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Nikon D5100

05 Apr 2011

The Nikon DSLR D5100 features a horizontal swing, vari-angle monitor, full-HD movie recording and Nikon's easy-to-use entry-level menu for easy photography from more angles.

Tags: nikon, dslrs

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HWZ's Overall Rating: 9.0

Performance:

Design:

Features:

User-Friendliness:

Value:

9.5

Impressive high ISO performance

High quality images

Quick and accurate auto-focus

Higher-resolution LCD screen

New Live View lever and Record button inconveniently placed

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			<h2 class="header-green">Nikon D5100 - The Sequel is Better </h2>
		<span class="byline">Reviewed by Alvin Soon on Tuesday, 10 May 2011</span>
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		 		<h2 class="page-title">Introduction</h2>
		 		<h3 class="page_title">Introduction</h3>
<p>In mid-2009, Nikon introduced a brand-new camera into their line-up. The D5000 swung in between the then-base model, the D60, and the prosumer-class D90. The D5000 had similar (though not equal) performance to the D90, with fewer dedicated controls and lesser features. The upside was that it cost less, and was smaller.</p>
<p>When the D90's successor - the D7000 - was released last year, it looked like a replacement for the D5000 wouldn't be too far off. And here it is in the form of the D5100. Mirroring the relationship between the D5000 and the D90, the D5100 takes after the D7000 like a younger sibling. The D5100 has&nbsp;the same 16MP&nbsp;DX-format CMOS image sensor and EXPEED 2 image-processing engine as the D7000, with the same recommended ISO 100-6400 range, and the same sensitivity boost that brings it up to ISO 25600.</p>
<p>A brand-new High Dynamic Range (HDR) mode has been added, which takes two shots of varying exposure and combines them in-camera into a single image. The LCD monitor size and resolution have been increased, from&nbsp;2.7-inch and 230,000 dots to&nbsp;3.0-inch and 921,000 dots, and the swivel hinge has been moved from the bottom of the LCD lid to the side of the camera. The D5100 now records in full HD at 1920 x 1080&nbsp;(30fps, 25fps, 24fps), has subject tracking AF in movie mode and an audio jack for an external microphone.&nbsp;Nikon also introduces a brand new Special Effects mode with the D5100, which includes seven special effects or filters which can be applied to both stills and video.</p>
<p>The D5100 comes with so many upgrades that it's not so much a refinement of the D5000 as it is a dramatically different camera. With the inclusion of the same sensor as the D7000 it'll be interesting to see if the D5100 can deliver similar high resolution and low-noise high-ISO performance at a reduced price.</p>
<p class="rtecenter"><img width="500" height="510" src="/files/images/d5100_hero001.jpg" title="The D5100 sits between the entry-level D3100 and the high-end D7000." alt="" /></p>
<p class="rtecenter"><img width="500" height="375" src="/files/images/d5100_hero002.jpg" title="The LCD monitor size and resolution now stand at 3.0-inch and 921,000 dots respectively. The swivel hinge has been moved to the side of the camera." alt="" /></p>			</div>
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	<span class="label" style="">Tags:</span> <a href="/product-guide/all/reviews/tagged/327-digital-cameras">digital cameras</a>, <a href="/product-guide/all/reviews/tagged/335-nikon">nikon</a>, <a href="/product-guide/all/reviews/tagged/764-dslrs">dslrs</a>, <a href="/product-guide/all/reviews/tagged/2076-nikon-d5100">nikon d5100</a></div>
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