems of the D3100, D5100, and D90 all have 11 autofocus (AF) points with the center one being a more accurate cross-type. These AF systems may be more than sufficient for most users, and they can successfully track moving objects in the frame such as athletes, performers, or animals. However, if you specialize in sports, action, wildlife, or bird photography, you are going to want to consider the much more sophisticated, accurate, and customizable AF system of the D7000. The D7000 boasts a significantly improved AF system of 39 AF points with 9 of them being cross type. The AF system of the D7000 allows for you to use these points in various ways including automatic AF point selection, single point AF, and dynamic area AF using your choice of 9 points, 21 points, all points, or all points with 3D-tracking. It is important to note that the D5100 and D3100 do not have an autofocusing motor built into the body so you have to be sure to purchase lenses with built-in AF motors. For example, the Nikon "Nifty 50" 50mm f/1.8 will not autofocus with these cameras. The D7000 and D90 have the built-in motor.Body, Construction and Size/ Weight: The D5100 is just slightly larger and a tiny bit heavier than the D3100, both weighing just over one pound. Both have plastic bodies and more limited buttons and controls that the higher end models. Many users should find its size and weight great for using and carrying around, though some prefer the ergonomics of a larger body. The D90 and D7000 appear very similar at first glance, but the plastic body of the D90 has been upgraded to the partially magnesium alloy body (top and rear) of the D7000. This

So this camera is just amazing at giving you great resolution and dynamic range. The 18-55mm lens that comes with it is sharper than the 18-70mm and 18-200mm. Pictures are usable up to 1600 ISO. The controls are fairly decent though in some modes not all options are available, such as shooting in HDR requires you to choose certain configurations that I can't even remember what they are. I tried looking up on google to see why HDR was greyed out but their suggestions didn't help. Not that I care about HDR that much but it's frustrating when you can't choose it when you need it. The white balance is another issue. You cannot always choose customized white balance. Again it depends on the settings you choose and this too is something I have no idea what settings would make it work. I never had this problem with Canon DSLR's. I'll say that for everything else the D5100 is miles beyond anything Canon has in the same price range. In fact this camera is superior to the D90 that I used to covet so much. This model is the real sweet spot between all of the models from D3000-D5300. I mean 16mp is enough of a hassle without going to 24mp. This megapixel race is ridiculous. If only there were options for 6-8mp NEFs. This is a superior camera than the two successors and can be had very inexpensive. If you need a longer lens I'd suggest the 18-105mm instead of buying the 55-200mm as an add on. Even with the 18-55mm you can simply crop to zoom in as it'll be as sharp as anything. If all you care about is image quality choose your DSLR in this order: D5100, D3000, D3100, and ignore the rest.

I shoot sports for a local paper and I am always running into "pro" photographers with their $5,000 cameras and $10,000 lenses. Obviously you need to spend big bucks for high end gear, but I needed to find that sweet spot between performance and what I could afford, and the Nikon 5100 hits it.Light sensitivity is something I really needed. Shooting action under artificial lighting, indoors or out, is challenging. The 5100 has a maximum ISO of 6400, though it also has 4 "Hi-" settings above 6400. (I read somewhere that Hi-2 is like 25,000 ISO.) So I can shoot at 320-500 speed and get great shots in challenging light. It's also helpful if you invest in a low-light lens like an f2.8 or f1.8.It also has built-in retouch and trim modes so I can enhance shots mid-game, then have them ready to send after. The 5100 had a swivel screen if you want to shoot video or take a photo holding the camera way over your head, though it takes longer for the camera to shoot when in that mode. It takes nice video but I rarely use that feature. The 16.2MP CMOS is plenty for me but the D5200 has 24MP with all the features of the 5100.I bought the D5100 package with the 18-55 and 70-200 lenses and bag for $750. I then added a Nikon f1.8 50mm lens for $220 and the Sigma 70-33mm leans for $144. Toss in a $20 monopod and I'm ready for anything.

