Nikon's D5100 Digital SLR Camera (Body Only) has a galaxy of professional features not commonly found in a consumer digital camera. A high-resolution 16.2MP DX-format CMOS sensor and an EXPEED 2 image processing engine guarantee superb quality and high performance. The 3.0" vari-angle tilting LCD monitor allows you full freedom in composition with sparkling 921,000-dot resolution. Full 1920 x 1080p video with full-time autofocus (for tracking subjects in motion) and stereo sound (using an optional microphone) is always available with in-camera editing and creative controls to activate your inner movie director.

The Effects mode provides a dazzling array of special effects for putting your individual stamp on all of your images--still photos or video. Selective Color, for instance, isolates any color within a scene, and Night Vision captures details in places too dark for your own eyes. High Key effect will create bright, glowing images filled with atmosphere and mystery, or you can emphasize the mood of a scene using Low Key, or try out Miniature Effect--which produces a scene that looks like a miniature scale model.

With sensitivity ranging from 100 to 6400 ISO, you'll be able to make photos and videos that are amazingly rich, even in low light. In-camera HDR (High Dynamic Range) mode will tame high contrast situations by automatically capturing multiple exposures of the scene and combining them for vastly improved contrast and low noise. A blazing fast 11-point autofocus system and split-second shutter response mean that you won't miss photo opportunities waiting for your camera to catch up. The built-in speedlight has i-TTL for accurate, well-balanced flash every time.

With the Scene Recognition system, 420-pixel RGB 3D Color Matrix Metering II, 16 automatic exposure scene modes, and Active D-Lighting, your control over your photos and movies will be more precise and simple to carry out than ever. And you don't need to worry about dust ruining an image--the automatic image sensor cleaning function has it under control.

Vari-Angle LCD Monitor

The new, large 3.0" (7.5-cm) vari-angle LCD monitor opens horizontally up to 180˚ and flips up and down from +180˚ to -90˚. Now you're ready to view, shoot and record your subjects from unique perspectives. Try a high angle for overhead shots, waist level for candid Live View and movie shooting, or a low vantage point for a look from ground level. You can also place the D5100 on a tripod or other stable surface and still see yourself while composing self-portraits. Thanks to high-resolution (approx. 921k-dot) and a wide viewing angle, the vari-angle LCD monitor lets you check your composition comfortably while using Live View or full HD movie.

Image Quality in a Class of Its Own

Incorporating the latest Nikon D-SLR technologies such as the 16.2MP DX-format CMOS sensor and EXPEED 2 image processing engine, the D5100 delivers outstanding image quality.

Create Incredible Movies--Full HD (1,920 x 1,080/30p) Movies

The D5100 delivers exceptional D-Movie performance with its full HD capability, full-time-servo AF (AF-F) and precise exposure control. In-camera movie editing and sound recording capability (stereo with optional microphone) are also provided. Together with D-SLR advantages like beautiful background blur, high ISO sensitivity performance and extensive NIKKOR lens compatibility, movie-making potential reaches impressive new levels.

Instant, In-Camera Post-Production

The D5100's numerous editing functions include Resize, NEF (RAW) processing and Filter effects, such as Skylight, Warm filter and Cross screen. Along with Quick retouch and Edit movie, there are additional features such as Distortion control and Fisheye.

11-Point AF System

The D5100's 11 focus points, including a crosstype sensor, widely cover the frame and capture the subject sharply. When using 3D-tracking (11 points) mode, the camera works together with the Scene Recognition System to keep your main subject in focus even if the composition changes.

Exquisite Detail in Both Highlights and Shadows--HDR (High Dynamic Range)

When shooting extreme contrasts such as sunlit clouds and a foreground deep in shadow, it was once quite difficult to render both textures equally. Not anymore. With the HDR setting, the D5100 takes two shots within a single shutter release: one overexposed and one underexposed. The camera then combines the two images to reveal an extremely wide dynamic range, but with less noise and richer color gradation than ever before (use of a tripod is recommended).

Clean and Clear Images, Even in Low Light

The D5100 provides all the technologies you need to achieve excellent results even when available light is scarce. Its CMOS sensor offers a remarkably wide ISO range (ISO 100 to 6400) with reduced noise. This enables you to shoot at faster shutter speeds and capture scenes and subjects with less blur. Even handheld shots and full HD movies come out looking great in low light.

Intelligent Auto Pop-Up Flash

Vital for dark or backlit subjects, the D5100's built-in pop-up flash automatically brightens your subject. Expect natural-looking results thanks to i-TTL flash control.

