Nikon, the popular choice for a lot of professional as well as amateur photographers has today announced its newest addition – the D5100 which promises premium imaging at an affordable price.
The new D5100 is built around the same 16.2MP APS-C sensor used in the D7000 allowing the D5100 to capture 1080p HD video at either 24fps, 25fps or 30fps with continuous autofocus. The D5100 is also 220g lighter than the D7000 and retains the same 3” LCD screen with 921k dots.
Being a cheaper alternative to the D7000, you’d expect it to lack some features seen in that model – and you’d be right. With the D5100 you get a simpler Nikon Multi-CAM1000 which has 11 autofocus sensors, compared with the D7000’s Multi-CAM4800 DX TTL which has 39, and also the pentamirror viewfinder on the D5100 on has 95% coverage and 0.78x magnification.
Also one other big difference between the two models is that the D5100 lacks the built in AF motor which will mean that legacy Nikkor and other 3rd party lenses which don’t have AF built into the lens won’t be compatible with the DSLR.
The new D5100 will be available mid-April and for the body only will cost $800 (around £500) which happens to be about $400 (around £240) cheaper than the D7000. Optionally there is also the 18-55 VR kit lens available for an extra $100 (around £61).
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