My camera shoots black images after two years and I had to send it in via UPS (cost me 20 bucks) and had it repaired for $130. Got the camera back and used it around the house two times and it worked fine so I thought the issue was fixed. I took it to an amusement park and it wasn't working again (less than a month later I got the camera back and it was the third time I picked up the camera to use after I received it back from Nikon).It's pain in the butt calling Nikon trying to talk to someone. This camera is not worth the time and headache (calling Nikon is not fun. trust me. I had to do it three times. A lot of hold time.). Now I have to ship it back to Nikon (at least they are sending me a shipping label this time-but that's the least they can do, I think.) and can't even use the camera for probably another three to four weeks!Don't be stuck in a situation like me and DO NOT BUY THIS CAMERA! Look up on google and you will see that other people had similar issues (black images) with Nikon cameras.

So here are the two shots that I used to test the D5100s:1) One shot, 30 sec long w/ cap on to find hot pixels.2) One shot, 2.5sec, f/36, 200mm, out of focus, laptop screen as target (Empty Word Document). Shot auto-toned in Photoshop to see dead pixels and dust.The units tested and results:1) From a well known brick store that turned into online store (refurbished kit D5100 and 18~55mm): Dust spots + hot pixels on sensor.2) From a well known and very respected brick store's website (new kit D5100 and 18~55mm): Dust spots + hot pixels on sensor.3) Replacement from above store's website (new kit D5100 and 18~55mm): Dust spots on sensor + hot pixels on sensor.4) Local mom-and-pop, very respected store, tested by their tech. (new D5100): Dust spots on sensor + dead pixels on sensor.5) Local electronics store chain (new kit D5100 and 18~55mm): Dust spots on sensor.(Serial 3256xxx)6) Replacement from above chain store (new kit D5100 and 18~55mm): Dust spots on sensor + dead pixels on sensor.(Serial 3255xxx)7) From a very very well known website (new kit D5100 and 18~55mm): Dust spots on sensor + dead pixels on sensor.8) One more unit from chain in (5) (6) (new kit D5100 and 18~55mm): Dust spots on sensor + hot pixel on sensor. (Serial 32555806)9) Exchange from chain checked in store (new kit D5100 and 18~55mm): hot pixel on sensor visible on LCD (w/ cap on). (Serial 3253032)10) Exchange from chain checked in store (new kit D5100 and 18~55mm): hot pixel on sensor visible on LCD (w/ cap on). (Serial 3251783)11) One more unit from brick store of (1) that I showed to the salesperson (new kit D5100 and 18~55mm): hot pixel on sensor visible on LCD (w/ cap on). (Serial 327xxxx)12) Instant exchange of the one in (11) (new kit D5100 and 18~55mm): Dust spots on sensor + no hot pixels on sensor visible on LCD (w/ cap on). (Serial 328xxxx)All units had shutter-counts below 20 when I got them, all except one (the body only in '4') used the lenses that came in the kit and none showed improvement by using built-in sensor dust cleaner and the "Rocket Blower". Total indoor envirnoment for the first two shots was less than 20 seconds taken in connecting the body to the lens (camera body pointing down and lens back pointing up).Should I say more, are they moving these cameras without QC at all. Even if I discount for dust itself, I mean how much time does it realistically take to do a pixel remap for dead/hot pixels at QC when the item will take more time, effort, money and reputation later. If these are "test escapes" then that means that these units went out without "burn-in" which means that more dead/hot pixels will show up as the unit ages.This dust could actually be oil splatters (like in D7000 issues) and perhaps that is why it does not respond to built in dust-cleaner and "rocket blower"... Either way Nikon should do something about their QC on this model...-P.S.-I tested the unit in (12) for hot pixels at ISO 100/2000/6000 and found 3 hot pixels in 6000, 1 in 2000 (not the saem as in 6000) and none in 100. This is the best unit thus far so I took it to shop mentioned in (4) for cleaning and for $35 they removed 6 out of the 8 stuborn (which do not respond to "rocket blower") dust spots. I think I will call it a day here and keep this unit hoping that it does not "grow" any dead pixels.I called Nikon and found them to be polite but un-appologetic about the whole issue. They offered free shipping on a D5100 from their website and retro-actively pay for return if the unit was found w/ dead/hot pixels or dust on sensor. Good call but I decided to go with a local shop to ensure quick turn around, especially if its the exact same price (price + tax + no shipping).I am holding my 1/5 stars because 1/12 is not the best score for a new product...

