Nikon D100 vs Nikon D50

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D100 compared with D50

	NikonD100	NikonD50
Overview
Released
Released	June 2002	2005
Image and sensor
Camera type
Camera type	DSLR	DSLR
Sensor format
Sensor format	APS-C	APS-C
Sensor type
Sensor type	CCD	CCD
Sensor dimensions
Sensor dimensions	23.7 × 15.6 mm	23.7 × 15.6 mm
Effective resolution
Effective resolution	6.1 MP	6.1 MP
Largest image
Largest image	3008 × 2000	3008 × 2000
RAW recording
RAW recording	Yes	Yes
Standard ISO range
Standard ISO range	200–1600	200–1600
Sensor detail
Sensor detail	23.7 × 15.6 mm RGB CCD, 6.1 million effective and 6.31 million total pixels; 12-bit sampling. Optical low-pass filter, with cleaning mirror lock requiring optional EH-5 mains adapter	Nikon DX CCD with 6.1 million effective and 6.24 million total pixels; approximately 1.5× lens focal-length equivalent; Image Dust Off reference data for optional Nikon Capture correction
Image formats
Image formats	Uncompressed or lossless-compressed 12-bit NEF RAW; uncompressed TIFF-RGB; JPEG Fine/Normal/Basic. Three colour modes for sRGB or Adobe RGB, adjustable sharpening, tone and hue; no simultaneous RAW/JPEG mode	Compressed 12-bit NEF RAW, JPEG and simultaneous RAW plus Basic JPEG; maximum 3008 × 2000 pixels; Image Optimisation settings
ISO detail
ISO detail	Standard ISO 200–1600 in one-third stops; Hi-1 and Hi-2 approximately ISO 3200 and 6400; automatic ISO control available	ISO 200–1600 in whole stops
Image processor
Image processor	High-speed image processing using a single-chip system LSI; no EXPEED designation in original maker sheet	–
Lens and shooting
Lens mount
Lens mount	Nikon F mount	Nikon F mount
Stabilisation
Stabilisation	Optical lens stabilisation	Optical lens stabilisation
Maximum continuous burst
Maximum continuous burst	3 fps	2.5 fps
Lens detail
Lens detail	Nikon F mount with autofocus coupling and contacts; body autofocus motor. G/D AF Nikkor, other compatible AF lenses and AI-P supported with restrictions; non-CPU lenses only in M with no exposure meter. Current US page also claims AI metering and A mode, conflicting with its own non-CPU entry and original manual; original manual compatibility controls. E-type lenses incompatible	Body autofocus motor supports compatible AF NIKKOR lenses, including type G and D; AF-S lenses also supported. Other AF NIKKOR lenses lose 3D matrix metering; non-CPU lenses require manual exposure without metering; IX and F3AF lenses unsupported; E-type lenses incompatible according to current Nikon USA specification
Autofocus
Autofocus	Nikon Multi-CAM900 TTL phase detection; five selectable areas, single-area or dynamic AF with closest-subject priority; single/continuous servo and predictive tracking; -1 to +19 EV at ISO 100, 20°C; AF-assist illuminator	Multi-CAM 900 phase-detection module; five selectable focus areas; -1 to +19 EV at ISO 100 equivalent, 20°C; AF-S/AF-C/AF-A and manual focus, single-area, dynamic-area and closest-subject-priority modes; AF-assist illuminator. Current US page lists Face-Priority AF, absent from the original manual specification; no face-detection capability inferred
Shutter
Shutter	Electronically controlled vertical-travel focal-plane shutter, 1/4000 to 30 seconds plus Bulb; flash synchronisation up to 1/180 second. Optional mirror anti-shock delay; cleaning mirror lock is distinct	Combined mechanical and CCD electronic shutter; 1/4000 to 30 seconds in half or one-third stops, Bulb and remote long exposures; flash synchronisation up to 1/500 second
Burst detail
Burst detail	Approximately 3 fps under Nikon's manual-focus, manual-exposure, 1/250-second-or-faster test. Manual buffer up to six frames or four RAW images; with noise reduction enabled, three frames or two RAW images; single-frame and self-timer modes	Approximately 2.5 fps; US launch specifies up to 137 Normal Large JPEG frames on SanDisk UltraII 256 MB SD card. Original manual buffer table separately lists four RAW or nine Fine Large JPEG frames with long-exposure noise reduction off; card-dependent sustained shooting differs from buffer capacity
Stabilisation detail
Stabilisation detail	Optical VR depends on the attached lens; no sensor-shift stabilisation	Optical VR depends on the attached lens; no sensor-shift stabilisation. Pictured original AF-S DX 18–55 mm ED kit lens has no VR
Flash
