Nikon D5100: An Advanced Entry-Level DSLR

The Nikon D5100 comes with significant upgrades over its predecessor, the Nikon D5000. The feature set that it offers along with its pricing shows that it can easily sit between the beginner-friendly D3100 and the high-end D7000.

The D5100 is presented as an upper-entry-level DSLR and is clearly aimed at enthusiast photographers. It features the same remarkable sensor as the D7000 and has a larger and more enhanced swivel LCD screen. The camera also comes with some reduced weight which makes it lighter and more compact than the D5000.

Nikon D5100 Design

The D5100 employs the same 16.2-megapixel, DX-format CMOS sensor found in the D7000, which represents a considerable upgrade over the 12-megapixel sensor used in the D5000. It uses the Nikon’s EXPEED 2 image processor which was first seen in the D3100 and then in the D7000.

Nikon’s D5100 is mostly made of plastic which is very tough and can easily withstand harsh treatment. If you accidently bump the camera body against rough surfaces a few times, it won’t get damages.

However, the LCD should be a concern and you need to take some extra care for its protection. It is recommended to use a screen protector. A good screen protector will cost you less than $10. The D5100 is not weather sealed like higher-end DSLRs…