I bought this product for my wife, who has a good eye, but has never learned about photography, and is only sort of interested in the qualities of light, contrast, color, etc. She primarily likes to have a product that she can use. Like a car - she wants to be able to drive it, she is not really interested in how powerful the engine is, or what kind of electronics are in it.She loves this camera. She is able to take pictures in a variety of settings and light conditions, and has great success in getting good pictures. Her primary target is my tennis playing son, so she needs to be able to capture motion, and have him be in focus. The sports setting on the camera does a great job with that. She has this paired with the 18-200 Nikon lens, and finds that to be perfect. For those wondering about the need for an external flash (I have one), she has not run into many situations that the internal flash has not been adequate for most things, although there is a problem with red-eye (which should be expected).Set up is quick, simple, and intuitive. She has no problems with transferring pictures, and getting what she needs in the settings. As she has progressed, and wants to be able to take pictures in more "difficult" settings (for instance at a person with a bright light source in the background), she has been able to read, and learn how to do this, so the camera has grown with her.I would consider myself a advanced amateur, and also find this camera to be a joy to use, although I do miss some settings that I have on my D90.I would recommend this camera to anyone from beginner (that wants a camera they can grow with, not just a point and shoot - it does a great job, but probably a waste of money - there are many cheaper options that would do fine for that) to an advanced amateur. The camera is easy to use, and able to take high quality pictures in a variety of settings. The program modes are exceptional in their ability to do as they are supposed to most of the time. Build quality is great, and weight / ergonomic aspects are very good. My wife has normal size hands for a woman and she finds it quite comfortable. For the tennis tournaments, I did convince her to use a monopod, and she agrees she gets much better pictures now.

I bought this camera to use in a professional capacity. I do marketing and communications for an NGO in Haiti and I've also done some work for an NGO in Afghanistan. I use it to capture photos and video to use in a marketing materials and communications for these organizations. Before I got the Nikon I was using a Canon Rebel XS 10.1 MP SLR and a separate Sony video camera. It was completely cumbersome and inefficient -- I wasn't working to my full potential in either photography or videography because of it. And although I was initially skeptical of a photo/video combination SLR, the sheer convenience of the idea won me over.Let me stress that although I purchased this camera to use in a professional capacity I am not a professional photographer (whatever that means these days). But I swear with this camera I could be a staff photographer on National Geographic. I've photographed and shot some really interesting environments under harsh conditions and this camera turned everything into pure magic. The video quality is even better than what I got with a standalone video camera. You get stunning photographs and crystal clear video with bright, vivid colors at the push of a button.And although I can't say enough good things about this camera, I do want to point out a few tips that potential buyers should be aware of:1. The battery life on the video is really, really short. I had a backup battery that I kept in my bag fully charged and there were many days where I went through two batteries in the first half of the day. I eventually learned to manage my time a bit better and only film when I really thought it was needed, but I prefer not to have to work like that -- you never know what you might need later on. So I would highly suggest buying at bare minimum one extra battery if you plan to use this for anything more extensive that facebook video uploads.2. Watch out for the auto focus on video mode. I wouldn't exactly say it's auto focus because on quite a few occasions the camera failed to auto focus or auto focused on the completely wrong thing in video mode. By the end of my first 3-week trip with this camera, I had learned the tricks to it: Like switch to photo mode on auto focus then back to video mode if you want to be sure it's focused, or just use manual focus if you know you'll be shooting a more or less fixed object. This was by far my biggest gripe with this camera.3. The built-in mic is surprisingly good -- although I could see it being a problem for people who are picky about their sound. I was on the move all the time working in an austere environment, so I didn't want to bother with an external mic and the built-in sufficed. And I didn't feel like dropping another $200 on an external mic. But I may make this investment in the future.4. It gets heavy. That's not to say this isn't a light, compact camera for what it does -- it definitely is. But I'm petite and found it a bit of an awkward challenge to hold this camera in the right position when shooting. Why didn't I use a tripod? Again, because I was on the move so much, shooting things that were happening in a chaotic environment. With a video camera, this wouldn't have been a problem -- I would have either been shooting off the shoulder or using a handycam. But with this you've got to hold it out. And it definitely gets tiring.5. Don't forget to buy a gigantic, high-speed memory card for the video.6. I initially bought a gray market version of this camera online. I had no idea what that meant until my friendly neighborhood camera shop owner told me what it meant. I ended up returning it and re-buying it, basically at full retail, at a camera shop. Was this necessary? Probably not. I could have saved myself the $100. But, like I said, I in and around some pretty harsh and unpredictable environments and the camera can take a beating. I wanted the peace of mind of knowing that if something happened, I could bring it back to the U.S. and get it fixed without any problems. I would encourage any buyer to do their research on this issue before making a purchase from any seller. I'm not accustomed to dropping $1,000 bucks on one item so I wanted to be really careful.But anyway I am completely enamored with this camera. It was worth every penny.

