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Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5100

4.88 in
2.93 in
Nikon D3100 Digital Camera
Nikon D3100
5.0 in
3.8 in
Nikon D5100 Digital Camera
Nikon D5100
Available colors
Editiorial reviews
33
4.0 out of 5
19 user ratings
5 stars
47 %
4 stars
36 %
3 stars
5 %
2 stars
10 %
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
71
3.8 out of 5
71 user ratings
5 stars
35 %
4 stars
23 %
3 stars
26 %
2 stars
14 %
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 (3)

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Full Comparison

Sensor

Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Sensor typeCMOSCMOS
Image sensor formatDXDX
Sensor size0.91 in0.93 in
Effective pixels14.0 Mpx16.0 Mpx
Image ratio w:h3:23:2
Max resolution4608 x 3072 px4928 x 3264 px
Other resolutions
  • 3456x2304
  • 2304x1536
  • 3696x2448
  • 2464x1632
ProcessorExpeed 2Expeed 2

Image

Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
ISO
  • 100
  • 200
  • 400
  • 800
  • 1600
  • 3200
  • Auto
  • 100
  • 6400
  • 12800
  • 25600
ISO Autoyesyes
ISO minimum100100
ISO maximum1280025600
Boosted ISO maximum1280025600
Maximum image resolution4608 x 3072 px4928 x 3264 px
White balance presets1212
White balance modes
  • Auto
  • Manual
  • Auto
  • Cloudy
  • Direct sunlight
  • Flash
  • Fluorescent
  • Incandescent
  • Manual
  • Shade
Custom white balanceyesyes
Supported image file formats
  • JPG
  • RAW
  • JPG
  • RAW
Photo effectsBlack&White
  • Black&White
  • Neutral
  • Vivid
Image stabilizernono
Image stabilization typeNoNo
Supported aspect ratios16:916:9
Uncompressed formatRAWRAW
AEB/HDR supportnoyes

Optics and focus

Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Lens mountNikon-AFNikon F
Optical zoom3.0 x3.0 x
Magnification (Crop factor)1.5 x1.5 x
Maximum aperture3.52.8
AF assist (auto-focus assist light)LampLamp
Focus adjustmentAutoAuto
Contrast autofocusyesyes
Brightness adjustmentyesyes
Autofocus in recording modeyesyes
Focal length multiplier1.5x1.5x
AutofocusSingle Auto Focus
  • Continuous Auto Focus
  • Servo Auto Focus
  • Single Auto Focus
Auto Focus (AF) lockyesyes
Manual focusyesyes
Auto Focus (AF) points selection
  • Auto
  • Manual
Auto
Auto Focus (AF) assist beamyesyes
Number of focus points1111
Max number of AF points (incl. assistant)1111
Image stabiliserLens based onlyLens based only
Filter diameter2.05 in2.83 in
Phase detection autofocusyesyes

Screen and viewfinder

Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Screen size3.0 in3.0 in
Articulated LCDnoyes
Screen technologyLCDLCD
Screen dots230000921000
Touch screennono
Field of view95.0 %100.0 %
Live viewyesyes
ViewfinderOpticalOptical
Viewfinder coverage95.0 %95.0 %
Viewfinder magnification0.8 x0.78 x
Dioptre correctionyesyes
Diopter adjustment (D-D)-1.7 - 0.51.7 - 0.7
Eye relief0.71 in0.7 in
Separate info displaynono

Photography features

Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Shooting modes
  • Auto
  • Manual
  • Movie
  • Aperture priority
  • Auto
  • Manual
  • Movie
  • Program
  • Scene
  • Shutter priority
Camera shutter type
  • Electronic
  • Mechanical
Electronic
Minimum shutter speed30.0 s30.0 s
Maximum shutter speed1.0 s1.0 s
Shutter priorityyesyes
Aperture priorityyesyes
Manual exposure modeyesyes
Exposure compensation plus55
Exposure compensation minus-5-5
Expousure compensation steps1/3
  • 1/3
  • 1/2
Auto exposure lockyesyes
Continuous shootingyesyes
Self-timer delay10.0 s
  • 2
  • 5
  • 10
  • 20
Histogramyesyes
WB BracketingNo
Yes
Subject / scene modesyesyes
Flash sync speed1/200s1/200s
Built-in flashyesyes
Flash range1212
Flash modes
  • Auto
  • Flash OFF
  • Redeye Reduction
  • Slow Sync
  • Flash OFF
  • Redeye Reduction
  • Slow Sync
External flash connectionHot shoeHot shoe
External flashyesyes
Continuous drive3.0 fps4.0 fps
Scene modes
  • Children
  • Close-up
  • Portrait
  • Backlight
  • Beach
  • Candlelight
  • Children
  • Close-up
  • Dawn
  • Dusk
  • Food
  • Landscape
  • Night landscape
  • Night portrait
  • Party
  • Pet
  • Portrait
  • Snow
  • Sports
  • Sunset
Self-timeryesyes
Metering modes
  • Multi
  • Center-weighted
  • Average
  • Multi
  • Center-weighted
  • Spot
Manual settingsyesyes
Speed (JPEG)3.0 fps4.0 fps
Speed (RAW)3.0 fps4.0 fps

