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Nikon D500 vs Nikon D5100

5.79 in
4.53 in
Nikon D500 Digital Camera
Nikon D500
5.0 in
3.8 in
Nikon D5100 Digital Camera
Nikon D5100
Available colors
Editiorial reviews
79
4.3 out of 5
35 user ratings
5 stars
65 %
4 stars
28 %
3 stars
0 %
2 stars
5 %
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
57
3.9 out of 5
57 user ratings
5 stars
22 %
4 stars
49 %
3 stars
21 %
2 stars
5 %
1 stars
1 %
51
3.9 out of 5
51 user ratings
5 stars
37 %
4 stars
29 %
3 stars
23 %
2 stars
7 %
1 stars
1 %

Full Comparison

Sensor

Nikon D500Nikon D500
Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Sensor typeCMOSCMOS
Image sensor formatDXDX
Sensor size0.93 in0.93 in
Effective pixels21.0 Mpx16.0 Mpx
Image ratio w:h3:23:2
Max resolution5568 x 3712 px4928 x 3264 px
Other resolutions
  • 4176x2784
  • 2784x1856
  • 3696x2448
  • 2464x1632
ProcessorExpeed 5Expeed 2

Image

Nikon D500Nikon D500
Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
ISO
  • 100
  • 51200
  • 100
  • 6400
  • 12800
  • 25600
ISO minimum100100
ISO maximum5120025600
Boosted ISO maximum164000025600
Maximum image resolution5568 x 3712 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
  • NEF
  • RAW
  • TIF
  • JPG
  • RAW
Photo effects
  • Black&White
  • Neutral
  • Vivid
  • Black&White
  • Neutral
  • Vivid
Image stabilizeryesno
Image stabilization typeNoNo
Supported aspect ratios4:316:9
Uncompressed formatRAW + TIFFRAW
HDRyesyes
AEB/HDR supportyesyes

Optics and focus

Nikon D500Nikon D500
Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Lens mountNikon FNikon F
Optical zoom5.0 x3.0 x
Magnification (Crop factor)1.5 x1.5 x
Maximum aperture2.82.8
AF assist (auto-focus assist light)LampLamp
Focus adjustmentAuto/ManualAuto
Contrast autofocusyesyes
Autofocus in recording modeyesyes
Focal length multiplier1.5x1.5x
AutofocusCenter
  • Continuous Auto Focus
  • Servo Auto Focus
  • Single Auto Focus
Auto Focus (AF) lockyesyes
Manual focusyesyes
Auto Focus (AF) points selectionManualAuto
Auto Focus (AF) assist beamyesyes
Number of focus points15311
Max number of AF points (incl. assistant)15311
Image stabiliserLens based onlyLens based only
Filter diameter2.83 in2.83 in
Phase detection autofocusyesyes

Screen and viewfinder

Nikon D500Nikon D500
Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Screen size3.2 in3.0 in
Articulated LCDyesyes
Screen technologyLCDLCD
Screen dots2359000921000
Touch screenyesno
Field of view100.0 %100.0 %
Live viewyesyes
ViewfinderOpticalOptical
Viewfinder coverage100.0 %95.0 %
Viewfinder magnification1.0 x0.78 x
Dioptre correctionyesyes
Diopter adjustment (D-D)-2 - 11.7 - 0.7
Eye relief0.63 in0.7 in
Separate info displayyesno