I actually did professional photojournalism for a number of years. At this stage however, I'm an amateur and enjoy general photography: people, events, kids, nature, travel, etc.... I've owned a D-5100 for a year and a half now. Here's some quick pros and cons. Hopefully people will find my review helpful:Pros:1. Small, handy, light, ergonomic, and very well balanced camera.2. Easy to get started, with plenty of features and flexibility to grow into and be creative.3. Plenty of lenses (and many inexpensive) for every occasion.4. Reliable, durable, and well built.5. Good focus mechanism which actually doesn't let you down in low light as some other amateur series DSLR's do.6. Great noise reduction, which allows for higher ISO shooting at low light.7. Image quality at par with any pro series DSLR up to ISO 800. At higher ISOs you do have slight noise buildup, but you'll have to pay $2000 for a camera that can produce better images.8. Great deal nowadays with the discounts offered.Cons:1. Battery life could be better. This is no big deal however, as you can buy a couple of Wasabi brand batteries for $20 each and you will always have charge.2. Camera doesn't have in-body motor for autofocus, so your autofocus speed and quality will depend to a great extend on the lens you have.3. If you buy this camera it has the smaller 3/4 sensor which uses a different size lens. If you are looking at moving up the ladder to full size sensor camera in the future, your lenses from this camera won't be useful on a full sized sensor camera.For general photography I would suggest you buy the Nikon D5100 body only (don't bother with the Nikon lens packages that come with it, just get the body). Then buy the Sigma 18-250 Macro HSM lens ($500)...That one lens on this camera will have you covered. The Sigma lens is absolutely of superb quality. Also go ahead and invest is some inexpensive polarizer and UV filters ($20), a nice collapsible rubber hood ($20), along with the Nikon SB-400 flash ($100)[Get a flash because not only do you get more power than on camera flashes, but you also manage to eliminate the flash-shadow problem of on-camera flash on power zooms. You also won't be using your in camera batteries to fire up the flash].I think if I do the math right, the package I've just described should add up to about $1000 and weight no more than 2 lbs. With this combination you can take the same quality pics as a $3000 system, 99% of the time...Ask any questions you like and I'll try to check back and answer them...hopefully this review will help you...

