Customer Reviews on Amazon.com

1. 83 of 110 people found this review helpful

   By Kevin Clark on Amazon.com 17 May, 2011

   Nikon D5100 - Maybe I just got a lemon; it happens.

   Maybe I just got a lemon; it happens. Colors looked great; control layout was fine with me. I thought this would be the perfect step up from my D40. I loved everything about the camera, except one thing - poor image sharpness. I started in P mode (custom settings for everything), which is how I use my D40. Later, I also tried Auto Mode Landscape and Auto Mode Macro. I worked my way up to Quality settings of JPEG Fine and Large and gradually increased sharpness setting up to maximum and still could not make it happen. Thinking it might be the kit lens; I took the 18-200 VR off of my D40 and tried that. Unfortunately, the results were the same. Many, many others have had no complaints about image sharpness, so I am going to have to assume that my camera was defective. It happens. I did not try the video function. Amazon accepted my return without question.
2. 2 of 4 people found this review helpful

   By BB on Amazon.com 18 December, 2012

   good pictures when it's not broken

   I bought this camera November 2011 after doing some research and talking with other people. It seemed like a great purchase. February I went on vacation, took it out to take pictures, it took a picture but the bottom half was black, a few more shots and it stopped working. The camera would not communicate with the lens. I returned it to Nikon to have it repaired, it took 4 weeks to get it back. It worked great for 7 months until it broke again, same exact problem. I've sent it back to Nikon, they've had it for 4 weeks already and I have not heard from them. The first time it broke I missed a family wedding and now it will be Christmas. I bought it from a distributor and they were unwilling to give me a loaner camera or do anything for me so I'm out of luck. I asked if they can do a trade as this camera has broken twice in one year, obviously defective and the factory can't fix it correctly. They will not work out a deal so I'm out the money if I want to get a new one or I keep paying for repairs now that it will be out of warranty. I will not buy another Nikon as this is a common problem I hear. Next camera will be a Canon.
3. 3 of 6 people found this review helpful

   By Mavra on Amazon.com 31 October, 2012

   Mode dial malfunctions after one week only

   I got this camera 1 week ago. The mode dial has started to skip modes. I am so disspointed of my investment. I used to have a D3100 that I miss so much now...
   Returning it.
4. 14 of 24 people found this review helpful

   By Selcuk Onat on Amazon.com 17 October, 2011

   Nice at first glance, but a lot of defects below the surface.

   First off let me say that if you criticize a camera on these boards you will be personally attacked by an army of jerks, so its not that easy. Just take that into account when you read glowing positive reviews. Noone's paying me to speak truth about a camera.
   
   I tested a 5100 and was not that thrilled by the camera. In fact, I returned it making sure not to get stuck with it.
   
   The shutter is quiet and fast, and the menu is well designed, but the buttons are arranged in a unique fashion that someone else mentioned is different from most other Nikon dSLRS, so using it and another would not be a seamless experience. The live-view screen is almost more trouble than its worth, but it's mandatory on an HD vidcam. Dealing with it, however, can be a hassle for stills, since you're inclined to turn it face in, and then you have to turn it back every time you monitor etc.
   
   The LCD is very large and pretty, but it's also quite vulnerable if you're involved in any sort of action or even travel. You have to watch the screen like a hawk. If you're shooting concerts or street where you raise your hands above the crowd, great, but is that worth the trouble the rest of the time? Maybe so, it does provide for different shooting styles, and getting low is great, too. For video, the screen is mandatory, but back later on the video...
   
   Finally, is there a reason the camera can't come with a screen protector? You have to buy one as an accessory, and Nikon's brand name ones are no longer made. So now I have to waste time tracking down a kludge solution which may damage the screen. You pay $700 for a camera and they can't include such a critical item that's hard to find that costs 2 bucks to make? Thanks Nikon.
   
