Nikon 1 V2 vs D5100

The Nikon 1 V2 and the Nikon D5100 are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in October 2012 and April 2011. The V2 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, while the D5100 is a DSLR. The cameras are based on an one-inch (V2) and an APS-C (D5100) sensor. The V2 has a resolution of 14.2 megapixels, whereas the D5100 provides 16.1 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Nikon 1 V2		Nikon D5100
Mirrorless system camera		Digital single lens reflex
Nikon 1 mount lenses		Nikon F mount lenses
14.2 MP – 1" sensor		16.1 MP – APS-C sensor
1080/60p Video		1080/30p Video
ISO 160-12,800		ISO 100-6,400 (100 - 25,600)
Electronic viewfinder (1440k dots)		Optical viewfinder
3.0" LCD – 921k dots		3.0" LCD – 921k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)		Swivel screen (not touch-sensitive)
15 shutter flaps per second		4 shutter flaps per second
310 shots per battery charge		660 shots per battery charge
109 x 82 x 46 mm, 278 g		128 x 97 x 79 mm, 560 g

Check V2 offers at
ebay.com
Check D5100 offers at
ebay.com

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Nikon 1 V2 and the Nikon D5100? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Nikon 1 V2 and the Nikon D5100. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The V2 can be obtained in two different colors (black, white), while the D5100 is only available in black.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Nikon D5100 is notably larger (39 percent) than the Nikon 1 V2. Moreover, the D5100 is substantially heavier (101 percent) than the V2. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the V2 nor the D5100 are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. Hence, you might want to study and compare the specifications of available lenses in order to get the full picture of the size and weight of the two camera systems.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, you can use the CAM-parator app to select your camera combination among a large number of options.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Nikon 1 V2	109 mm	82 mm	46 mm	278 g	310	n	Oct 2012	EUR 749	ebay.com
2.		Nikon D5100	128 mm	97 mm	79 mm	560 g	660	n	Apr 2011	EUR 699	ebay.com
3.		Canon G1 X	117 mm	81 mm	65 mm	534 g	250	n	Jan 2012	EUR 749	ebay.com
4.		Fujifilm X-M1	117 mm	67 mm	39 mm	330 g	350	n	Jun 2013	EUR 679	ebay.com
5.		Nikon 1 V1	113 mm	76 mm	44 mm	383 g	350	n	Sep 2011	EUR 699	ebay.com
6.		Nikon 1 V3	111 mm	65 mm	33 mm	381 g	310	n	Mar 2014	EUR 749	ebay.com
7.		Nikon D3100	124 mm	96 mm	75 mm	505 g	550	n	Aug 2010	EUR 549	ebay.com
8.		Nikon D5000	127 mm	104 mm	80 mm	590 g	510	n	Apr 2009	EUR 699	ebay.com
9.		Nikon D5200	129 mm	98 mm	78 mm	555 g	500	n	Nov 2012	EUR 809	ebay.com
10.		Nikon D5300	125 mm	98 mm	76 mm	480 g	600	n	Oct 2013	EUR 749	ebay.com
11.		Nikon D5600	124 mm	97 mm	70 mm	465 g	970	n	Nov 2016	EUR 819	ebay.com
12.		Panasonic G3	115 mm	84 mm	47 mm	336 g	270	n	May 2011	EUR 579	ebay.com
13.		Panasonic GF3	108 mm	67 mm	32 mm	264 g	300	n	Jun 2011	EUR 469	ebay.com
14.		Panasonic GF5	108 mm	67 mm	37 mm	267 g	360	n	Apr 2012	EUR 449	ebay.com
15.		Panasonic GF6	111 mm	65 mm	38 mm	323 g	340	n	Apr 2013	EUR 499	ebay.com
16.		Panasonic GX1	116 mm	68 mm	39 mm	318 g	320	n	Nov 2011	EUR 599	ebay.com
17.		Ricoh GR	117 mm	61 mm	35 mm	245 g	290	n	Apr 2013	EUR 749	ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The D5100 was somewhat cheaper (by 6 percent) than the V2 at launch, but both cameras fall into the same price category. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Nikon 1 V2 features an one-inch sensor and the Nikon D5100 an APS-C sensor. The sensor area in the D5100 is 220 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 2.7 and 1.5. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

In terms of chip-set technology, the V2 uses a more advanced image processing engine (EXPEED 3) than the D5100 (EXPEED 2), with benefits for noise reduction, color accuracy, and processing speed.

With 16.1MP, the D5100 offers a higher resolution than the V2 (14.2MP), but the D5100 nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 4.80μm versus 2.86μm for the V2) due to its larger sensor. However, the V2 is a somewhat more recent model (by 1 year and 6 months) than the D5100, and its sensor might have benefitted from technological advances during this time that enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units.

The resolution advantage of the Nikon D5100 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the D5100 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 24.6 x 16.3 inches or 62.6 x 41.5 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 19.7 x 13.1 inches or 50.1 x 33.2 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 16.4 x 10.9 inches or 41.7 x 27.6 cm. The corresponding values for the Nikon 1 V2 are 23 x 15.4 inches or 58.5 x 39 cm for good quality, 18.4 x 12.3 inches or 46.8 x 31.2 cm for very good quality, and 15.4 x 10.2 inches or 39 x 26 cm for excellent quality prints.