I bought a Nikon D5100 with these TWO "kit" lenses: 18-55 and 55-200mm. As background, I have 45 years "serious amateur" experience in photography, but little in digital photography. My first "serious" digital SLR was a SONY A100 that I bought so I could use my Minolta AF lenses. At this time, I wanted to update my camera because technology had advanced so much! It was a major decision to change camera brands because of my investment over the years in Minolta AF mount lenses. BUT, I wanted something lighter than the SONY "professional" cameras, and something with a better imaging reputation.I shot approximately 90 test images with each of the lenses. After carefully reviewing them at 100% magnification in Photoshop, I can honestly say that only 1 of the 180 photos was genuinely sharp.The 55-200 had trouble focusing under certain circumstances even in mid-day on a mostly cloudy but well lighted day. In addition to the lack of sharpness either the lenses, the sensor or the in camera software did a poor job with contrast and color rendition. Neither zoom ring moved "smoothly." Both felt "rough." I understand that they are relatively cheap "kit" lenses, but I expect much better from a lens with the Nikkor name!The mirror in the SLR body did something indicative of poor design, poor quality and/or poor manufacturing. It shifted at the last moment as it seated itself. It was not aligned properly for its travel and seating.There is something about the design of the D5100 body front where it is supposed to fit your right hand that was VERY uncomfortable for me. This could be a personal issue since hand sizes vary.Fortunately, I was able to return the camera for a full refund!Overall, I was EXTREMELY disappointed! I expected MUCH better from Nikon. I then bought a Canon T3i with 18-55 and 55-250mm "kit" lenses, which is roughly equivalent to the Nikon D5100 package but $100 more. I had read MANY reviews, both professional and user. They almost unanimously favored the Nikon which is why I first tried the Nikon. I have now had the Canon for about two weeks and shot perhaps 200 "test" images. Out of these, most are extremely sharp even magnified to 200% in Photoshop. While both lenses appear to focus quickly and properly in all lighting conditions, I had trouble at the 250mm end. In defense of the lens, I do NOT yet know how to change the focusing parameters (spot versus wide area)and I was trying to capture either a distant deer or bird both partly hidden in a mess of branches or trees. The camera did not know what I wanted to focus on. Exposure, color and contrast rendition are excellent!Oddly, in the full automatic setting, the camera wants to use the flash in situations that I do NOT believe call for flash. Interestingly, and useful for idiot-proof photography, in full automatic the camera's brain alters the ISO setting to afford "optimum" settings for a decent photo. They may not be the settings a knowledgeable photographer would choose, but they work!The camera body appears to be solid, properly designed, engineered and manufactured. Unfortunately, it is slightly heavier than the Nikon, which is a major factor for me.If you are looking for a DSLR in this price range, I highly recommend the Canon T3i (aka EOS 600D ).

DO NOT BE CAUGHT IN THE $200 off SCAM! THIS CAMERA IS DEFECTIVE. They're not giving you a discount because of the generosity of their hearts. It's because the autofocus system is flawed. I, however, bought this at full price.I have been a huge Nikon fan ever since learning photography at university. I've used the D40, D40X, D5000 and naturally thought that the D5100 was a fabulous upgrade. Never really wanted Canon cause I hate change! But I did check the comparisons. The colors are awesome but guess what, the camera has some serious flaws.It almost never focuses on the subject choosing the focus on the background unless you use it in manual mode. It takes a long time to focus since the autofocus keeps searching, at times the shutter will not work. Other times, the camera won't focus, PERIOD! If you use it now and then as a hobby you wont notice it. But if you're shooting continuous, then you're in for some serious problems...More than half the images are ruined if so little.I am extremely upset and now have to send the camera for Nikon to 'repair" depending on their 'assessment'. Other reviews on Amazon says Nikon refuses to repair the camera or replace it saying warranty does not cover it etc.... I paid so much for this camera and now it has to be repaired if Nikon decides its covered by the warranty???? In addition to which I have to PAY to ship it back to them???I want my money back because this has ruined many events. I am not the only one with this problem since many are complaining. Apparently the D7000 has it according to my research. Check youtube and other forums. Youtube actually shows how to fix the backfocusing but I am not going to interfere with the camera. DO NOT BE FOOLED WITH THE $200 off. THE REASON IS BECAUSE THE AUTOFOCUS SYTEM IS FLAWED!!! It is not just me because my friend and I bought the same camera and her autofocus system gives problem also. She also gets BLACK IMAGES from a defective shutter. Check Amazon reviews before buying! So its not just a flawed one in the batch. Now I'm stuck with Nikon accessories such as lens, flash...Will add more when I send the camera to Nikon to repair since customer service seemed to be good so far.A few people wanted to upgrade to this model but I actually showed them the flaws. And some wanted the D7000. But when I told them about the problems...But get this, my friend who wanted to upgrade from his D3100, his camera is flawless. I would have thought the more expensive camera would have been better but apparently not.UPDATE: The camera and the lens was sent to Nikon for they to figure out what the problems was. According to Nikon status its a B1 repair. They said they've adjusted the autofocus system and I am crossing my fingers that it has been repaired. If not I'm sending it right back and making some noise. Some people stated the backfocusing issue they had was never resolved or if it was took more than one repair. I sincerely hope this is not the case. As promised, Nikon repaired the item within the stipulated 10 days but it took another 10 days to ship. So crossing my fingers, will update when the camera arrives.

