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That bloody D5100.......

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Andrew Ellis

Andrew Ellis

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I purchased a D5100 a few months ago pecifically for a trip I wnet on so I could travel light. Didn't want to take the D3 or D300 with pro glass, as this was supposed to be a break not a photo trip, so the D5100 coupled with my 18-200 seemed the perfect couple.

Trouble is, I had intended to sell the D5100 to a guy a t work on my return who would have bought it at near 90% of the price I paid, but try as I might, I just cant seem to have the heart to sell this little fella.

Whilst ergonomics, focussing and build quality are nothing like it's more expensive cousins, there's just something about the 5100 that I love. It's small and light (certainly compared with carrying a D3 around all day), and that sensor is just sublime. I'ts certainly much better than the D300, and not far behind the D3 in terms of high ISO (maybe a stop or so), which for a DX camera is nothing short of incredible.

The articulated screen is a joy to behold, and the 1080P movies captured are great and detailed. I'm not a videographer so having full manual control doesn't bother me.

Most of all though, with it's creative modes and special effects, it's put the fun back into photography for me. Yes the pro bodies still have their place, and I would probably only still use them for paid gigis, but for 90% of my personal "hobby" photography, the little D5100 does really well. Stick the 24-70 F2.8, 70-200 F2.8 VR II or 300mm F4 AFS in front of it, and those 16mp's really pop.

I would certainly recommened anyone who's lost their fun factor to get one of these little beauties, it forces you to not take things too seriously and enjoy your photography. Well done Nikon, just what the doctor ordered.
--
Lets make pictures, not war........
 
Andrew Ellis said:
I purchased a D5100 a few months ago pecifically for a trip I wnet on so I could travel light. Didn't want to take the D3 or D300 with pro glass, as this was supposed to be a break not a photo trip, so the D5100 coupled with my 18-200 seemed the perfect couple.

Trouble is, I had intended to sell the D5100 to a guy a t work on my return who would have bought it at near 90% of the price I paid, but try as I might, I just cant seem to have the heart to sell this little fella.

Whilst ergonomics, focussing and build quality are nothing like it's more expensive cousins, there's just something about the 5100 that I love. It's small and light (certainly compared with carrying a D3 around all day), and that sensor is just sublime. I'ts certainly much better than the D300, and not far behind the D3 in terms of high ISO (maybe a stop or so), which for a DX camera is nothing short of incredible.

The articulated screen is a joy to behold, and the 1080P movies captured are great and detailed. I'm not a videographer so having full manual control doesn't bother me.

Most of all though, with it's creative modes and special effects, it's put the fun back into photography for me. Yes the pro bodies still have their place, and I would probably only still use them for paid gigis, but for 90% of my personal "hobby" photography, the little D5100 does really well. Stick the 24-70 F2.8, 70-200 F2.8 VR II or 300mm F4 AFS in front of it, and those 16mp's really pop.

I would certainly recommened anyone who's lost their fun factor to get one of these little beauties, it forces you to not take things too seriously and enjoy your photography. Well done Nikon, just what the doctor ordered.
--
Lets make pictures, not war........
Click to expand...
The great thing about it is that you start to take pictures from angles and positions you
normaly dont take them from because your old backbone doesnt allow you to......
 
Ha ha, you know me well then , very true :-)
--
Lets make pictures, not war........
 
Thanks for those comments. I was originally going for the 600d but the more I read the more I am convinced it is going to be the 5100. Was very close to chosing the Nex-5n but there is a lot of stories popping up now about overheating and rattles or clicking noises appearing. Having the inbuilt intervalometer is another big plus for me with the 5100 as well.
 
I think thats why I never upgraded to a more "I'm a pro" body, and I don't even have the 5100. I do have the D40, D40x and 5000 though, and photography is just fun, with some great IQ.

Put the 35 1.8 on that 5100 ...and see how fun that is!!!

John
Andrew Ellis said:
I purchased a D5100 a few months ago pecifically for a trip I wnet on so I could travel light. Didn't want to take the D3 or D300 with pro glass, as this was supposed to be a break not a photo trip, so the D5100 coupled with my 18-200 seemed the perfect couple.

Trouble is, I had intended to sell the D5100 to a guy a t work on my return who would have bought it at near 90% of the price I paid, but try as I might, I just cant seem to have the heart to sell this little fella.

Whilst ergonomics, focussing and build quality are nothing like it's more expensive cousins, there's just something about the 5100 that I love. It's small and light (certainly compared with carrying a D3 around all day), and that sensor is just sublime. I'ts certainly much better than the D300, and not far behind the D3 in terms of high ISO (maybe a stop or so), which for a DX camera is nothing short of incredible.

The articulated screen is a joy to behold, and the 1080P movies captured are great and detailed. I'm not a videographer so having full manual control doesn't bother me.

Most of all though, with it's creative modes and special effects, it's put the fun back into photography for me. Yes the pro bodies still have their place, and I would probably only still use them for paid gigis, but for 90% of my personal "hobby" photography, the little D5100 does really well. Stick the 24-70 F2.8, 70-200 F2.8 VR II or 300mm F4 AFS in front of it, and those 16mp's really pop.

I would certainly recommened anyone who's lost their fun factor to get one of these little beauties, it forces you to not take things too seriously and enjoy your photography. Well done Nikon, just what the doctor ordered.
--
Lets make pictures, not war........
Click to expand...
--
http://www.wanderinground.wordpress.com
http://www.pbase.com/happypoppeye

It's almost all opinion folks, gonna have to deal with it...
 
