Nikon D5100

[Ruchika_2011]

After reading the reviews it seems that Nikon D5100 is "value for money" camera with its feature list coinciding with Nikon D7000. What is your take on Nikon D5100? Is it better to invest in D5100 or D7000 or wait for D4/D800?

[Phillydog1958]

Here is a comparison of the two cameras. It boils down to what you can afford.

Nikon D5100 vs D7000

[gpsi]

D5100 , D7000, OR the upcoming D800........all these are cameras from different categories n different budgets.All of them are winners on their own.One just cant compare them.......It will unfair to comapare them.If u really can afford a D800,I suggest its worth waiting for......

[3bayjunkie]

The full frame route is always great if you want to spend that much. I chose to get the D7000 because it has a programmable shutter and an internal autofocus motor which means you can use any AF lens instead of having to use AF-S like with the D5100

[TheMoons678]

Originally Posted by 3bayjunkie

The full frame route is always great if you want to spend that much. I chose to get the D7000 because it has a programmable shutter and an internal autofocus motor which means you can use any AF lens instead of having to use AF-S like with the D5100

That could be accomplished with a D90 and a $30 cable release remote w/ timer.

I'm not saying the D7000 isnt an awesome camera much better than the D90, but the internal intervalometer is an odd main reason to get it. Regardless, i'm still jealous.

[3bayjunkie]

im interested in experimenting with time laps photography which is why I think it is cool, but it wasn't a deciding factor. The thing that really tipped me off was the internal focusing motor so i can use AF lenses on it with auto focus. I can live without time-laps.

[kirbinster]

I am sure the D5100 is a great camera. I have a D300 a D700 and a D5000 - the D5000 is my go to body when I am just out and about as it takes great images and is small and light weight.

[jorf]

As the owner of a D5000, I'm happy with it but, in retrospect, wouldn't have bought it if I knew just a little bit more when I bought it. The limitations of not having the internal focus motor is its major drawback for me. There are others as well but I don't feel like I've outgrown it yet for the other reasons.

[3bayjunkie]

im just re-reading this and it boggles my mind how you can be deciding between a D5100 and an upcomming D4!? Where did that ever come from? Why not the F6? I'll tell you the Nikon F6 is a much better camera for the money than a D3x. But guess thats comparing apples to oranges. The main reason I chose the D7000 over the D5100 and the D700 is becase A: the D7000 has an internal focusing motor while the D5100 does not, and B: my budget was about $2000 w/lens and the D700 superseded that.

So what I am trying to say is, if your budget is for a D5100 range to D7000 range camera, get the D7000, but D4 will not be in your budget... And if you want a camera that has the resolution of a D3x or Canon 5D, well get an F6. J/S'n...

I'm not here to make your mind up, just want to get you thinking. You are trying to compare crop frame to full frame. You might as well be comparing full frame to medium format.

[TheMoons678]

Originally Posted by 3bayjunkie

The main reason I chose the D7000 over the D5100 and the D700 is becase A: the D7000 has an internal focusing motor while the D5100 does not, and B: my budget was about $2000 w/lens and the D700 superseded that.

I would choose D7000 over D5100 too, but let me just play devils advocate here:

If the main reason to choose is internal focus, you are paying about $500 for that feature. With $500 you can buy AF-S lenses which are typically better than AF-D. Most shooters who would actually consider D5100 vs D7000 would only buy 1 AF/ AF-D lens, most likely 50mm 1.8D or 1.4D which each cost about $100 less than their AF-S successors.