We're no pros by any means, and we wanted to keep our budget for the camera and lenses to under $1,000-$1,1000. I read numerous reveiws on consumer reports, dpreview.com (which is an incredible site for camera education), and on bestbuy, and B&H photo. I finally narrowed my choice down to the Canon T3i and the Nikon D5100. They both have great features - many of which I'll probably never use, but I would love to try. Finally, I went to Best Buy, just to hold the camera, and see how it felt shooting with it. Without question, the Nikon was extremely superior. I think in terms of options and features, they're both pretty equal. In terms of ergonomics and how the camera feels in your hand, the Canon didn't cut it. I'm a guy with average size hands, and it felt like the Canon was made for someone with much smaller hands. The right hand grip was narrow, the gripping material felt cheaper, and overall it was just awkward feeling. If I were to use this camera for more than 5 minutes, I'm sure I would get a hand cramp. The shooting speed was very slow too. I think the camera at Best Buy had the 18-55mm lens on it, and it took a long time to focus in between shots. It was very slow. We were getting this camera to take pictures of our 2 year old, who does not sit still, so our main requirement was to have a quick camera. I went home and immediately purchase the Nikon on Amazon. The Nikon D5100 felt great. It fit in my hand perfectly, and was very comfortable. My wife loves it too, and has no problems handling the camera. The focusing is extremely fast, which enables us to take quick pictures with great results. We did something different with our purchase, which we were very happy with. Rather than the stock lenses (18-55 and 70-300mm lenses) we purchased the camera/body-only, a Nikkor AF-S 50mm/f1.8G prime lens Nikon 50mm f/1.8G AF-S NIKKOR FX Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras, and the Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM IF Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM IF Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras lenses. The Sigma lens gives us everything we need - the ability to zoom in and get close ups from far away, or the ability to get a wide shot. The 50mm prime lens is awesome. It is perfect for shots in dark rooms or at weddings, and we've used it to take portrait/family type shots too. The D5100 is fantastic. We could not be happier. The pictures are so clear, the focusing is so quick, and the menus on the camera are very easy to navigate through. Overall, I give this camera a 10/10. Sidenote - we also purchased the AmazonBasics Backpack AmazonBasics Backpack for SLR Cameras and Accessories-Blackto store the camera/equipment in. The bag fits everything, is comfortable to carry, and will not tip over when you set it down. I highly recommend it.

I had a d50 for a long time, and felt it was time to upgrade. This performs as well as that with a lot more speed. Side by side photos on the screen look the same (d50 is 6.0 megapixel). Printed there is probably a difference. However, this camera is much faster in burst mode and also shoots video, which is why I got it. What I miss is the internal motor for AF on older lenses, but I can handle focusing manually. Non AF-S lenses are (mostly) still compatible, which is why I like Nikon. I don't have any complaints, it just wasn't the step up from the D50 that I had imagined. Video quality is OK, I wish I could get 60 FPS on the highest resolution. I've had it for nearly two years and it still functions perfectly and I have even dropped it once (the lens also still functions perfectly but the plastic casing didn't survive.) Recommended if you want a good camera that gives you a great auto mode and also full manual controls, but to be honest, the smaller camera systems are starting to go down in price and the size of those is very attractive, and the sensor is the same size, such as the samsung nx300. If I was buying today, I'd go that route.