Flash	Built-in manually raised D-TTL Speedlight; manual guide number 18 m at ISO 200 or 12.7 m at ISO 100 in original manual; D-TTL guide number 17 m at ISO 200. Compatible external Speedlights, rear-curtain/slow/red-eye modes; no i-TTL; sync socket requires optional AS-15 shoe adapter	Built-in pop-up i-TTL flash; original manual guide number approximately 15 m at ISO 200 (17 manual) or 11 m at ISO 100 (12 manual); accessory shoe
Exposure controls
Exposure controls	P/S/A/M, 3D matrix, centre-weighted and spot metering; ±5 EV compensation; exposure/flash and white-balance bracketing. Original maker sheet specifies ten-segment SPD matrix meter; current US page says 1005-pixel CCD, a source conflict	P/S/A/M, Auto and six scene modes; 420-segment RGB matrix, centre-weighted and spot metering; ±5 EV compensation in half or one-third stops; exposure/flash and white-balance bracketing
Screen and viewfinder
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	Optical	Optical
Screen size
Screen size	1.8″	2″
Screen dots
Screen dots	118,000	130,000
Touchscreen
Touchscreen	No	No
Tilting screen
Tilting screen	No	No
Display detail
Display detail	Fixed 1.8-inch TFT for menus and image playback; current US specification and original sheet give 118000 dots, original manual approximately 120000. BM-2 protective cover and illuminated top status panel	Fixed 2-inch low-temperature-polysilicon TFT with 130000 dots; top status LCD; contextual help and playback magnification; dots count subpixels
Viewfinder detail
Viewfinder detail	Fixed pentaprism, approximately 95% coverage and 0.8× magnification with 50mm lens at infinity; selectable grid and depth-of-field preview. Current US and original sheet give 20 mm eyepoint; original manual 24 mm, retained as a source conflict	Pentamirror; approximately 95% coverage and 0.75× magnification; original manual specifies 18 mm eyepoint, conflicting with 8 mm on current US page
Connections and design
Battery life (maker's claim)
Battery life (maker's claim)	370 photographs	400 photographs
Body weight
Body weight	700.2 g	540 g (better)
Release detail
Release detail	Nikon's 2002 annual report retrospectively records launch in June 2002; no actual retail day claimed	Nikon USA original announcement dated 20 April 2005 states June US availability as a prospective schedule; actual first-sale month is unconfirmed, so year precision is retained
Recording media
Recording media	Single CompactFlash Type I/II slot, Microdrive compatible; original approved capacities and models in manual, no inferred UDMA speed support	One Secure Digital card slot; no SDHC compatibility inferred
Ports
Ports	USB 1.1, switchable NTSC/PAL playback video output and EH-5 DC input. Optional MB-D100 adds ten-pin remote terminal; current US ten-pin listing does not distinguish this accessory	USB 2.0 Hi-Speed, NTSC/PAL video output and DC input; optional ML-L3 infrared remote
Wireless connections
Wireless connections	No built-in wireless connectivity; optional Nikon Capture software provides USB remote camera control	–
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	EN-EL3 lithium-ion battery; main 370 shots is the manual's single-frame Nikon test, not CIPA, at 20°C with AF-S 24–85mm, Large/Normal JPEG, flash every other shot and shutdown after ten shots. Separate continuous Medium/Basic JPEG test approximately 1600 shots. Optional MB-D100 takes one or two EN-EL3 batteries or six AA cells	EN-EL3 lithium-ion battery; main 400 shots is original manual single-frame test with 18–55 mm ED lens, Normal Large JPEG and flash every other exposure, not labelled CIPA. Separate 2000-shot continuous test uses Basic Medium JPEG and limited monitor use; the launch announcement promotes that continuous figure
Charging
Charging	External MH-18 charger; optional MH-19 or EH-5 mains adapter	External MH-18a quick charger; optional EH-5 mains adapter
Dimensions
Dimensions	Original manual and sheet approximately 144 × 116 × 80.5 mm; current US metric width 114.78 mm conflicts with its 5.7-inch width and original maker dimensions	Approximately 133 × 102 × 76 mm
Weight detail
Weight detail	Current US approximately 700.2 g; original manual approximately 700 g without battery or memory card	Approximately 540 g excluding battery, memory card and body cap
Colours
Colours	Black	Black or silver
Video
Video detail
Video detail	No movie recording or live-view shooting; NTSC/PAL output is for playback	No movie recording or live-view composition; NTSC/PAL output is for playback, despite the current US page labelling it Movie File Format
Audio
Audio	Voice-memo recording and playback require optional MB-D100 grip; no built-in movie audio	–