Pixiq

London April 5^th: The Nikon Corporation has announced its latest enthusiat-oriented D-SLR camera, the D5100, which will replace the D5000. The new model incorporates the same 16.2-million pixel DX-format (16 x 24 mm) sensor as the highly acclaimed D7000, within a body that retains the fundamental profile and styling of the D5000. The swiveling LCD monitor screen is now hinged from the left side of the camera rather than the bottom as on the D5000, plus it has a 920K-dot resolution compared with the 233K-dot resolution of its predecessor, and offers a 100% view of the recorded image (the optical viewfinder is restricted to a 95% view).

Other new features include an in-camera HDR (High Dynamic Range) function, enhanced video specifications with frame rates of 30/25/24 fps available at both 1080p and 720p resolutions, plus an option to connect an external microphone, a new shutter design tested to 100,000 cycles that has the Quiet shutter mode option of the D7000; the maximum shutter speed is 1/4000-second and the quickest frame rate is 4 fps. A Special Effects feature that integrates options from the Retouch menu, such as Color Sketch and Miniature, and applies them as you shoot both stills and video, and there is also a Night Vision option that boosts sensitivity to an effective ISO of 102,400 for stills and video. The D5100 has a normal ISO range of 100-6400, extendable to 2-stops above at the Hi-2 setting (equivalent to ISO25,600). Otherwise the feature set of the D5100 is essentially the same as the D5000, including the same Multi-CAM1000 AF sensor with 11-point autofocus, and 420-pixel RGB sensor for TTL metering.

D5100 Key features:

• A 16.2-milion (effective) pixel DX-size (23.6 x 15.6mm) CMOS sensor (the same as that of the D7000), with a pixel pitch of 4.78µm
• Nikon's EXPEED 2 image processing technology, including 14-bits per color analog-to-digital conversions and 16-bits per color digital image processing
• JPEG, RAW and RAW+JPEG file format options. 
• A buffer capacity at ISO100, as derived from Nikon's own testing with a Toshiba 8GB UHS-1 SDHC card, which is rated by Toshiba as having a maximum write speed of 80MB/s), as follows:

1. JPEG (all resolutions and compression settings): 100 frames
2. RAW: 16 frames
3. RAW+ JPEG (Large size, Fine compression): 10 frames

• A standard ISO range of 100-6400 (extended range of ISO 100-25,600), plus Auto ISO
• All-new shutter tested to 100,000 cycles with a maximum frame rate of 4fps; shutter speed range of 30-seconds to 1/4000, in 1/3 or 1/2 EV steps, plus Bulb, plus a top flash sync of 1/200 with either the built-in flash, or an external Speedlight. 
• A 420-pixel RGB sensor, which handles both ambient and flash metering (same as D5000)
• An 11-area Multi-CAM 1000 autofocus system (same as D5000)
• An ‘Ambient’ option in Auto WB, for warmer rendering of pictures captured in naturally warm light
• A built-in flash with coverage for an 18mm lens, and i-TTL exposure control; however it offers no support for wireless TTL flash control (Commander mode)
• Viewfinder coverage of 95%
• A variable angle, 3-inch (diagonal), 921,000-dot LCD monitor screen
• Video recording at 1080p at 24/25/30fps, or 720p at 24/25/30fps, or 640 x 424 pixels at 25/30fps, with a maximum recording time of approximately 20-minutes. Video files are saved with H.264/MPEG-4 encoding in a .mov container file. Audio recording is via either the built-in mono microphone, or an external microphone connected to a 3.5mm stereo jack.
• The recording level can be controlled automatically, or set manually to one of three levels.
• An in-camera HDR feature enables two successive exposures to be made in quick succession before merging them together. The degree of exposure difference between the two frames can be selected from a step of 1, 2 or 3EV, plus there is a smoothing option that provides limited control over the tone mapping of the resulting image. The Active D-Lighting function can be combined with the HDR feature to, potentially, achieve an even wider dynamic range.
• A new Special Effects mode enables a range of effects to be applied as either stills pictures or movies are recorded. Options include Selective Color, Color Sketch, Miniature and Night Vision, the latter providing an ISO equivalent of 102,400.
• Support for SD, SDHC and SDXC memory card types, including the UHS-I standard, a quicker data transfer protocol defined in the SD 3.x specification that is being used increasingly in SDHC and SDXC cards from the likes of Kingston, Panasonic, SanDisk, Toshiba and others.
• Support for Eye-Fi wireless SD memory cards. Note that camera power must remain active while the card transmits data, a transfer icon appears on the rear LCD to indicate transfer status; card transmission can be enabled and disabled via the camera menu system.
• Power is provided by the EN-EL14 (7.4V/1030mAh) rechargeable Li-ion battery (the same as the D3100 and P7000: it is charged by the supplied MH-24 Battery Charger. Apparently there are no plans to introduce an optional battery grip for the D5100.
• A USB 2.0 interface, remote accessory terminal for the Nikon MC-DC1 Remote Release cable and Nikon GP-1 GPS unit (there is no 10-pin remote port or PC sync socket), plus a CEC-compatible Type-C mini pin HDMI connector. The D5100 can be operated via the Nikon ML-L3 Wireless Remote Control and has infrared receivers on the front and rear panels (same as the D7000) for this purpose.
• Body dimensions are 5.0W x 3.8H x 3.1D inches (128 × 97 × 79 mm) (approx); weight with the battery and memory card is approximately 1.2 lb (560 g). 

