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Nikon D5100 vs Nikon D780

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

NikonD5100NikonD780
Overview
ReleasedApril 2011January 2020
Image and sensor
Camera typeDSLRDSLR
Sensor formatAPS-CFull frame
Sensor typeCMOSBackside-illuminated CMOS
Sensor dimensions23.6 × 15.6 mm35.9 × 23.9 mm
Effective resolution16.2 MP24.5 MP
Largest image4928 × 32646048 × 4024
RAW recordingYesYes
Standard ISO range100–6400100–51200
Sensor detailNikon DX CMOS with 16.2 million effective and 16.9 million total pixels; approximately 1.5× lens focal-length equivalent; sensor cleaning, Airflow Control System and Image Dust Off reference data25.28 million total pixels; sensor cleaning and image-dust-off reference data
Image formatsCompressed 14-bit NEF RAW, JPEG and simultaneous RAW plus JPEG; maximum 4928 × 3264 pixels; customisable Picture Controls and in-camera RAW processing12/14-bit NEF RAW with lossless or ordinary compression; JPEG and RAW plus JPEG
ISO detailISO 100–6400 in one-third stops, expandable up to ISO 25600 equivalent; Auto ISO; Night Vision is a separate monochrome special effectExpandable to equivalent ISO 50–204800; Auto ISO available
Image processorEXPEED 2EXPEED 6
Lens and shooting
Lens mountNikon F mountNikon F mount
StabilisationOptical lens stabilisationOptical lens stabilisation
Maximum continuous burst4 fps12 fps
Lens detailAutofocus with AF-S and AF-I lenses; no body autofocus motor for screw-drive lenses. Non-CPU lenses require manual exposure without metering; IX and F3AF lenses unsupportedF-mount G/E/D, supported AF, P and AI non-CPU lenses with restrictions; DX lenses use a crop; non-AI, IX and F3AF lenses unsupported
AutofocusMulti-CAM 1000; 11 phase-detection points including one cross-type; -1 to +19 EV at ISO 100, 20°C; AF-S/AF-C/AF-A, single-point, dynamic, auto-area and 11-point 3D tracking. Contrast-detection live view supports face, wide, normal and subject-tracking areasViewfinder Advanced Multi-CAM 3500II phase detection with 51 points, 15 cross-type and 11 supporting f/8. Live-view hybrid phase/contrast detection provides 273 FX still-image single-point positions and eye detection. UK/Japan sensitivity −3 EV viewfinder, −5 EV live view or −7 EV low-light AF under maker conditions; US launch prose's −4 EV viewfinder claim conflicts with exact specs.
Shutter1/4000 to 30 seconds in one-third or half stops, Bulb and Time with optional ML-L3 remote; flash sync 1/200 secondMechanical, electronic front-curtain and electronic shutters; 1/8000 to 30 seconds, Bulb and Time; manual-mode extension to 900 seconds. Flash sync 1/200 second with compatible Auto FP support.
Burst detailApproximately 4 fps with manual focus, S/M exposure, 1/250 second or faster and remaining settings at defaults; quiet release and interval-timer shootingUp to 7 fps through the optical viewfinder; silent live view up to 12 fps with 12-bit RAW or 8 fps with 14-bit RAW. Low-speed 1–6 fps viewfinder or 1–3 fps live view; quiet continuous 3 fps. Reduced-resolution movie-frame still captures at up to 120 fps are separate from full-resolution continuous shooting.
Stabilisation detailOptical VR depends on the lens; no sensor-shift stabilisationNo sensor-shift stabilisation; optical VR depends on the attached lens; electronic movie VR available
FlashBuilt-in pop-up flash; guide number approximately 12 m at ISO 100, 20°C, or 13 at manual full output; accessory shoeNo built-in flash; ISO 518 hot shoe and compatible external i-TTL Speedlights; optional AS-15 provides a flash-sync terminal
Exposure controlsP/S/A/M, Auto, scene and special-effects modes; 420-pixel RGB matrix, centre-weighted and spot metering; ±5 EV compensation; three-frame exposure/white-balance bracketing, two-frame Active D-Lighting bracketing and two-exposure HDRAuto, P/S/A/M, effects and U1/U2 settings; ±5 EV still-image or ±3 EV movie compensation; 180K-pixel RGB viewfinder metering sensor
Video
Highest video resolution1920 × 1080 at 30 fps3840 × 2160 at 29.97 fps