The V2 has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.

The Nikon 1 V2 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 160 to ISO 12800. The corresponding ISO settings for the Nikon D5100 are ISO 100 to ISO 6400, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 100-25600.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. Of the two cameras under consideration, the D5100 offers substantially better image quality than the V2 (overall score 30 points higher). The advantage is based on 3.3 bits higher color depth, 2.8 EV in additional dynamic range, and 1.6 stops in additional low light sensitivity. The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Nikon 1 V2	1-inch	14.2	4608	3072	1080/60p	20.2	10.8	403	50
2.		Nikon D5100	APS-C	16.1	4928	3264	1080/30p	23.5	13.6	1183	80
3.		Canon G1 X	1.5-inch	14.2	4352	3264	1080/24p	21.7	10.8	644	60
4.		Fujifilm X-M1	APS-C	16.0	4896	3264	1080/30p	23.4	12.6	1371	76
5.		Nikon 1 V1	1-inch	10.0	3872	2592	1080/60i	21.3	11.0	346	54
6.		Nikon 1 V3	1-inch	18.2	5232	3488	1080/60p	20.8	10.7	384	52
7.		Nikon D3100	APS-C	14.2	4608	3072	1080/24p	22.5	11.3	919	67
8.		Nikon D5000	APS-C	12.2	4288	2848	720/24p	22.7	12.5	868	72
9.		Nikon D5200	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60i	24.2	13.9	1284	84
10.		Nikon D5300	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	24.0	13.9	1338	83
11.		Nikon D5600	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	24.1	14.0	1306	84
12.		Panasonic G3	Four Thirds	15.8	4592	3448	1080/60i	21.0	10.6	667	56
13.		Panasonic GF3	Four Thirds	12.0	4000	3000	1080/60i	20.6	10.1	459	50
14.		Panasonic GF5	Four Thirds	12.0	4000	3000	1080/60i	20.5	10.0	573	50
15.		Panasonic GF6	Four Thirds	15.8	4592	3448	1080/60i	20.7	10.6	622	54
16.		Panasonic GX1	Four Thirds	15.8	4592	3448	1080/60p	20.8	10.6	703	55
17.		Ricoh GR	APS-C	16.1	4928	3264	1080/30p	23.6	13.5	972	78
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. The two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, but the V2 provides a higher frame rate than the D5100. It can shoot video footage at 1080/60p, while the D5100 is limited to 1080/30p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the V2 has an electronic viewfinder (1440k dots), while the D5100 has an optical one. Both systems have their advantages, with the electronic viewfinder making it possible to project supplementary shooting information into the framing view, whereas the optical viewfinder offers lag-free viewing and a very clear framing image. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Nikon 1 V2, the Nikon D5100, and comparable cameras.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Max Shutter Speed *	Max Shutter Flaps *	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Nikon 1 V2	1440	n	3.0 / 921	fixed	n	1/4000s	15.0/s	Y	n
2.		Nikon D5100	optical	n	3.0 / 921	swivel	n	1/4000s	4.0/s	Y	n
3.		Canon G1 X	optical	n	3.0 / 922	swivel	n	1/4000s	1.9/s	Y	Y
4.		Fujifilm X-M1	none	n	3.0 / 920	tilting	n	1/4000s	5.6/s	Y	n
5.		Nikon 1 V1	1440	n	3.0 / 921	fixed	n	1/4000s	10.0/s	n	n
6.		Nikon 1 V3	optional	n	3.0 / 1037	tilting	Y	1/4000s	60.0/s	Y	n
7.		Nikon D3100	optical	n	3.0 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
8.		Nikon D5000	optical	n	2.7 / 230	full-flex	n	1/4000s	4.0/s	Y	n
9.		Nikon D5200	optical	n	3.0 / 921	swivel	n	1/4000s	5.0/s	Y	n
10.		Nikon D5300	optical	n	3.2 / 1037	swivel	n	1/4000s	5.0/s	Y	n
11.		Nikon D5600	optical	n	3.2 / 1037	swivel	Y	1/4000s	5.0/s	Y	n
12.		Panasonic G3	1440	n	3.0 / 460	swivel	Y	1/4000s	4.0/s	Y	n
13.		Panasonic GF3	none	n	3.0 / 460	fixed	Y	1/4000s	3.2/s	Y	n
14.		Panasonic GF5	none	n	3.0 / 920	fixed	Y	1/4000s	4.0/s	Y	n
15.		Panasonic GF6	none	n	3.0 / 1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	4.2/s	Y	n
16.		Panasonic GX1	optional	n	3.0 / 460	fixed	Y	1/4000s	4.2/s	Y	n
17.		Ricoh GR	optional	n	3.0 / 1230	fixed	n	1/4000s	4.0/s	Y	n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the V2 is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Nikon 1 V2 and the Nikon D5100 both have an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the V2 and the D5100 write their files to SDXC cards. Both cameras can use UHS-I cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Nikon 1 V2 and Nikon D5100 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Mic / Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Nikon 1 V2	-	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
2.		Nikon D5100	Y	mono / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
3.		Canon G1 X	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
4.		Fujifilm X-M1	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
5.		Nikon 1 V1	-	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
6.		Nikon 1 V3	-	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
7.		Nikon D3100	Y	mono / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
8.		Nikon D5000	Y	mono / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
9.		Nikon D5200	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
10.		Nikon D5300	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
11.		Nikon D5600	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	Y
12.		Panasonic G3	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
13.		Panasonic GF3	-	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
14.		Panasonic GF5	-	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
15.		Panasonic GF6	-	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
16.		Panasonic GX1	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
17.		Ricoh GR	Y	mono / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	-	-	-

