D5100 DSLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Auto Focus-S Nikkor Zoom Lens (OLD MODEL)

After 15 years of use, it can still take wonderful pics, with those reliable and lovely Nikon colors. I really don't know how many shoots has taken, but surely about tens of thousands. Replaced the lens kit with a collection of lenses, among them a couple of Tamrons 17-50 F2.8 (without VR - the first one died after 7 years and the second is dying -really GREAT lens for many kind of pics, but lousy quality for everyday or heavy use) a really wonderful Tokina 11-16 F2.8, and the marvellous Nikkor 35 f1.8 DX (also a 55-200 DX tele zoom, the favorite of my kid). After more than ten years of really HEAVY use (mostly personal work, travel and family, but also a lot of professional jobs), I stepped up to full frame and changed to a Sony A7IV and I'm still building my ecosystem. I really miss the out-of-camera Nikon colors, Sony still does not has that magic sauce, so now I shoot RAW and tweak the colors in post. Of course the dynamic range and resolution compensate that missing color science, but in comparison the D5100 is a hell of a camera. Really nice and small system, light, and VERY capable. Now is in my kid's hands, and still running.

I've always been interested in photography as a hobby but I've never had more than a compact point-n-shoot and usually resorted to using my iPhone 4s, which only produces decent images up close and in good lighting. I primarily enjoy landscape photography, especially sunrises and sunsets, as well as photographing nature in general (storms, animals, plants), all of which the iPhone is awful for. So I decided to get a DSLR and I knew that Nikons were pretty good. After much research I decided on this one and so far I love it. The D5100 has incredible value and bang for your buck. It's somewhere in between the D3100 and D7100 in terms of quality, but it's only a little bit more expensive than the D3100 (while offering a lot more, including significantly higher picture quality) and MUCH less expensive than the D7100, which is only slightly better. If you're looking for a high quality, non-professional camera at a reasonable price, this is the one to get. Canons are great as well, but a Nikon of equal quality tends to be a bit less pricey. I really have no complaints about this camera. The grip is nice, the design is intuitive, and it feels very sturdy and of high quality. The interface is fairly easy to pickup, with the question mark button available to anyone who isn't sure what something means (though it's not always the greatest description). My pictures almost always turn out sharp and colorful and if they don't it's usually because of user error (i.e. I didn't use the best settings for the occasion). The battery lasts surprisingly long if you turn it off when you're not using it (I've been on 5-6 hour hikes and taken over 1500 pictures with the battery still going at 2/3 bars, though I am not using the flash). A few suggestions to someone who was new to DSLR. First, the manual is your friend. I suggest learning to use M/A/S modes, as the auto modes on this can be pretty awful (e.g. the sunset one, which tends to mess up the colors). I also suggest buying a few accessories if you don't have them - obviously a memory card, a lens cleaner and cloth (really a must), a lens hood if you photograph outdoors, and possibly an inexpensive UV filter to protect the lens. In conclusion, I've had a lot of fun with this camera and it takes fantastic pictures. It's even more amazing with a higher quality lens (I suggest trying a 55-200 or 55-300 to complement the lens that the camera came with).