Remember the days when the Nikon F, F2, F3 were considered the Top of the Line, PROFESSIONAL, cameras? I bought the F2 for $350 from the Altman camera store in Chicago in 1975 and still have it. I have bought MANY various cameras since of all shapes, brands and sizes.I now own a Nikon 5100. I am relentlessly ASTOUNDED by the things this camera can do and the AMAZING, almost 3D, images it produces.These images are very often FAR SUPERIOR to ones put out by the Nikon F professional line.Images just as amazing can be captured with the Nikon D3100 and other DSLR Nikons INCLUDING the D40. The ever increasing megapixels is a MARKETING gimmick. There is no new scientific innovation, each year, that makes it possible for the camera makers to produce new cameras with higher megapixels. This is simply done to entice people, especially men who's egos drive them to own the latest, greatest and TECHNICALLY better, to "upgrade" and spend their money.HERE'S A COUPLE OF DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS: You don't get much difference in PHOTO quality by putting more money into the body. What you get is more bells and whistles. Not to say that's bad. It's COOL if you have the money. The new cameras have metering systems and other features we didn't even DREAM about back in the F series days. In terms of image quality, the more important piece of equipment is the LENS. Nikon calls the D40 to the D7000 "Entry Level" or "pro-sumer" models to entice you to SPEND MORE MONEY. HOW are these cameras "entry level" when they can take ANY one of the previous "PRO" film models and KICK THEIR ASS???Here's the last quirky reason for the misconception: Even with the previous PRO model cameras it took years of learning and experience and TALENT to produce professional looking images. There was pride in calling yourself a Pro Photographer because your photographs were usually far superior to those who took snap shots. Today's cameras automatic exposure features are SO good that ANYONE can take amazing photos in about 15 minutes as long as they have an eye for framing good shots. It is immensely disappointing, and a real blow to the ego, of people who fancy themselves a professional or highly experienced photogs when Joe Blow or Suzy Homemaker whips out their beautiful photographs of the kids that they took THEMSELVES with their D40. For some, their recourse is to say you're not a pro unless you have a $5,000 camera. You just have an "entry level" camera (even though you may be using the exact same lens as they do.)The "pro" will spout about shooting RAW, then using $200 software to "tweak" his photos. But is it worth investing your considerable time and money when, probably, 96% of people cannot SEE the difference or care? If you can afford the top of the line camera body then buy it. But don't get suckered into spending more than you can afford by marketing gimmicks and resentful "Pro" photographers making stupid comments. If you can keep your ego in check you will LOVE whatever camera you decide is right for you. The money you save can be used to buy all those cool photo gadgets .

I had the D60 for almost 3 years, which was an excellent camera, but my skills reached the camera's limitations rather quickly. I had to upgrade.I was torn between the D3100 and the D5100 - the D7000 was outside my price range :( . I chose the D5100 since it uses the same 16 MP sensor as the fantastic D7000. These things addressed are mostly stuff that wasn't on the D60Pros1. Great image resolution - you will not get better image quality from any similar priced camera. The colorization engine inside the processor is excellent - it seems to preserve sharpness, and you can choose the sharpness in camera.2. Exposure Bracketing - this is one thing that the D60 didn't have that I was really missing out on.3. In-camera RAW processing. This is super handy. I don't wanna have to turn on the ol' computer and open my hacked copy of CS5 every time. The ViewNX software is atrocios since it tuns its own sharpening routine automatically which accents any grain. (i could go on and on about the ViewNX but it's free so i can't complain too much)4. D-lighting is somewhat useful for jpeg output.5. White balance settings are modifiable.6. LCD is reticulating. Yes this is kinda gimicky, but it does have its usefulness once in a while.7. Live view mode - and it has face recognition! (see cons 1 below)8. HD video - while i do not use this much, it is nice to have.9. Quiet shutter mode - this means the shutter mirror return happens AFTER you release the shutter button. The camera only make one click when you take a picture. You don't get the typical snap-snap that SLR's are known for.10. AUto-ISO mode allow minumum shutter speed setting (very nice)Cons1. Shooting in live view mode is really cumbersome - there is noticeable lag from shutter press to activation. This is not typically a problem, but if you are tightly composing your shot it'll be an issue since the hand shake may move the image lightly in that half-second timeframe before it actually captures the photo.2. Flash sync speed only down to 1/200 seconds? BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. MINUS one star for that3. Auto-ISO seems to ignore the fact that you are using the flash - this means that in a dark room, if you take a picture with the flash, you will get an extremely grainy image since the camera used an ISO rating that you would use WITHOUT the flash. MINUS one star for this.4. Battery life seems noticeably less for this generation.