Photography features

Nikon D500Nikon D500
Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Shooting modes
  • Manual
  • Program
  • Shutter priority
  • Aperture priority
  • Auto
  • Manual
  • Movie
  • Program
  • Scene
  • Shutter priority
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
  • 2
  • 1/3
  • 1/2
Continuous shootingyesyes
Self-timer delay
  • 2
  • 5
  • 10
  • 20
  • 2
  • 5
  • 10
  • 20
AE frames
  • 2
  • 3
  • 5
  • 7
3
WB Bracketing
Yes
Yes
Subject / scene modesnoyes
Flash sync speed1/250s1/200s
Built-in flashyesyes
Flash modes
  • Auto
  • Flash OFF
  • Redeye Reduction
  • Flash OFF
  • Redeye Reduction
  • Slow Sync
External flash connectionHot shoeHot shoe
External flashyesyes
Continuous drive10.0 fps4.0 fps
Scene modes
  • Beach
  • Candlelight
  • Close-up
  • Night landscape
  • Night portrait
  • party
  • Portrait
  • Sunset
  • Landscape
  • 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
  • Highlight-weighted
  • Spot
  • Multi
  • Center-weighted
  • Spot
Manual settingsyesyes
Self-timer options
  • 2
  • 5
  • 10
  • 20
  • 2
  • 5
  • 10
  • 20
Speed (JPEG)10.0 fps4.0 fps
Speed (RAW)10.0 fps4.0 fps
Exposure bracketing0.3 - 1.0±EV0.3 - 0.5±EV

Videography features

Nikon D500Nikon D500
Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Maximum resolution3840 x 2160 px1920 x 1080 px
Video recordingyesyes
Recording resolutions
  • 1280 x 720
  • 1920 x 1080
  • 3840 x 2160
  • 640 x 424
  • 1280 x 720
  • 1920 x 1080
HD type4K Ultra HDFull HD
Supported video file formatsMOV
  • H.264
  • MOV
  • MPEG-4
Analog signal format systemNTSCNTSC
Camera playback
  • Highlights
  • Movie
  • Single image
  • Slide show
  • Highlights
  • Movie
  • Single image
  • Slide show
  • Thumbnails
Max resolution (highest frame rate)1920 x 10801920 x 1080
Max frame rate (highest resolution)30.0 fps30.0 fps
Max frame rate (regardless of res.)60.0 fps30.0 fps
Motion JPEG frame rate10.0 fps30.0 fps

Audio features

Nikon D500Nikon D500
Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Built-in microphoneyesyes
Microphone typeStereoMono
Audio systemStereoStereo
Supported audio file formatsPCMLPCM

Design

Nikon D500Nikon D500
Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Body typeSLRSLR
Body materialPlasticPlastic
Colour of productBlackBlack
Anti-dust systemyesyes
Environmentally sealedyesno

Dimensions

Nikon D500Nikon D500
Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Weight26.81 oz17.99 oz
Width5.79 in5.0 in
Height4.53 in3.8 in
Depth3.19 in3.1 in

Storage

Nikon D500Nikon D500
Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Compatible memory cards
  • MMC
  • SD
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
Dual memory card slotsyesyes
Memory slots21
Storage types
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
  • XQD
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
Camera file system
  • DCF 2.0
  • Exif 2.3
  • RAW
  • DCF 2.0
  • DPOF
  • Exif 2.3

Power

Nikon D500Nikon D500
Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Power source typeBatteryBattery
Battery life (CIPA)1240660
Battery technology
Lithium-Ion
Lithium-Ion
Number of batteries supported11
AC adapter includedYyes

Connectivity

Nikon D500Nikon D500
Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
HDMIyesyes
HDMI ports quantity11
HDMI connector typeMiniMini
USB version3.12.0
Microphone portyesyes
WirelessBuilt-InEye-Fi Connected
DC-in jackyesyes
Remote controlyesyes
PictBridgeyesyes
NFCyesno
Wireless network (Wi-Fi)yesyes
Bluetoothyesno
Firewirenono

Other features

Nikon D500Nikon D500
Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Timelapse recordingyesyes
GPSnono
Orientation sensornoyes
Energy Star certifiednono
Languages support
  • ARA
  • BEN
  • BUL
  • CHI
  • CHI
  • CZE
  • DAN
  • DEU
  • DUT
  • ENG
  • ESP
  • FIN
  • FRE
  • GRE
  • HUN
  • ITA
  • JPN
  • KOR
  • NOR
  • POL
  • POR
  • RUM
  • RUS
  • SER
  • SWE
  • THA
  • TUR
  • UKR
Multi
Tripod mounting supportedyesyes
Image editing modesTrimming
  • Resizing
  • Trimming

Pros & Cons

Pros
      Cons

          Often compared with Nikon D500

          Often compared with Nikon D5100