Initial Observations

All manufacturers of digital SLR cameras continue to develop their products with incremental improvements to imaging sensors, and incorporation of more and more advanced capabilities for both stills picture and video recording. In this respect the Nikon D5100 is no exception, since it is the company’s first digital SLR to capture video at 30fps at a resolution of 1080p (previous models are limited to 24fps at this resolution), offer an in-camera HDR feature and allow special effects processing to be applied in real time when recording either stills or video. It will also be interesting to see whether Nikon have been able to improve the continuous focusing capability during video recording, which uses a phase detection AF system, as in my opinion the feature is of little if any practical use on other Nikon digital SLR cameras with this ability.

As appealing as these new features may be it is at the core of the new camera, the now proven 16.2-million pixel sensor, as used in the D7000, which promises much in terms of the image quality can be expected. Presumably it will be possible to obtain an image quality from the D5100 that is at least comparable to its highly regarded sibling in a camera that is smaller, lighter and cheaper. Combined with its more flexible video recording specification the D5100 will undoubtably appeal to those looking to upgrade their current digital SLR and will probably draw attention from those photographers seeking a backup camera.

However, for the latter group it is important to understand that the D5100 is a camera designed to fulfil specific niche in the market, consequently it lacks a number of features that many advanced and professional photographers would likely consider essential for a camera to be used in that backup role. For example, with flash sync restricted to a maximum shutter speed of 1/200-second and no support for Auto FP High Speed Sync, or wireless control of remote Speedlights from the built-in Speedlight, the flash capabilities of the new camera are limited. Likewise the rather modest top frame rate (4 fps) and buffer memory capacity, together with the limited frame coverage of the 11-point AF system will, potentially, prove to be restrictive for some. By comparison the D7000 offers a significantly higher level of functionality: 39-point AF, a higher maximum frame rate, twin SD card slots, Auto FP High Speed Sync, built-in wireless TTL flash control, longer life battery, enhanced build quality with better weather sealing, compatibility with the WT-4/WT-4a transmitter, support for non-CPU Nikkor lenses and more, which will justify its higher cost to the more demanding user.

The decision to place the hinge for the variable angle LCD monitor screen on the left side of the rear panel has resulted in the external control buttons normally found in this location being repositioned. Since an array of buttons down the left side of the rear monitor screen is common to all other Nikon digital SLR cameras, the new button configuration will have a direct impact on the handling characteristics of the D5100.  For a start it will no longer be possible to operator control button with your left hand, rotate the command dial with your left thumb, while keeping your eye to the viewfinder.  Another important control that has been shifted is the single switch for Live View/D-Movie mode, which is now located on the top plate of the camera, on a collar below the mode dial. For those upgrading to the new camera and using it in isolation it will just be a matter of becoming familiar with the layout; however, shooting with the D5100 alongside one, or more other Nikon digital SLR cameras is likely to cause disruption to the user’s cognitive processes.

The proof of all this and more will come when production samples become available for testing…

Price & Availability

The D5100 is expected to ship during the second half of April 2011, with Nikon UK quoting availability from the 21^st.

 Price for body only (US, UK, Europe):

US$799.95 / £669.99 / €777.00

Price for body with DX 18-55mm VR lens (US, UK, Europe):

US$899.95 / £779.99 / €904.00

© Simon Stafford (2011)