Nikon D5100 18-55mm VR Kit review

The video mode is a vast improvement on the D5000’s, recording at 1080p at a choice of 24, 25 or 30fps. AVC compression and a 21Mbit/s maximum bit rate gave a good balance of high picture quality and manageable file sizes. Noise reduction was modest to the point of non-existent, but even at the maximum ISO 6400 sensitivity allowed for video capture, the fizz of noise in darker areas of the frame wasn’t particularly invasive. Detail levels in videos were breathtakingly sharp, although that’s partly down to insubstantial anti-aliasing filtering. As with all the Nikon and Canon SLRs we’ve reviewed, the downside was moiré interference on dense, repeating patterns such as bricks and fabric.

The built-in mono microphone sounded a little thin but there’s a stereo input for an external microphone. Noise from the autofocus motor appeared on the soundtrack but it was much less invasive than on the 600D, and focusing was substantially quicker too. That makes the D5100 a much better option for casual video capture. However, it lacks the 600D’s full control over video exposure, which is essential for serious video production. The aperture is locked for the duration of clips and it’s possible to lock the overall exposure too, but there’s no direct control over the shutter speed or sensitivity.

As with virtually all the SLRs we’ve seen recently, noise levels were staggeringly low, with print-worthy results all the way to ISO 6400. The Canon 600D’s JPEGs retained subtle textures a little better at this setting and the D5100 produced smoother shadows, but neither was obviously better than the other. An expanded sensitivity mode stretches to ISO 25600, and these shots were perfectly acceptable for posting online.

Colour rendition was excellent at default settings and is extensively customisable – again, differences between the D5100 and 600D were trivial. However, the D5100’s highly customisable automatic ISO function provides the potential for better exposures in dim lighting, albeit only for those with the patience to master the unintuitive controls. Meanwhile, its chromatic aberration removal proved more useful than the 600D’s higher resolution, virtually eliminating coloured outlines to high-contrast lines, such as in the example below. It also exhibited none of the autofocus errors that we saw from the 600D with its kit lens.

These three issues mean that the D5100 has the edge over the 600D for image quality, and its superior video autofocus means it’s a better choice for casual video capture too. It’s a non-starter for serious video use, though, and its controls will frustrate anyone who likes to make regular adjustments while taking photos.

As such, the D5100 feels like an entry-level SLR that happens to have a high-resolution, articulated screen. With the D3100 offering the same 1080p video capture mode, it’s only really the D5100’s screen, slightly faster continuous performance and a few features such as bracketing and HDR capture that distinguish the two. The D3100’s 14-megapixel resolution certainly isn’t a turn-off and we actually prefer its controls, thanks to its drive mode lever. There’s a lot to like about the D5100 but we’d recommend going for the D3100 and using the £340 saved to accessorise it with a flashgun and Nikon’s 35mm f/1.8 lens.