   Beyond the great value for price, I find the default saturation setting to be really flat, so while VIVID is too much on other cameras, I find it mandatory on this one, which is odd. The shots do look great at that point. The focussing doesn't seem to be what it claims. It's good for moving objects, but average at range-finding up close, at least on my 18-135 DX lens. It doesn't hang, but it doesn't seem particularly accurate either. There's a limit to how many shots I can shoot testing, and my lenses are decent, but not top of the line, but the sharpness is not really there consistently. I've been attacked on this point. Let me just say that this camera focusses noticeably worse than the D40x. I dont care if people say its the same design. Its a much worse, less robust performer in the focussing dept, despite having more points.
   
   The 16MP doesn't seem like much if any improvement over my D40X. Let the scoffing begin, but the JPEG processing on this one results
   in about the same quality in my ultra close-up comparisons. There is more data, (fewer shots per card), but the final is about 20% better. Besides, 10-16 would be 1.6 times better. I would say 1.3 times better, and still not sure. Fine lines are blurring more at the point of pixelization.
   
   With a few days spent on the video, I have to say it's pretty weak. The AF struggles, suffers even. You feel bad for your lenses being overworked. I know this is as advertised, but the video AF is definitely below camcorder quality, although not any worse than my Canon Vixia in low light, which is really terrible. At least dSLR lenses can be manually focussed easily depending on the lens. Nevertheless, this is no point and forget vidcam, and my Vixia beats it hands down in daylight and overcast.
   
   What's even worse is that no matter what you set before you launch into video, it chooses the ISO for you. You can choose aperture, and you can make the camera stop adjusting exposure by locking AE, but you cannot make it stay in a low ISO in low light, and its low light video is too grainy to be used outside of personal footage. It looks great on the LCD, and on Youtube videos, but full screen, it looks much worse. I have yet to make this camera shoot low light in a low ISO, which does not show up in EXIF data like stills. The video stays the same quality no matter what kludge you try, and there are many out there, but people keep realizing that their video ends up the same no matter what.
   
   It is NOT a low-light miracle worker in video period. Shooting video also mandates that you use battery-sucking Live-view, which stays ON until you stop) In room light or daylight, it does much better, but you still can't control the ISO. Plus if you really like shooting video, you will need the $120 in AC adapters or several batteries, because I would say the battery does about 20 minutes in video. Honestly, it even looks small, although it does charge fast, in about 60-70 minutes, which is about 1/3 faster than my EL-9.
   
   This camera is a perfectly portable size, but otherwise a major disappointments. The D5100 is sold for a fair price but promises too much. I wanted to make the video work somehow, and workarounds are fine, and it does shoot good daylight video, but a camera that takes my settings and then ignores them while pretending it's displaying them is just going to aggravate long term. It is not the low light miracle worker its been sold as. Even stills are about a two-step improvement. I shot 1600 ISO tonight on my D40x and it looks about the same as 6400 in the D5100. That said, there's an unpleasant aspect to the 5100's grain when it shows up. It's too distinct from the background. It stands out. As I said, this sensor also has saturation and dynamic range issues.
   
   Just thinking about how this camera is marketed as the can-do even though it's sold to a clearly consumer market bugs me. I think most amateurs won't find these problems until spending a few months with the camera, and I find the entire process dishonest. Then again, it does a lot for the price by past standards. Just don't be fooled into thinking that workarounds will make this useful to a budding videographer for instance, let alone any type of semi-pro. It's the price it is for a reason.
5. 8 of 16 people found this review helpful

   By B. I. Sevilla on Amazon.com 3 December, 2011

   I returned it. Not quite the upgrade I expected

   I currently own a D5000. I have owned the previous D40x, D60 and like photography. I got the D5100 expecting a decent upgrade. Unfortunately I was kind of disappointed when comparing it with my D5000. The D5100 feels more amateur than the D5000 does. It is smaller (almost too small) and difficult to grab if you have a 18-200 as I do. In addition, the d5100 does not offer the possibility to customize the lcd display (for manual and auto modes) as the D5000 does, this bugged me because that is an easy way to notice in which mode I am shooting. Another downgrade of the D5100 is the lack of the grid in the viewfinder. The viewfinder seems oriented to those who have a point and shot and want to upgrade. It is clear that Nikon here is aiming to those who shoot using the lcd display and not to those using the viewfinder. That, for me, is a big loss compared with my D5000, I do a lot of architecture photography and the grid is very helpful; it also helps me to keep the horizon when shooting landscapes, the lake or the ocean.
   