Selective Color

Select up to three colors to show in the image, and the rest will remain in black and white.

Autofocus for Sharper Subjects

The D5100 helps you focus by offering a choice of focus modes to match your subject matter - even when using Live View or shooting full HD movies. Simply use AF-F mode to keep the camera focusing automatically while recording. A new switch beside the mode dial activates Live View, and to start movie recording, simply press the dedicated button located next to the shutter-release button. You can do this while keeping a steady view of your subject.

Optimized Camera Settings

The D5100 has Scene Modes that match a diverse range of scenes. The five most popular modes can be found on the mode dial, while others can be selected by setting the dial to SCENE and rotating the command dial. Once you've decided, the camera automatically chooses the camera settings that will provide the best results. With Nikon's Scene Modes, you will never have to worry about complicated camera settings.

Scene Auto Selector

If you are shooting still pictures using Live View with Auto or Auto (flash off), Scene Auto Selector will automatically select the most appropriate Scene Mode, choosing from Portrait, Landscape, Close up, and Night portrait. Leave it up to the D5100 to deliver optimum results, leaving you more time to concentrate on the shot.

Miniature Effect

Make distant subjects appear like miniatures by strategically altering the focus area. Miniature effect movies play back at high speed.

High Key

Create bright, glowing images filled with atmosphere.

Color Sketch

Make your images appear like colorful drawings. Movies shot in this mode play back like a slide show made up of a series of stills.

Silhouette

Capture your subjects in silhouette against bright backgrounds.

Low Key

Create dark, striking images with prominent highlights.

Night Vision

Take monochrome (black and white) images in extremely low-light conditions.

Balancing Light and Shade Beautifully--Active D-Lighting

Useful in a variety of situations, Active D-Lighting automatically renders the highlights and shadows of high-contrast scenes so that they appear more like how they are perceived by the human eye. Leave Active D-Lighting on Auto for effortless adjustment, or select the strength level according to your shooting conditions.

Clean and Clear Pictures--Nikon Integrated Dust Removal

Less dust means clearer images. Nikon's exclusive system helps remove dust from the optical lowpass filter in front of the sensor and move it away from crucial components inside the camera.

Optical Viewfinder

Approx. 95% frame coverage - for a clear view and comfortable shooting without time lag.

Compact, Lightweight Design

The camera's form fits naturally into your hands, with intuitive controls that make extended shooting easy and comfortable.

Low Energy Consumption

Efficient EN-EL14 battery lasts for approx. 660 frames per charge.

Imaging Toolbox--ViewNX 2

This simple and intuitive software helps you get the most out of your images and full HD movies. ViewNX 2 provides importing and browsing capability while also incorporating image-editing functions such as Resize, Brightness, Crop, Straighten and NEF (RAW) image processing. Its movie editing functions help you create your own original movies quickly and easily, and Nikon's own image storing and sharing service, my Picturetown, works smoothly with ViewNX 2, allowing you to log in directly from the software for easy uploading without using a browser.

View Your Images on an HDTV--HDMI Output Interface

Enjoy pictures and movies on your television, and use the TV remote control unit to operate playback.

Quiet Shutter-Release Mode

Sometimes the sound of the shutter release may disturb your subject. Quiet shutter-release mode reduces the sound of the D5100's internal mechanisms, by slowing the mirror movement speed at the moment the image is captured, for example.

Scene Recognition System

With the 420-pixel RGB sensor and CMOS image sensor working together, the D5100 is able to recognize your subject matter and optimize the auto exposure, autofocus, auto white balance and i-TTL flash control. The face-priority AF feature originates in this technology, as well.

Picture Control

Customize the look and feel of your photos to suit your taste with Picture Control. Choose from six settings: Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait and Landscape. You can adjust the settings and save them for future use.

Image and Movie Editing Functions

The D5100's numerous editing functions include Resize, NEF (RAW) processing and Filter effects, such as Skylight, Warm filter and Cross screen. Along with Quick retouch and Edit movie, there are additional features such as Distortion control and Fisheye.

Smart Photo Sharing and Storage Service--My Picturetown

Nikon's own image-sharing website, my Picturetown, allows you to easily store, manage and share your images with your family and friends worldwide. Membership is free and permits storage of up to 2 GB of photos and/or movies.

