Upgrade Guide
Nikon D5100→Nikon Nikon D780
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the D5100. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the Nikon D780
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Resolution25MP vs 16MP (+9MP)
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Weather sealingAdded — fully sealed body
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Burst rate7fps vs 4fps
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Generation9 years newer (2020 vs 2011)
Suitability by genre
Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.
| Genre | D5100 | Nikon D780 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +1.1 | ||
| Street | -0.3 | ||
| Travel | +0.3 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +2.9 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — | ||
| Documentary | +2.3 | ||
| Sports & Action | +1.7 | ||
| Landscape | +1.8 | ||
| Wildlife | +1.0 | ||
| Casual | +0.7 | ||
| Food | +0.7 | ||
| Macro | +1.1 | ||
| Architecture | +1.2 | ||
| Astrophotography | +1.7 | ||
| Filmmaking | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | D5100 | Nikon D780 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £35 used | £1,999 | |
| Released | 2011 | 2020 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 16.2MP APS-C CMOS | 24.3MP full-frame BSI CMOS | |
| Resolution | 16MP | 25MP | ↑ |
| Video | Full HD 1080p/30 | 4K/30p, 10-bit N-Log via HDMI, 1080p/120p | |
| Autofocus | 11-point phase-detect (1 cross-type) via viewfinder; contrast AF with face priority in live view | 51-point DSLR phase-detect (viewfinder); on-sensor hybrid AF with eye detection (live view/video) | |
| Stabilisation | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | No stabilisation | |
| Burst Rate | 4fps | 7fps | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~660 shots (CIPA) | 2,260 shots (CIPA, viewfinder) | ↓ |
| Weight | 560g (with battery) | 840g (with battery and card) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Yes | ↑ |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentamirror, 95% coverage, 0.78x | Optical pentaprism, 0.7x magnification, 100% coverage | |
| Screen | 3.0" vari-angle LCD, 921k dots | Tilting touchscreen | |
| Mount | Nikon F-mount (DX) | Nikon F-mount | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD slot | Dual SD (UHS-II) |
Compare side-by-side
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Get a personalised upgrade score
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Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the Nikon D780 against your specific genres — not just specs.
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