Looking into a Nikon D5100

Roo · Mar 17, 2013

I've been lurking around here for a few days and I know some peoples opinion on getting a camera i wont "grow out of" right away, which I would really enjoy but I don't have the budget for that at the moment. I've been using a Canon powershot ELPH 300HS and i'm actually quite happy with the results, for a camera i got brand new for free haha Only downside is the low light results are terrible. I need something that will do better under those situations because I have a couple sugar gliders that I would like to show off, but they are quick and nocturnal so my camera just isn't getting the job done. Will the D5100 do them justice?

Now I know im not a photographer, but I do enjoy getting quality results from my adventures that I can look at and be proud of.

A few of my examples are here. Some I would say are decent and some are just terrible, ignore those

Anyways, I guess my real question is, do you think the camera i'm looking at will get the job done for what I need it for? Low light situations, and fast enough to make my gliders not as noisy and blurry? Or should I wait and save for something more suitable?

kevinglover · Mar 17, 2013

Hi Roo,

I think you could actually drop down to a D3100 and save quite a bit of money. If I could recommend anything, it would be buying a body-only D3100 and then picking up a 35mm f1.8 somewhere - I think you'd get a lot better results than with the kit lens. For things like what you are looking into doing, I think that option could save you some money and you'd still get the results you want! I don't think you'd miss the extra features of the D5100, though. Depends what your budget is like

MyHobby · Mar 17, 2013

I bought mine as a x-mas gift to myself and love it. I haven't used it a lot but every one is envious because of the small frame size. I'm no pro so my pictures will not be good proof to show.

Roo · Mar 17, 2013

Well my budget is perfect for the 5100, and i figure why not? I will get what I need (I hope) and still have room to explore. I do thoroughly enjoy photography, but I wont call myself a photographer with my point and shoot and limited knowledge. But I would really like to learn more about it, and the 5100 seems like a common camera for people to start with.

Does the 3100 handle the low light situations better or were you just thinking about keeping my costs low? Either way I really appreciate your help

Edit: MyHobby! Could i see some of your pictures?

My friend has a 5100 and sadly her pictures arent even turning out as good as my results from my elph! Im not sure if she just doesnt know how to use her camera, or is it difficult to get the hang of?

ABJayce · Mar 18, 2013

I have a few bodies and the D5100 is one of them. I love it, use it for my videos and some photo assignments. Flickr: ArtsbyJayce's Photostream you can see some of my photos there. I don't really use flickr but the ones taken with the D5100 are labeled

KmH · Mar 18, 2013

Flickr: Nikon D5100
Flickr: The Nikon D5100 Pool
Flickr: Nikon D5100 Users
Flickriver: Most interesting photos from NIKON D5100 - Official group. pool

BunnyHugger · Mar 18, 2013

Roo said:
Well my budget is perfect for the 5100, and i figure why not? I will get what I need (I hope) and still have room to explore. I do thoroughly enjoy photography, but I wont call myself a photographer with my point and shoot and limited knowledge. But I would really like to learn more about it, and the 5100 seems like a common camera for people to start with.

Does the 3100 handle the low light situations better or were you just thinking about keeping my costs low? Either way I really appreciate your help

Edit: MyHobby! Could i see some of your pictures? My friend has a 5100 and sadly her pictures arent even turning out as good as my results from my elph! Im not sure if she just doesnt know how to use her camera, or is it difficult to get the hang of?

Right off the bat Roo, lets just say that I am not a photographer either. I have been looking into buting a DSLR because of a similar experience you have with an aim - and - shoot.

I have looked at a number of things and visited many websites and forums. One thing I have got from a number is simply, get the best camera you can for the money you have and if possible, don't get old technology.

The D3100 is old technology. I have compared this camera to the D3200, D200, D5100, D90 and several others including the Canon offerings.

My point is (advice) simple. I like the technical specs of the D5100 even though the D3200 has a faster processor. The D5100 has higher ISO boost than any other DSLR I have looked at and it is, in my opinion, a fine camera.

Having said that, a lot of the poeple I have spoken to, day: "Get the best leses you can afford."

The kit lenses that come with the D5100 bundle are Ok. Not Great, just OK.

Hope that helps you. I am still strongly considering this buy even though I can get a 550D Canon for a good price second hand. Even though the Canon is a great deal cheaper, it doesn't rank as highly as the D5100 and I had a recent good look at the lens quality between the two. And this alone makes me think I must bite the bullet and got with the Nikon.

