Nikon D5100 : Tests and Reviews

Following the recommendations for Nikon D7100, we’ve had the opportunity to assess another of the firm’s 24-Mpix DX format cameras – the mid-range D5200 - with over 120 Nikkor and third-party prime and zoom models to assess image quality. Read onto find out which of these lenses perform best when paired with the camera.

Released in April 2013, the Ricoh GR goes by the tagline of “Everything is big, except the size”. It points clearly to the raison d’être of this camera – to be a compact model with a large sensor with the aim of offering DSLR-like performance without the size and weight associated with them. As with several models in this niche, it seems to hark back to days gone by with a retro style. While this impacts the versatility of the camera, it’s much easier to make a high quality prime lens that can extract the most from the large, 16megapixel APS-C sensor tucked away inside. Within this sector we’ve seen some very good cameras through the labs in recent months, so the GR has got stiff competition.

Launched in March 2013 the $1097 Coolpix A is Nikon’s first compact camera with an APC-S sensor and features the same 16.2-megapixel DX sensor from Nikon’s D7000 DSLR but with its optical low-pass filter removed. Utilizing a fixed NIKKOR 18.5mm f/2.8 prime lens (equivalent to 28mm in 35mm terms) the Nikon Coolpix A has the right ingredients for great image quality so let’s see how it performs.       

Launched in January 2012 the Nikon AF-S 85mm f/1.8G prime lens offers a great focal length for portraiture and a wide maximum aperture for low-light photography. Compatible with both Nikon FX and DX lens mounts this latest version of Nikon’s popular short telephoto prime also features a built in autofocus motor making it full functionality on all Nikon DSLR cameras. At $500 it boasts a great price too, so if you’re after a 85mm portrait lens this could be the one for you.

After the introduction of the entry-level 24Mpix D3200 early last year it seemed inevitable that the rest of the firm’s APS-C (DX) range would be refreshed with the same sensor. While the gestation of the new 24Mpix D5200 has taken longer than most people could of reasonably predicted, the sensor is, in fact, a new design and the first from a different vendor for Nikon. We’ve recently put the new camera through our labs, read on to see how the new sensor performs.

A noise benchmark of 187 digital cameras by Peter van den Hamer

DxOMark Camera Sensor is a raw benchmark for camera bodies by DxO Labs. The benchmark is “raw” because it measures image quality using Raw output files. It is also raw as DxO’s data can be used to cook up camera reviews that cover more aspects than image quality.

Announced in September 2012, the Sony NEX-6 creates a new range in the Sony line-up. It sits between the flagship Sony NEX-7 and the mid-range Sony NEX-5R offering features and performance benefits to beginner and advanced photographers alike. Providing a simplified user-interface than the NEX-7, the NEX-6 is none-the-less fully featured with a high-resolution OLED viewfinder, Full HD video recording and a tilt-adjustable screen for ease of use.

Announced at IFA 2012, Sony’s NEX-5R  is the third version of its very popular NEX-5 camera. This new model features a 16-megapixel APS-C EXMOR sensor composed of photosites that provide autofocusing by phase detection. Has Sony improved the image quality of its latest mid-range compact hybrid? Our tests reveal the answer.

The Nikon D5200 refurbishes the D5100 and moves upmarket by adopting a 24Mpix APS-C sensor and some of the elements that have been the joy of photographers equipped with a D7000: a 39-point autofocus and an exposure meter that incorporates a 2016 pixels RGB sensor and scene recognition.

Committed to retaining its sales lead in numerous countries, Canon views its new EOS 650D as a strategically important product. What improvements can we see with respect to its sensor, which Canon claims is new? How does this latest camera in the EOS line compare with its predecessor, the EOS 600D, and with its rivals, the Nikon D3200 and the Sony SLT-A65? The answers lie in our sensor test results for the 650D.