What led me to this awesome camera: ----------------------------------------------- 2 years back I started out as someone who simply wanted to take pictures. I didn't care about the quality that much, though I did want a decent amount of megapixels and video capability. So I bought myself a Samsung SL620 point-and-shoot with 12 megapixels and SD video capability. That camera died on me 6 months later. Christmas that year, I got a new Samsung SL820, which was like the 1st only with 720p video capability. That one also quit on me, but this time after 2 months. May 2010, I got the same camera and it only lasted 3 months, but I've taken over 1,000 pics with it. By then, I was starting to get an interest in photography and taking quality shots. Last fall, I borrowed my dad's Sony F717, which was a 5 megapixel bridge camera that he's now had for 8 years. I figured out that camera in just a few days. Unlike my cameras, the Sony had manual settings and manual focus. I was impressed by the blurred backgrounds, the color not so much. I had to fix the washed out colors in Photoshop. A couple weeks after Christmas, I had made enough money to get another point-and-shoot (Bad choice). This one was a Samsung TL240, which had 14 megapixels and a touchscreen. I got some decent shots with it, but they could've been better. A couple months later, one of my friends at school accidently knocked that camera off a table and the lens got stuck. After that, I decided I was gonna save up the extra cash and get an SLR so I could get better quality shots. I looked at several different cameras on this website. Some bridge and some SLRs. I wanted one that took decent HD video (with a reasonable amount of recording time per video), had a decent resolution, and had decent low-light. By the 1st week of April, I was gonna stick with a Samsung NX10, then I saw the Nikon D5100 on Amazon, although it wasn't actually available yet. It had everything I wanted and more. Review: --------------------------------------------- Photos: This camera takes very awesome pictures and I rarely need to use the flash. This camera stomps my deceased cameras and my dad's Sony into the ground. The focusing is very fast, except in live view. The articulating display is very helpful when I want to take self-portraits. I bought a remote so I could take self-portraits that were focused right. It totally beats the self-timer. The HDR feature is awesome, although it's only meant for still scenes and not action or anything with movement. I've used the 30-second shutter speed for shots after sunset and they come out quite nice. I only wish there were some longer shutter speeds. Holding down the shutter for a minute or 2 can be very annoying when using the bulb feature because I usually get some motion blur, even when I'm using a tripod. The effects are pretty awesome too. I used the sketch feature to sketch a picture of an Ingles store and I put it on Facebook saying that I drew it myself. My parents are in love with that feature. I can honestly say I haven't had any softness issues with my pictures, after I turned the sharpening up a notch. I also haven't had any problems with the reds being exaggerated. The colors are just great and this is the first camera I've had that took pictures that I didn't need to enhance in Photoshop before I upload them to Facebook. Video: The HD video on this camera is very clear, unlike the "HD" video on my older cameras. I bought the expensive external microphone and the sound is great and you don't hear as much of the autofocus noise. The video is a little bit wobbly when I move the camera kinda fast, but I'm pretty sure the older Nikon D5000 is much worse. Video is not my goal in life (If it were, I would've gotten a camcorder). I shoot random videos every now and then. I also have a show on Youtube that I do every once in a while. Camera in general: This camera is awesome. It may not be perfect, but no camera is or ever will be unless God makes one himself. I have absolutely no desire to return or trash this camera. It was money well-spent. Unlike the Nikon D40 (which I had borrowed from my photography teacher one time), it doesn't feel so awkward trying to get a self-portrait with just one hand. I plan on using this camera in college this fall and for a long time. Eventually, when I get rich, I'll step up to a full-frame camera. I'm not in any rush to do that though. Right now, I'm just using the kit lens included with this camera and the pictures are pretty good. I plan on getting more lens, such as the 18-200mm (for video), the 55-300mm lens, and a portrait lens. (Edit: I just realized that I can use my remote for the bulb feature.) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 12/7/2011 Update: I've had this camera for 6 months now and it stopped working. Just kidding. This awesome camera is still working as great as it did when I first got it out of its package on June 7th. I've dropped it a few times, being the clumsy person I am, but it didn't affect the camera. However, I had to replace my kit lens in October after accidentally hitting it on a door and later making things worse when I took it off and put it back on the wrong way. I decided to spend the extra money and get the 18-105mm lens instead of the standard 18-55mm lens I am using my camera right now in my photography classes in college. I started shooting in RAW on a regular basis in September and I gotta say, if you want to get the best out of your images, shoot in RAW. I use Lightroom and the images are much sharper than than JPGs straight from the camera. I tried Capture NX, but for some reason, the RAW images turn out like the in-camera JPGs and aren't very sharp. Just thought I'd let you all know.

After a lot of research (I mean a lot) I choose the D5100 over the other competitors - Canon D600, Nikon 5200, Nikon 3200 & Nikon 3300. Here is a quick comparison. The D5100 is superior to the Canon D600 in almost all respects. One major reason to go for the Nikon over Canon is the auto focus motor is built-in the lens rather than the camera body. Yes this makes the lens more expensive but it makes a good difference as per my research to have the AF motor in the lens. D3200 (D3300 also) is extremely close to the D5100 but only reason to not go for the D3200 though it is the newer model is that it does not have the flip screen which I fell is extremely necessary. I have used flip as well as fixed screens in the past and I know how valuable it is to have a flip screen. Though the D3200 has more megapixel than the D5100 it barely makes a difference in the picture quality. In fact the D5100 has a slightly larger sensor size than the D3200 which does make a difference and covers up the megapixel gap. D5200 is slightly better than the D5100 but not so much better to pay the huge price difference. However the D5100 has a slightly larger sensor size, longer battery life and it is slightly smaller. For the price difference of 11-12k I can get a good prime lens. In terms of lens for the D5100, I went for the Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di II LD Aspherical IF Macro Zoom Lens which gives me the flexibility to shoot close ups as well as zoom without having to change the lens every time. Will invest in a prime lens as and when I feel the need. For now loving and enjoying the awesome pictures with my D5100 with the Tamron 18-200mm lens. Cheers!! Nelson

I am amazed by the service of Buy and Save. This product faced some difficulties in Canadian region and "Buy and Save" instantly informed me about this situation. So, I canceled my order and again, "Buy and Save" returned my money back into account within very short period of time. I will be glad to do business with Buy and Save again.

I myself a rookie in Photography started of with this fantastic product! Its very easy to handle and will bear rough handling!

After 2 years of using,I am very much satisfied with this cam. Also bought Nikon 35mm f1.8g and together its an awesome pair. New model d5200 is also excellent.