When I had a D70, I was very careful to try to get the exposure right because, even though I shot mostly NEFs, there wasn't much recoverable detail in shadows or highlights if I over- or underexposed.

With the amazing sensor of the D5100, I don't CARE if the images are too dark or light. I have so much latitude in Photoshop to recover data that I just concentrate on composing the shot, rather than wasting time worrying about exposure adjustments.

Kudos to Nikon. This is one sweet camera.

Phil
 
I have been a extremely happy d300s user and recently purchased a d5100 for travel purposes and general all round lighter camera to take out with the kid etc.

I absolutely still think the d300s is incredible for its ergonomics and focusing accuracy and speed - simply awesome for this but the d5100 is just fantastic - the high iso capablilities are way beyond what i was expecting after having used the d300s for over a year. I was taking iso2000 pictures and getting results yesterday that i would never have dreamed of attempting with the d300s. Also the weight of the d5100 is amazing light compared to the 300.

Definitely worth having both for differenct purposes but as value for money goes the d5100 is awesome !
 
Hi guys,

I am a VERY happy owner of a 5 100 for 7 weeks now.

Paid 900 $ Us with kit lens. The camera can do everything (except making phone calls), subject moving, bad light, both of it - the 5 100 just laughs about it.

Once you got used to it, the menues are easy to use, change of settings can be done fast.

Ok, I like to let the camera do the technical part, so for B&W plus coloration or vivid, standart etc my favorite camera would have sep.dials for this - no camera I know has this anyway.

You can point and shoot and always get excellent quality.

You can customize a lot of settings without big hassle.

It is small and light, no problem to carry the kit around. The next "step-" cameras (step means more "price" than quality) would have double the weight.

A few years ago you would have spend 10 times that money and the camera would not be able to do half of what the 5 100 can do.

The 5100 costs ap. 7 % of a Leica M 9 (ap. same weight!!)

Although the 5 100 is my first "Big Gun" after Lumix 28 and 40/45 I see no reason for an upgrade maybe for decades. Next step will be photoshop and digital arts, that will keep me busy for years.

It's like buying a Steinway and you know you will never reach the limit of the tool

Happy man Heiner
 
You need to run out & get the 35 1.8 for $199 while it is in stock. There is a good reason why it may be Nikon's #2-3 best seller. It may fall when the sore needs to backorder more.

Turns the 5100 into a sleek fast shooter with the 1.8. Let your feet be the zoom. See how quick a shooter the camera becomes. Set the camera for silent operation and be sneaky fast & quick.

From another post it appears the 50 1.8 for $219 is another sweet lens with a little more range than the 35. Seem to be more difficult to find in stores.
 
Ha ...don't know if you have to run out now, with the lenses you already have, but I do agree, and it will work on FF also...

I love the combo, a few from the 35 and a Dmini - maybe not the best, but man, it is a fun combo:



























:)
GlennW said:
You need to run out & get the 35 1.8 for $199 while it is in stock. There is a good reason why it may be Nikon's #2-3 best seller. It may fall when the sore needs to backorder more.

Turns the 5100 into a sleek fast shooter with the 1.8. Let your feet be the zoom. See how quick a shooter the camera becomes. Set the camera for silent operation and be sneaky fast & quick.

From another post it appears the 50 1.8 for $219 is another sweet lens with a little more range than the 35. Seem to be more difficult to find in stores.
Click to expand...
--
http://www.wanderinground.wordpress.com
http://www.pbase.com/happypoppeye

It's almost all opinion folks, gonna have to deal with it.

Equipment: 1 Finger, an eye, a camera body and 50mm (equivalent) lens, half a brain, and a lot of money leftover to spend on using that equipment
 
wow, amazing pictures, all of them.
 
Hi,

There is a common theme here that whenever someone is considering replacing their D40, the cries go up – buy the new camera but keep the D40! As a D300s (and D40) user, who wants a second, light body, is the D5100 a good enough replacement (measured solely by IQ at low ISO – I know it is at high ISO)?

--
J.

http://jules7.smugmug.com/
 
I would say yes FOR SURE. I will disclose--I don't own the D5100, haven't used it, but I would say given that it's better than the D5000 in most respects, which is itself better than the D40 (12mp, low noise at ISO 1600 a la the D300, 11 autofocus sensors, many other features), how could it NOT be?

No disrespect meant, the D40 is far & away not a lemon, but why it's regarded here as a sacred cow to be held on to even if you currently have a D5100, D7000, and D3x is totally beyond me. If you never upgraded to start with because it's always been plenty and there's no point in buying something else you don't really need, sure--that makes perfect 100% sense. But if you're holding on to it because you have a family friend getting into photography starting out or your wife wants to use an SLR but a D7000 type is overkill, yes it's great for that--but then again, so is a D40x or a D3000, for that matter. If you have a D300s or D7000 but at times the D40 is great for more "casual" situations, again that makes sense--but in like manner, again, so does holding on to a D3000 or D60 either for the same reason.

---
LRH
http://www.pbase.com/larrytucaz
{ http://larrytxeast.smugmug.com/ (inactive) }
 
After comparing my D40 with my D5100, I'm selling my D40 because I don't see any reason to take it out any more instead of the D5100. Sad but true. Same size and weight. Keeping the D40 as a backup makes sense for someone else but not for me as a camera I'd take out instead of my D5000/5100/7000.

As far as the OPs opening statement, how much did you have to struggle to ignore the D5100's "inferior" ergonomics/focusing/build quality. Did its competence finally win you over or did you just decide that, indeed, the D5100's ergonomics/focusing/build quality were actually pretty nice after all?
 
Some very nice shots, but that bike picture should be on your wall.
 
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