   I returned the D5100 after comparing it hand to hand with the D5000. Not enough of an upgrade for me and not worth the expense. The D5100 is cute, small and might work well for those who want to try a dslr for the very first time. I guess I am just going to wait for the next model or save up some money to reach the D7000.
6. 3 of 8 people found this review helpful

   By LUKEZAY on Amazon.com 2 December, 2012

   ONGOING ISSUE: Shutter Froze and Black Images

   The first week I had the camera I had the issue of "black screen" then after fixing this issue a few weeks after the shutter gets stuck and when I google this problem I come to find that this is an ONGOING ISSUE. This item should be recalled and money refunded. Not a dependable camera.
7. 31 of 71 people found this review helpful

   By Shutterbug - Nikon D5100 on Amazon.com 18 June, 2011

   Shutterbug-Nikon D5100

   I can NOT review the Nikon D5100 other than to say this camera was too small for my hands. I purchased the Nikon through Shutterbug and return the camera within a week and was accused by Shutterbug of scratching the LCD and I was charged 15% restocking fee with that excuse.
   
   Now they are negotiating with me because of my negative feedback about my very unhappy experience with my purchase from Shutterbug through Amazon.com. I will NOT negotiate for a better review because I know that I returned the Nikon D5100 in the very same condition that I received it. I will only accept a 100% money back response.
   I am looking at purchasing the Nikon D7000; however I will NOT consider purchasing from Shutterbug through Amazon.com.
8. 0 of 10 people found this review helpful

   By Larry J. Puckett on Amazon.com 23 January, 2013

   I am a first time Nikon Owner up date on this.

   I bought my Nikon D5100 in September and wish I had stayed with Canon. My wife has a Nikon CoolpicP510 and it takes wonderful pictures so I thought I would try a Nikon. Wrong thing to do. The pictures were not sharp and clear. I thought it was the lens that came with it so I bought a better one from some one else. The pictures were some better but not good. Took the camera to a professional and he looked at my pictures and tried some in his shop, all were not clear and sharp. Still trying to get in contact with Nikon to see what they will do! Wish me luck. Up date on this review- I contacted nikon and they was very helpful. Told me how to get info and with it I mailed the camera. It was back in two weeks and all I had to do was reset it for what I wanted the camera to do. The pictures are beautiful. Just what I wanted, now I can take better pictures then my wife! But her Nikon Coolpic510 still has a longer telephoto then my 75 to 200 lens and I do borrow it when I don't have time to change to mine or can't reach what I'm trying to take a picture of..
9. 4 of 40 people found this review helpful

   By Richard P on Amazon.com 13 June, 2012

   Value for Money??

   I've always been a Nikon fan and use a D3X myself. I purchased the camera for my daughter as a good introductory camera with an excellent reputation with good build and excellent performance. I would have scored the camera 4 stars, unfortunately its not value for money at all when purchased from Amazon.
   
   While the camera is great unfortunately AMAZON is a complete CON! Bitterly disappointed that I was charged $84.95 for delivery when I paid online and I've just been informed that the recipient also got STUNG a further $100 for delivery at the other end for the GIFT that I had sent them. So we paid OVER $200 for delivery for a camera that in theory costs only $646. Somewhere someone is ripping us off and I am bitterly disappointed with AMAZON. Next time I'm going to AVOID AMAZON SUPER SAVER DEALS and go down to the local market instead and save some myself some money. The $646 camera ended up costing us almost $1,000 definitely a con and definitely not value for money.
   
   Sorry Amazon but you've just lost a customer.