Nikon D5100 vs Nikon Z7

Nikon Z7 advantages over Nikon D5100

• Focus peaking
  Peaker vs Non-peaker
  Your camera will highlight what's in focus
• Larger sensor
  35mm vs APS-C
  More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
• In-Camera Image Stabilization
  Yes vs No
  Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
• Shoot 4K video
  4K (UHD) vs 1080p
  Make sure you have a fast computer
• Touchscreen
  Touch vs No touch
  Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
• Built-in Wi-Fi
  Wi-Fi vs None
  Share your photos wirelessly
• Built-in Bluetooth
  Yes vs No
  Always-on wireless connectivity
• Better color depth

  Better color depth

  Color depth refers to the number of unique colors that a sensor can faithfully capture. Cameras with better color depth will demonstrate smoother transitions from one color to the next, and avoid "banding" in areas with subtle shading. (Blue skies are an example of where you might see color banding.)

  More color depth is generally better, but you'll struggle to notice a difference between two cameras with less than 1 bit of difference. Color depth above 22 bits is considered excellent.

  Want to learn more? Head over to our full glossary entry on color depth

  Color depth test data courtesy of DxO Mark.

  Z7 test data on DxO Mark D5100 test data on DxO Mark
  26.3 vs 23.5 bits
  Capture richer, more accurate colors
• Higher effective ISO

  Higher effective ISO

  Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

  Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

  You can learn more at our glossary entry.

  Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.

  Z7 test data on DxO Mark D5100 test data on DxO Mark
  2,668 vs 1,183 iso
  Take photos in low light with less noise
• On-sensor phase detect
  Yes vs No
  Usually improves live view and video AF performance
• Top deck display
  Yes vs No
  Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
• Newer
  7 years vs 15 years old
  Newer cameras often support more advanced features
• More dots on screen
  2100k vs 922k dots
  Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
• More viewfinder magnification
  0.80x vs 0.52x
  Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
• More pixels
  45.7 vs 16.2 megapixels
  Higher resolution photos
• Shoots 60p video
  Yes vs No
  A faster framerate can give you more editing options
• Headphone jack
  Yes vs No
  Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
• Lacks anti-aliasing filter
  No Filter vs Filter
  Enjoy sharper photos
• Wider angle kit lens
  24 mm vs 27 mm
  Capture more of the scene with the included lens
• Faster JPEG shooting
  9.0 fps vs 3.9 fps
  Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
• Faster RAW shooting
  9.0 fps vs 4.0 fps
  Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
• Bigger RAW buffer
  23 vs 13 shots
  Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
• Slow-motion videos
  Yes vs No
  Shoot slow-motion videos
• Faster shutter
  1/8000 vs 1/4000 sec
  Shoot wide open in bright light
• Higher extended ISO
  102400 vs 25600 ISO
  Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility