Nikon D5100 Announced and Priced, Available This Month
The Nikon D5100 will feature a resolution of 16.2 megapixels, full 1080/24p HD video recording with full-time autofocus, and a collection of new image effects. It will be available early this month at a kit price of $899.
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Nikon has officially unveiled its newest digital SLR, the D5100. The D5100 is the heir apparent to the D5000, with greater resolution, an improved tilting LCD screen, and increased ISO range.
The D5100 sits comfortably in Nikon's SLR lineup between the Nikon D7000 and D3100, drawing features in equal measure from both. The D5100 will borrow the D3100's EN-EL14 battery and charger, 11-point AF system (single center cross-type point sensor), shutter speed range (1/4000-30s), flash sync speed (1/200s), and use the same 420-pixel RGB 3D Color Matrix meter.
In addition, the D7000 will lend to the D5100 its 921k-dot LCD, 16.2-megapixel image sensor, ISO range (100-6400, expandable up to 25,600), and 3.5mm stereo mic input.
The D5100 also has a few unique points that will set it apart from the rest of Nikon's current DSLR lineup. It will feature a swing-out LCD, much like the D5000 before it. The screen has seen an increase in resolution and been re-designed to swivel to the side of the camera—much like Canon's 60D—in order to avoid obstructions caused by some tripod designs. The screen can also be turned inward to protect the screen and reversed so that your subject can see the shot as it's being recorded.
The change in the screen design has necessitated the movement of several of the buttons from the left side of the screen to elsewhere on the body, though this doesn't result in as much crowding as you might think. The only changes of note are on the top of the camera, with the addition of a dedicated movie record button and live view now triggered with a lever beside the mode dial.
The D5100 will shoot stills continuously at the same 4fps as the D5000. It will also be the first Nikon SLR to feature full HD video with constant autofocus at 30fps (with 24p and 25p options available).
The D5100 will not take on the Guide mode that the D3100 and D3000 share, instead offering an effects mode on the dial that will allow the user to select from one of several creative modes for both still and video recording. These include, among others, a Color Sketch, Selective Color, Miniature (tilt shift), and Night Vision mode.
Night vision may be the most intriguing mode on the new camera, offering the ability to shoot stills and videos up to the equivalent of 102,400 ISO. These will clearly be quite noisy images, with Nikon describing the effect as "gritty" when applied during video recording.
The D5100 will also feature in-camera high dynamic range shooting, with the ability to create a composite image from two stills shot at up to +/- 3 EV.
In terms of size the D5100 is just a hair larger than the D3100, with the dimensions of the body (width x height x depth, weight without battery, lens, or memory card) following as given by Nikon:
Nikon D3100: 4.9'' x 3.8'' x 2.9'', 455g (16oz)
Nikon D5100: 5.0'' x 3.8'' 3.1'', 510g (18oz)
Nikon D7000: 5.2'' x 4.1'' x 3.0'', 690g (24.4oz)
The D5100 will be available early this month and debuts at an estimated price of $899 for the body and AF-S DX Zoom-NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR lens. This sits right between the D3100 (approx. $649 for body and lens) and D7000 (approx. $1299 for body and 18-105mm lens). This interestingly leaves Nikon with only the aging D3000 in the sub-$600 price window.
Nikon is also releasing a new accessory for its SLR lineup, the ME-1 stereo mic, pictured above. The ME-1 will attach via the hot shoe and plug into the 3.5mm external mic jack on the D5100. It is also supported by the Nikon D7000, D300s, D3s, and the Coolpix P7000 and will retail for $179.
For the full specifications on the Nikon D5100, please click here.
MELVILLE, N.Y. (April 5, 2011) – Today, Nikon announced the new 16.2-megapixel Nikon D5100 Digital SLR designed for those ready to artistically express themselves and need a versatile camera that can keep pace creatively. The Nikon D5100 D-SLR houses a host of new and innovative features aimed at giving photographers the tools to shatter creative constraints and tell stories with amazing image quality and stunning HD movies.
The Nikon D5100 includes features designed to enhance the shooting experience, including an impressive new 3-inch, super sharp 921,000-dot Vari-angle LCD screen and full HD (1080p) movie recording with full-time autofocus. The 16.2-megapixel D5100 is also the first Nikon D-SLR to provide in-camera effects that can be applied to both photos and movies to deliver even more creative expression.
“Now more than ever, consumers want to pack only one device with them when travelling on excursions both far away and close to home,” said Lisa Osorio, general manager of marketing at Nikon Inc. “By providing consumers with a simple path to creative freedom for both stills and movies, the Nikon D5100 is designed to become an essential camera for capturing all of life’s occasions.”
Price and Availability
The D5100 D-SLR camera will be available throughout the United States beginning mid April 2011 at an estimated selling price* of $799.95 for the body only, and $899.95 for the body and lens outfit that includes the AF-S DX Zoom-NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR lens. The new Nikon ME-1 microphone will be available in April 2011, and will retail at an estimated selling price* of $179.95. For more information, please visit www.nikonusa.com.
*Estimated selling price listed only as a suggestion. Actual prices are set by dealers and are subject to change at any time
(For the full press release, please visit http://www.nikonusa.com)
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