It is notable that the D5100 has a microphone port, which can help to improve the quality of audio recordings by attaching an external microphone. The V2 does not feature such a mic input.

Both the V2 and the D5100 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The D5100 was replaced by the Nikon D5200, while the V2 was followed by the Nikon 1 V3. Further information on the features and operation of the V2 and D5100 can be found, respectively, in the Nikon 1 V2 Manual (free pdf) or the online Nikon D5100 Manual.

Review summary

So how do things add up? Which of the two cameras – the Nikon 1 V2 or the Nikon D5100 – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

Arguments in favor of the Nikon 1 V2:

• Better jpgs: Has a more modern image processing engine (EXPEED 3 vs EXPEED 2).
• Better video: Provides higher movie framerates (1080/60p versus 1080/30p).
• Better live-view autofocus: Features on-sensor phase-detection for more confident autofocus.
• More framing info: Has an electronic viewfinder that displays shooting data.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (15 vs 4 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
• More compact: Is smaller (109x82mm vs 128x97mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
• Less heavy: Is lighter (by 282g or 50 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
• More legacy lens friendly: Can take a broad range of non-native lenses via adapters.
• More modern: Is somewhat more recent (announced 1 year and 6 months after the D5100).

Reasons to prefer the Nikon D5100:

• More detail: Has more megapixels (16.1 vs 14.2MP), which boosts linear resolution by 7%.
• Better image quality: Scores substantially higher (30 points) in the DXO overall evaluation.
• Richer colors: Generates noticeably more natural colors (3.3 bits more color depth).
• More dynamic range: Captures a broader range of light and dark details (2.8 EV of extra DR).
• Better low-light sensitivity: Can shoot in dim conditions (1.6 stops ISO advantage).
• Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
• Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.
• More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
• More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
• Longer lasting: Gets more shots (660 versus 310) out of a single battery charge.
• Better lighting: Features a hotshoe and can thus hold and trigger an external flash gun.
• More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in April 2011).

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the D5100 emerges as the winner of the match-up (12 : 10 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Nikon 1 V2 and the Nikon D5100 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera and Best DSLR Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the V2 or the D5100 perform in practice. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews

This is why expert reviews are important. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DCW   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Nikon 1 V2	3/5	..	..	..	4.5/5	4/5	Oct 2012	EUR 749	ebay.com
2.		Nikon D5100	5/5	+ +	..	76/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Apr 2011	EUR 699	ebay.com
3.		Canon G1 X	5/5	+	..	76/100	4/5	4.5/5	Jan 2012	EUR 749	ebay.com
4.		Fujifilm X-M1	3/5	+	..	77/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2013	EUR 679	ebay.com
5.		Nikon 1 V1	..	+	..	69/100	4.5/5	4/5	Sep 2011	EUR 699	ebay.com
6.		Nikon 1 V3	3/5	..	..	76/100	4.5/5	4/5	Mar 2014	EUR 749	ebay.com
7.		Nikon D3100	5/5	+ +	..	72/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2010	EUR 549	ebay.com
8.		Nikon D5000	..	+ +	..	75/100	4/5	4.5/5	Apr 2009	EUR 699	ebay.com
9.		Nikon D5200	4/5	+ +	..	79/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Nov 2012	EUR 809	ebay.com
10.		Nikon D5300	4/5	+ +	..	79/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2013	EUR 749	ebay.com
11.		Nikon D5600	4/5	..	4/5	79/100	4.5/5	4/5	Nov 2016	EUR 819	ebay.com
12.		Panasonic G3	3/5	+ +	..	75/100	4.5/5	5/5	May 2011	EUR 579	ebay.com
13.		Panasonic GF3	3/5	82/100	..	71/100	4.5/5	4/5	Jun 2011	EUR 469	ebay.com
14.		Panasonic GF5	3/5	..	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Apr 2012	EUR 449	ebay.com
15.		Panasonic GF6	..	+ +	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Apr 2013	EUR 499	ebay.com
16.		Panasonic GX1	3/5	+	..	77/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Nov 2011	EUR 599	ebay.com
17.		Ricoh GR	5/5	..	..	79/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Apr 2013	EUR 749	ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

Check V2 offers at
ebay.com
Check D5100 offers at
ebay.com

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just use the search menu below. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.

~

Check V2 offers at
ebay.com
Check D5100 offers at
ebay.com

Did you notice an error on this page? If so, please get in touch, so that we can correct the information.