Most of my pictures will be taken in broad daylight (The harsh African sun) so even the high ISO boost is not something that should make me consider the D5100 as a serious contender.

I suggest you ask your friend to read the manual and then go out together and try different things. Maybe said friend is doing something wrong to produce below average pictures.

kevinglover · Mar 18, 2013

Hey Roo, echoing what Bunny said the D5100 is a better low-light camera. If your budget can handle it, definitely go for the D5100! That's the camera I have actually

But I would still definitely recommend buying a lens with a nice, low F-stop to either replace or complement the kit lens - that'll make the biggest difference with low-light conditions. Something like this:

Nikon 35mm f/1.8G AF-S DX Nikkor Lens for DSLR Cameras - USA Warranty 2183

hirejn · Mar 18, 2013

This is a common question, which is why I try to educate people that it's not the camera that takes great pictures. The most important tool in photography is six inches behind the camera -- your brain. Cameras do little in the way of taking great images. They need great photographers to drive them. Cameras provide file quality and features, but don't confuse file quality with photographic quality, and don't confuse features with better photography. The D5100 is plenty for you if you're a beginner. Get out of the mindset that you need equipment. Get into the mindset that you need to learn photography. That's the only way to improve. The only part of low light photography a camera can improve is the noise in the file. If you're stepping up from a pocket cam to a DSLR, the camera offers improved focus and shutter response, but you're not doing anything the D5100 can't handle. The better you get, the more you will realize it's not the gear but it's what you're doing that makes the difference. Every time you think you need better gear, take a look at what Ansel Adams used. I wouldn't want to deprive you of the fun of a D4, but if you're not ready for it, it'd be more of a disappointment than a help. I could help you more with low-light photography if you elaborate on what you're doing.

Roo · Mar 18, 2013

Thanks everyone for the advice

Ill look into getting another lens to go along with the kit lens!

Hirejn,
I want to be able to get pictures of my sugar gliders so I can actually see their details without having the lights all the way up and without using flash, as some people say it can damage their eyes. They are also fast little critters and with my point and shoot they get scared and freeze long enough for me to focus then dart away right as the pictures being taken haha
But I would like the camera as a learning tool as well, not just for low light pictures, but that is a major reason behind the upgrade.

My (attempt at) Glider pictures.
Image 1
Image 2
Image 3

Instastitch · Mar 18, 2013

I am also considering buying the D5100, I know everyone screams higher megapixels, but can anyone give me real good reasons not to get the D90?
Don't lower megapixels do better in lower lighting? I have been reading up on DSLR's (Nikon, Cannon and Sony Alpha's) for 2 weeks, as I am a Android cell phone pic user atm.
I guess I should mention that I do intend on using this camera for skateboarding photography as well as portraits/friends weddings (note: my profile pic was taken from a Nikon 3100)

I will be buying the body only, with 2 lenses

Amazon.com: Nikon 50mm f/1.8D AF Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras: NIKON: Camera & Photo

not sure yet on the other..

BunnyHugger · Mar 19, 2013

Instastitch said:
I am also considering buying the D5100, I know everyone screams higher megapixels, but can anyone give me real good reasons not to get the D90?
Don't lower megapixels do better in lower lighting? I have been reading up on DSLR's (Nikon, Cannon and Sony Alpha's) for 2 weeks, as I am a Android cell phone pic user atm.
I guess I should mention that I do intend on using this camera for skateboarding photography as well as portraits/friends weddings (note: my profile pic was taken from a Nikon 3100)

I will be buying the body only, with 2 lenses

Amazon.com: Nikon 50mm f/1.8D AF Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras: NIKON: Camera & Photo

not sure yet on the other..

The human eye cannot really distinguish between 16 and 18 Mpix so as far as I can tell Mpix is not the big thing. A 5 Mpix camera with a great lens can produce a better image than a 10 mpix camera with a poor lens. I'm not up to speed on less Mpix needing less light or more Mpix needing less light. The write up I read on the D5100 says images can be compared to D7000 cameras costing a fair bit more.

Images are about good lenses, good composition, the crispness of the shot and a whole buncha stuff I am yet to learn. Processing comes into it and newer DSLR cameras have better and better processors. I doubt you could tell much with a naked eye, the difference between an 18 and a 24 Mpix camera.

The Nikon D5100 though,seems to me to have a lot to offer and I think its a great buy.