Video detailH.264 MOV at Full HD 30p/25p/24p, 720p 30p/25p/24p or 640 × 424 at 30p/25p; actual NTSC rates 29.97/23.976; maximum approximately 20 minutes or three minutes with Miniature Effect. Photography Blog's 1920 × 1280, Motion JPEG AVI and five-minute passages differ from Nikon's technical sheetUHD 3840 × 2160 at 29.97/25/23.976p without extra FX crop, oversampled from 6K sensor data; Full HD up to 119.88p and separate silent slow-motion modes. H.264 MOV/MP4; limit 29 minutes 59 seconds. 10-bit N-Log and HLG require an external HDMI recorder and cannot simultaneously record that output to the camera card. UK prose's DX 50/60p statement does not mean UHD 50/60p; exact maker UHD table tops out at 30p.
AudioBuilt-in mono microphone with adjustable sensitivity; external stereo microphone through 3.5 mm input; linear PCM audioBuilt-in stereo microphones, external 3.5 mm microphone input and headphone output; PCM or AAC depending on file format; microphone attenuator
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderOpticalOptical
Screen size3″3.2″
Screen dots921,0002,359,000
Touchscreen–Yes
Tilting screenYesYes
Display detailSide-hinged 3-inch vari-angle TFT, approximately 921000 dots globally, rounded to 920000 in Japan; 170° viewing angle and 100% coverage; dots count subpixelsApproximately 100% coverage, 170° viewing angle and vertical tilt; maker UK states 2359K dots, Japan rounds to approximately 2.36 million; dots count subpixels
Viewfinder detailPentamirror; approximately 95% coverage, 0.78× magnification with 50mm f/1.4 at infinity and 17.9 mm eyepointPentaprism, approximately 100% FX coverage, 0.7× magnification with 50mm f/1.4 at infinity, 21 mm eyepoint and −3 to +1 dioptre adjustment
Connections and design
Wi-Fi–Yes
Bluetooth–Yes
Battery life (maker's claim)660 photographs2260 photographs
Body weight510 g755 g
Release detailNikon Japan records first sale on 21 April 2011; global announcement on 5 April 2011Nikon US announced on 6 January 2020 and specified availability in late January; global announcement dated 7 January. Main uses the confirmed month without inferring a UK retail day.
Recording mediaOne SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot; MMC unsupportedTwo UHS-II SD/SDHC/SDXC slots; overflow, backup, RAW/JPEG separation and card copying
PortsHi-Speed USB, HDMI Type C, NTSC/PAL analogue video output, 3.5 mm external microphone input and accessory terminal for optional MC-DC2 remote or GP-1 GPS; optional ML-L3 infrared remoteUSB-C SuperSpeed USB, mini HDMI Type C, 3.5 mm microphone and headphone sockets, accessory terminal for MC-DC2; optional WT-7 provides network connectivity
Wireless connectionsNo integrated wireless networking; optional GP-1 GPS unitWi-Fi IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac and Bluetooth 4.2; SnapBridge
Battery life detailEN-EL14 rechargeable lithium-ion battery; approximately 660 CIPA photographs per chargeEN-EL15b; approximately 2260 CIPA single-frame shots or 4570 shots under Nikon's separate continuous-shooting test; approximately 95 minutes of movie recording. EN-EL15a/15 compatibility with restrictions; EN-EL15c may be supplied.
ChargingExternal MH-24 charger; optional EH-5b adapter with EP-5A power connectorIn-camera charging with EN-EL15b and optional EH-7P; external MH-25a charger. Optional AC adapter and EP-5B power connector.
DimensionsApproximately 128 × 97 × 79 mmApproximately 143.5 × 115.5 × 76 mm
Weight detailApproximately 510 g body only or 560 g including battery and SD card, excluding body capApproximately 755 g body only or 840 g including battery and SD card, excluding body cap
Materials–Weather-sealed magnesium alloy construction; maker operating range 0–40°C
In the boxEN-EL14 battery, MH-24 charger, AN-DC3 strap, EG-CP14 audio-video cable, UC-E6 USB cable, DK-5 eyepiece cap, BS-1 shoe cover, DK-20 eyecup, BF-1B body cap and ViewNX 2 CD-ROMEN-EL15-series battery, MH-25a charger, UC-E24 USB cable, AN-DC21 strap, BF-1B body cap, DK-5 eyepiece cap and DK-31 eyecup; battery revision may vary

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