Dust Reduction

Image Sensor Cleaning, Airflow Control System, Image Dust Off reference data (optional Capture NX 2 software required)

Picture Control

Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait, Landscape; selected Picture Control can be modified; storage for custom Picture Controls

File System

DCF (Design Rule for Camera File System) 2.0, DPOF (Digital Print Order Format), Exif 2.3 (Exchangeable Image File Format for Digital Still Cameras), PictBridge

Magnification

Approx. 0.78× (50mm f/1.4 lens at infinity, -1.0 m-1)

Eyepoint

17.9 mm (-1.0 m-1)

Diopter Adjustment

-1.7 to +0.7 m-1

Focusing Screen

Type B BriteView Clear Matte Mark VII screen

Reflex Mirror

Quick return

Lens Aperture

Instant return, electronically controlled

Compatible Lenses

Autofocus is available with AF-S and AF-I lenses; Autofocus is not available with other type G and D lenses, AF lenses (IX-NIKKOR and lenses for the F3AF are not supported) and AI-P lenses; Non-CPU lenses can be used in mode M but the camera exposure meter will not function The electronic rangefinder can be used with lenses that have a maximum aperture of f/5.6 or faster

Shutter Type

Electronically-controlled vertical-travel focal-plane shutter

Release Mode

Single frame, continuous, self-timer, delayed remote, quick-response remote, quiet shutter release

Exposure Metering Range (ISO 100, f/1.4 lens, 68°F/20°C)

Matrix or center-weighted metering: 0 to 20 EV
Spot metering: 2 to 20 EV

Exposure Meter Coupling

CPU

Exposure Compensation

-5 to +5 EV in increments of 1/3 or 1/2 EV

Exposure Bracketing

3 frames in steps of 1/3 or 1/2 EV

Exposure Lock

Luminosity locked at detected value with AE-L/AF-L button

Active D-Lighting

Auto, extra high, high, normal, low, off

ADL Bracketing

2 frames

Autofocus

Nikon Multi-CAM 1000 autofocus sensor module with TTL phase detection, 11 focus points (including one cross-type sensor) and AF-assist illuminator (range approx. 1 ft. 8 in. to 9 ft. 10 in./0.5 to 3 m)
Detection range: -1 to +19 EV (ISO 100, 68°F/20°C)
Lens servo: Autofocus (AF): Single-servo AF (AF-S); continuous-servo AF (AF-C); auto AF-S/ AF-C selection (AF-A); predictive focus tracking activated automatically according to subject status
Manual focus (MF): Electronic rangefinder can be used
Focus point: Can be selected from 11 focus points
AF-area mode: Single-point AF, dynamic-area AF, auto-area AF, 3D-tracking (11 points)
Focus lock: Focus can be locked by pressing shutter-release button halfway (single-servo AF) or by pressing AE-L/AF-L button

Built-In Flash

Auto flash with auto pop-up; P, S, A, M, 0: Manual pop-up with button release
Flash mode: Auto, auto with red-eye reduction, auto slow sync, auto slow sync with red-eye reduction, fill-flash, red-eye reduction, slow sync, slow sync with red-eye reduction, rear-curtain with slow sync, rear-curtain sync, off
Flash compensation: -3 to +1 EV in increments of 1/3 or 1/2 EV
Flash-ready indicator: Lights when built-in flash or optional flash unit such as SB-900, SB-800, SB-700, SB-600 or SB-400 is fully charged; blinks for 3 s after flash is fired at full output
Accessory shoe: ISO 518 hot-shoe with sync and data contacts and safety lock

Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS)

Advanced Wireless Lighting supported with SB-900, SB-800 or SB-700 as a master flash, or SU-800 as commander; Flash Color Information Communication supported with built-in flash and all CLS-compatible flash units
Sync terminal Sync Terminal Adapter AS-15 (available separately)

Live View Lens Servo

Autofocus (AF): Single-servo AF (AF-S); full-time-servo AF (AF-F)
Manual focus (MF)

AF-Area Mode

Face-priority AF, wide-area AF, normal-area AF, subject-tracking AF
Autofocus: Contrast-detect AF anywhere in frame (camera selects focus point automatically when face-priority AF or subject-tracking AF is selected)

Movie Metering

TTL exposure metering using main image sensor
Metering method: Matrix

Playback

Full-frame and thumbnail (4, 9 or 72 images or calendar) playback with playback zoom, movie playback, slide show, histogram display, highlights, auto image rotation and image comment (up to 36 characters)

Accessory Terminal

Remote Cord MC-DC2 (available separately), GPS Unit GP-1 (available separately)

Supported Languages

Arabic, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, Turkish