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$679

Conclusion: We like it

The Nikon D5100 is a great midrange DSLR, which can shoot sharp stills and HD video. It performs well in low-light situations, has an articulating LCD display for easier live-view shooting, and even includes some novel special effects, such as "night vision" mode, which boosts its sensitivity for those times when you must shoot in almost complete darkness. While much of its functionality is now available in smaller and more user-friendly interchangeable-lens compacts, it's still well worth considering as an option if you're upgrading from a point-and-shoot and want full control over your images and a wide choice of lenses.

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Critic reviews

8.2
5 reviews
  • Image quality
    8.4
  • Video quality
    8.0
  • Battery life
  • Design and form factor
    6.9
  • Durability
    8.0
  • Speed (start-up time, lag)
    6.9
  • Ease of use
    7.1

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User reviews

8.8
11 reviews

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9.0
PC Mag Jun 2, 2011

The Nikon D5100 offers a fantastic mix of still-image and video-recording quality, along with plenty of features including top-notch in-camera effects. This well-rounded shooter is an easy Editors' Choice for under-$1,000 D-SLRs.

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8.0
CNET Apr 8, 2011

Though it doesn't rank first based on any individual aspect of the camera, the Nikon D5100 delivers a solid combination of image quality, performance, features, and design that puts it out in front if you're looking for a well-rounded option under $1,000.

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8.0
Macworld Jun 14, 2011

A solid option for photographers looking for a highly-capable yet (fairly) user-friendly sub-$1,000 DSLR. Although it doesn’t have all the bells, whistles, and speed of the D7000, the D5100 delivers an excellent feature set and image quality that rivals or exceeds the competition.

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8.0
Pocket-Lint Apr 27, 2011

Low light performance, control over ISO noise and focusing is impressive for this level of camera. Overall the D5100 presents a reasonable upgrade for D5000 users and will get novices and more experienced photographers great results.

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9.0
ryancash

Loving the D5100 so far! Should have bought a digital SLR a long time ago! Sometimes I regret not spending the extra few hundred dollars for a D7000, as it's more durable and feature rich, but overall I'm happy with my purchase and think it made sense as a first "real" camera purchase. I'll...

9.0
araknd

This is my first DSLR, but not my first Nikon SLR. It has a great feel to the body, but not overly heavy. The image quality was apparent immediately upon taking the first test shots and my wife commented immediately also.

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