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Nikon D300 vs Nikon D5100

5.79 in
4.49 in
Nikon D300 Digital Camera
Nikon D300
5.0 in
3.8 in
Nikon D5100 Digital Camera
Nikon D5100
Available colors
Editiorial reviews
35
4.5 out of 5
11 user ratings
5 stars
90 %
4 stars
0 %
3 stars
9 %
2 stars
0 %
1 stars
0 %
Read editorial reviews
34
4.1 out of 5
17 user ratings
5 stars
41 %
4 stars
41 %
3 stars
11 %
2 stars
5 %
1 stars
0 %
Read editorial reviews
User rating
46
4.1 out of 5
46 user ratings
5 stars
39 %
4 stars
36 %
3 stars
21 %
2 stars
2 %
1 stars
0 %
51
3.9 out of 5
51 user ratings
5 stars
37 %
4 stars
29 %
3 stars
23 %
2 stars
7 %
1 stars
1 %

Video Comparisons (1)

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Full Comparison

Sensor

Nikon D300Nikon D300
Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Sensor typeCMOSCMOS
Image sensor formatDXDX
Sensor size0.93 in0.93 in
Effective pixels12.0 Mpx16.0 Mpx
Image ratio w:h3:23:2
Max resolution4288 x 2848 px4928 x 3264 px
Other resolutions
  • 3216x2136
  • 2144x1424
  • 3696x2448
  • 2464x1632
ProcessorExpeedExpeed 2

Image

Nikon D300Nikon D300
Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
ISO
  • 100
  • 200
  • 3200
  • 6400
  • 100
  • 6400
  • 12800
  • 25600
ISO minimum100100
ISO maximum640025600
Boosted ISO maximum640025600
Maximum image resolution4288 x 2848 px4928 x 3264 px
White balance presets1212
White balance modes
  • Auto
  • Fine
  • Flash
  • Fluorescent
  • Incandescent
  • Manual
  • Shade
  • Sunny
  • Auto
  • Cloudy
  • Direct sunlight
  • Flash
  • Fluorescent
  • Incandescent
  • Manual
  • Shade
Custom white balanceyesyes
Supported image file formats
  • JPG
  • RAW
  • TIF
  • JPG
  • RAW
Photo effects
  • Black&White
  • Neutral
  • Vivid
  • Black&White
  • Neutral
  • Vivid
Image stabilizernono
Image stabilization typeNoNo
Uncompressed formatRAW + TIFFRAW
HDRnoyes
AEB/HDR supportyesyes

Optics and focus

Nikon D300Nikon D300
Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Lens mountNikon FNikon F
Optical zoom11.1 x3.0 x
Magnification (Crop factor)1.5 x1.5 x
AF assist (auto-focus assist light)LampLamp
Focus adjustmentAuto/ManualAuto
Contrast autofocusyesyes
Focal length multiplier1.5x1.5x
Autofocus
  • Continuous Auto Focus
  • Single Auto Focus
  • Continuous Auto Focus
  • Servo Auto Focus
  • Single Auto Focus
Auto Focus (AF) lockyesyes
Manual focusyesyes
Number of focus points5111
Max number of AF points (incl. assistant)5111
Image stabiliserLens based onlyLens based only
Filter diameter2.64 in2.83 in
Phase detection autofocusyesyes

Screen and viewfinder

Nikon D300Nikon D300
Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Screen size3.0 in3.0 in
Articulated LCDnoyes
Screen technologyLCDLCD
Screen dots922000921000
Touch screennono
Live viewyesyes
ViewfinderOpticalOptical
Viewfinder coverage100.0 %95.0 %
Viewfinder magnification0.94 x0.78 x
Eye relief0.77 in0.7 in
Separate info displayyesno

Photography features

Nikon D300Nikon D300
Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Camera shutter typeElectronicElectronic
Minimum shutter speed30.0 s30.0 s
Maximum shutter speed1.0 s1.0 s
Shutter priorityyesyes
Aperture priorityyesyes
Manual exposure modeyesyes
Number of exposures23
Exposure compensation plus55
Exposure compensation minus-5-5
Expousure compensation steps
  • 1/3
  • 1/2
  • 1/3
  • 1/2
Auto exposure lockyesyes
AE EV steps
  • 1/3
  • 1/2
  • 2/3
  • 1
  • 1/3
  • 1/2
Continuous shootingyesyes
Self-timer delay
  • 2
  • 5
  • 10
  • 20
  • 2
  • 5
  • 10
  • 20
Histogramyesyes
AE frames
  • 2
  • 3
  • 5
  • 7
3
WB Bracketing
Yes
Yes
Subject / scene modesnoyes
Flash sync speed1/250s1/200s
Built-in flashyesyes
Flash range1212
Flash modes
  • Auto
  • Redeye Reduction
  • Slow Sync
  • Flash OFF
  • Redeye Reduction
  • Slow Sync
External flash connection
  • Hot shoe
  • PC terminal
Hot shoe
External flashyesyes
Continuous drive6.0 fps4.0 fps
Self-timeryesyes
Metering modes
  • Multi
  • Center-weighted
  • Average
  • Multi
  • Center-weighted
  • Spot
Manual settingsyesyes
Self-timer optionscustom
  • 2
  • 5
  • 10
  • 20
Speed (JPEG)6.0 fps4.0 fps
Speed (RAW)6.0 fps4.0 fps
Exposure bracketing0.3 - 1.0±EV0.3 - 0.5±EV

Videography features

Nikon D300Nikon D300
Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Video recordingyesyes
HD typeNot supportedFull HD
Analog signal format system
  • NTSC
  • PAL
NTSC
Camera playback
  • Highlights
  • Slide show
  • Thumbnails
  • Highlights
  • Movie
  • Single image
  • Slide show
  • Thumbnails

Design

Nikon D300Nikon D300
Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Body typeSLRSLR
Body materialAluminum-magnesiumPlastic
Colour of productBlackBlack
Anti-dust systemyesyes
Environmentally sealedyesno

Dimensions

Nikon D300Nikon D300
Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Weight29.1 oz17.99 oz
Width5.79 in5.0 in
Height4.49 in3.8 in
Depth2.91 in3.1 in

Storage

Nikon D300Nikon D300
Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Compatible memory cards
  • CF
  • CF Type II
  • MicroDrive
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
Memory slots11
Storage typesCompact Flash Type I/II
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
Camera file system
  • DCF 2.0
  • DPOF
  • Exif 2.21
  • DCF 2.0
  • DPOF
  • Exif 2.3

Power

Nikon D300Nikon D300
Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Power source typeBatteryBattery
Battery life (CIPA)1000660
Battery technology
Lithium-Ion
Lithium-Ion
Number of batteries supported11
AC adapter includedyesyes

Connectivity

Nikon D300Nikon D300
Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
HDMIyesyes
HDMI ports quantity11
USB version2.02.0
Remote controlyesyes
PictBridgeyesyes
NFCnono
Wireless network (Wi-Fi)noyes
Firewirenono

Other features

Nikon D300Nikon D300
Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Timelapse recordingyesyes
GPSnono
Orientation sensoryesyes
Frameyesyes
Tripod mounting supportedyesyes
Image editing modesTrimming
  • Resizing
  • Trimming

Pros & Cons

Pros
      Cons

          Often compared with Nikon D300

          Often compared with Nikon D5100