I ordered this product for my wife for her Birthday. She's been wanting a camera and all the reviews I've read have mentioned that it is an easy to use, entry level camera that takes great pictures!This sounds great, right? Expect for when my wife can't take pictures with it because it didn't come with the lens I paid for. Not once but twice.So, even after I received the second one without the 18x55mm lens, I call customer service; Brian. Brian, says that he'll send a third the very next day, 29Aug13, and have the other picked up at the same time. One issue with this is that someone has to be present at the time of pick-up and drop off.My wife waits around all day to receive the camera she so desperating wants...and nothing ever comes.I call customer service again today. Jessica explains to me that she has to give me a refund when a costumer receives the same item defective twice(thanks Brian) and they have to investigate. In order to refund the amount for the expensive camera her lead has to get involved. Great, they can refund the camera and UPS will pick-up.But, at anytime does Amazon care that my wife wasted an entire day waiting for the camera promised to her?No.This is BS, and not good costumer service. At this point I feel like I should get to keep the camera that won't take pictures and receive my full refund anyway. Or, maybe just receive a free lens.Either way, time is one thing that we cannot get back in life and I don't plan on wasting anymore of it on this site.Here I come overstock.

As my title says, i'm a photography student. the school doesn't guarantee that they will have enough cameras for every student, so they strongly suggest you purchase your own. (to even sign up for classes you need access to a DSLR)Before deciding on this camera, i looked at several of the reviews on other cameras. The 3100 didn't seem to have enough features for me. and the D7100 was too expensive for me. (I figured when i first purchased it that i'd need a little time to practice with it and play around with some of the features.)Since completing my first few classes, i no longer use any of the program modes, everything is on manual. I have become a control freak, but since i don't have access to a computer with editing software, i do use a lot of the in camera editing, such as changing things to black and white, or quick retouch and some of the other useful little features in there.I've had a chance to play with some of my classmates cameras. A couple of my classmates had the D3000 and the D3100, and those only reassure me that i got the right one.I love the the flip out screen. It does wonders when you're trying to shoot a video of yourself for a tutorial. Also, for a family portrait while using a remote, it makes it so easy to make sure everyone is in frame. Also, for someone like me, having the screen able to turn against the back of the camera to protect it is a godsend. (i constantly have to put little screen protectors on everything i own or deal with heavily scratched screens on phones and ipods.)The in camera editing software is fun and helpful. I like how the buttons are placed, and there are enough buttons that you don't have to spend hours trying to figure out how to sort through your different menus and adjust your settings with several multi-use buttons.

I picked up a D5100 with the 18-55 mm lens and the 55-200 lens on sale at a price that was just too good to be true, and I don't regret it at all. The thing that sold me was that the sensor was the same as in the D7000 but the price was a lot different. The sensor is the heart of the DSLR, and the D100 delivers. There are some neat features on it and some that are ok. Mainly I bought this for when I don't want to carry a bigger heavier camera around all day. The 55-200 is a decent street sweeper type lens and it is pretty sharp. I rarely use the 18-55 except for wide angle shots.If you decide to get this, you'll have a camera that can produce some good results without having to do much editing at all. One accessory I would pick up is a Nikon SB-400 flash for it, the on camera flash is just not powerful enough, but it does a decent job as a fill in flash. One thing I really liked was that you could put up a grid pattern on the screen.Compared to a D-3, or even a D-2, well there is no comparison, you can't compare a pro series all metal weatherproof camera to a entry level or pro-sumer camera. But if you just want good pictures and if you grow your skills this camera will grow with you. All in all you can't go wrong with this camera in my opinion.