Videography features

Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Maximum resolution1920 x 1080 px1920 x 1080 px
Video recordingyesyes
Recording resolutions1280.0 px
  • 640 x 424
  • 1280 x 720
  • 1920 x 1080
HD typeFull HDFull HD
Supported video file formats
  • AVC
  • H.264
  • MOV
  • MPEG-4
  • H.264
  • MOV
  • MPEG-4
Analog signal format system
  • NTSC
  • PAL
NTSC
Camera playback
  • Highlights
  • Movie
  • Single image
  • Slide show
  • Thumbnails
  • Highlights
  • Movie
  • Single image
  • Slide show
  • Thumbnails
Max resolution (highest frame rate)1280 x 7201920 x 1080
Max frame rate (highest resolution)24.0 fps30.0 fps
Max frame rate (regardless of res.)30.0 fps30.0 fps
Motion JPEG frame rate30.0 fps30.0 fps

Audio features

Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Built-in microphonenoyes
Microphone typeMonoMono
Voice recordingyesyes
Audio systemMonoStereo
Supported audio file formatsPCMLPCM

Design

Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Body typeSLRSLR
Body materialPlasticPlastic
Colour of product
  • Black
  • Red
Black
Anti-dust systemyesyes
Environmentally sealednono

Dimensions

Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Weight16.05 oz17.99 oz
Width4.88 in5.0 in
Height2.93 in3.8 in
Depth3.78 in3.1 in

Storage

Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Internal storage4098.0 mB4098.0 mB
Compatible memory cards
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
Dual memory card slotsyesyes
Memory slots11
Storage types
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
Camera file system
  • DCF 2.0
  • DPOF 1.1
  • Exif 2.21
  • DCF 2.0
  • DPOF
  • Exif 2.3

Power

Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Power source type
  • AC
  • Battery
Battery
Battery life (CIPA)550660
Battery technology
Lithium-Ion
Lithium-Ion
Number of batteries supported11
AC adapter includedyesyes

Connectivity

Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
HDMIyesyes
HDMI ports quantity11
HDMI connector typeMiniMini
USB version2.02.0
Microphone portyesyes
WirelessEye-Fi ConnectedEye-Fi Connected
DC-in jackyesyes
Remote controlyesyes
PictBridgeyesyes
NFCnono
Wireless network (Wi-Fi)noyes
Bluetoothnono
Firewirenono

Other features

Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
GPSyesno
Orientation sensoryesyes
Calendaryesyes
Energy Star certifiednono
Languages support
  • CHI
  • CHI
  • CZE
  • DAN
  • DEU
  • DUT
  • ENG
  • ESP
  • FIN
  • FRE
  • ITA
  • JPN
  • KOR
  • NOR
  • POL
  • POR
  • RUS
  • SWE
  • TUR
Multi
Tripod mounting supportedyesyes
On Screen Display (OSD) languages
  • CHI
  • CZE
  • DAN
  • DEU
  • DUT
  • ENG
  • ESP
  • FIN
  • FRE
  • ITA
  • JPN
  • KOR
  • NOR
  • POL
  • POR
  • RUS
  • SWE
  • TUR
  • ARA
  • CHI
  • CHI
  • CZE
  • DAN
  • DEU
  • DUT
  • ENG
  • ESP
  • FIN
  • FRE
  • IND
  • ITA
  • JPN
  • KOR
  • NOR
  • POL
  • POR
  • RUS
  • SWE
  • THA
  • TUR
Image editing modes
  • Rotating
  • Trimming
  • Resizing
  • Trimming

Pros & Cons

Pros
      Cons

          Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5100 - User Opinions

          • luciano_schumm
            over 1 year ago
            Nikon D5100 has a better dynamic range than Nikon D3100 (according to DxOMark.com). Nikon D5100 records twice more colors than D3100 in RAW (14-bit versus 12-bit). Nikon D3100 is classified as an entry-level DSLR, while Nikon D5100 is classified as an upper-entry-level DSLR.Sep 23, 2018
          • millie
            over 1 year ago
            Nikon D5100 has more D-Lighting options, letting users choose between Auto, Extra High, High, Normal, Low and Off, while D3100 only lets to toggle between On and Off. Nikon D3100 shoots 3 FPS (frames per second), while Nikon D5100 shoots 4 FPS. Nikon D5100 has more scene modes and special effects than the D3100.Sep 23, 2018
          • What's the difference between products? Share your opinion.

          Often compared with Nikon D3100

          Often compared with Nikon D5100