Nikon D5100 vs Sigma SD14

In this comparison, we will evaluate the Nikon D5100 and the Sigma SD14, highlighting the advantages of each over the other, discussing their pros and cons, shared strengths and weaknesses, and providing a rating based on their available features and specifications to assist you in choosing the one that best suits your needs.

Nikon D5100 was introduced in April 2011 and Sigma SD14 was introduced in September 2006. Let us first list highlights of the models.

Now that we've looked at the most essential specifications and gained a basic understanding of these cameras, we can delve into more details and see the differences between them.

This section shows those features and specifications which are the reason to choose Nikon D5100 over Sigma SD14.

This section shows those features and specifications which are the reason to choose Sigma SD14 over Nikon D5100.

We already listed pros and cons of each model. However, you may also find useful to look at their common strengths and weaknesses shown side-by-side.

Screen

Nikon D5100 has a 3.0" Fully Articulated screen with 921k dot resolution and Sigma SD14 has a 2.5" Fixed screen with 150k dot resolution. Fully articulated screen makes Nikon D5100 selfie and vlogger friendly and generally very useful for video shooting.

Viewfinder

Nikon D5100 has a built-in Optical (pentamirror) viewfinderSigma SD14 has a built-in Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder. Nikon D5100 has 95% coverage with 0.78x (0.52x 35mm equivalent) magnification and Sigma SD14 has 98% coverage with 0.90x (0.60x 35mm equivalent) magnification.

Nikon D5100 features a 16.2 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor with dimensions of 23.6 x 15.6 mm and a total area of 368.2 mm². Its native ISO range is 100 - 6,400 and expands to 100 - 25,600 in boosted mode. Sigma SD14 features a 5 megapixel APS-C CMOS (Foveon X3) sensor with dimensions of 20.7 x 13.8 mm and a total area of 190.4 mm². Its native ISO range is 100 - 800 and expands to 100 - 1,600 in boosted mode.

Here is a sensor size comparison chart where you can see how different sensors compare with each other:

Sensor size chart

	Sensor	Dimensions	Area	Aspect Ratio	Crop Factor
	Medium Format	44 x 33 mm	1452 mm2	4:3	0.79x
	Full Frame	36 x 24 mm	864 mm2	3:2	1x
	APS-H	27 x 18 mm	486 mm2	3:2	1.3x
	APS-C	23.6 x 15.6 mm	368.2 mm2	3:2	1.5x
	APS-C (Canon)	22.3 x 14.9 mm	332.3 mm2	3:2	1.6x
	Micro Four Thirds	17.4 x 13 mm	226.2 mm2	4:3	2x
	1-inch	13.2 x 8.8 mm	116.2 mm2	3:2	2.7x
	1/1.7-inch	7.44 x 5.58 mm	41.5 mm2	4:3	4.7x
	1/2.3-inch	6.17 x 4.55 mm	28.1 mm2	4:3	5.6x

Nikon D5100 is equipped with EXPEED 2 processor and can take pictures up to 4928 x 3264 resolution. It can also take pictures with lower resolution like 3696 x 2448, 2464 x 1632 with 3:2 aspect ratios. Sigma SD14 can take pictures up to 2640 x 1760 resolution. It can also take pictures with lower resolution like 1776 x 1184, 1296 x 864 with 3:2 aspect ratios.

Lens Mount

Nikon D5100 has Nikon F lens mount and Sigma SD14 has Sigma SA lens mount. They both have APS-C sensor but because of a small size difference their crop factors (also called lens multiplier) differ from each other. Nikon D5100 has the crop factor of 1.5x which means that a 35mm equivalent focal length of the mounted lens will be equal to its actual focal length times 1.5. Sigma SD14 has the crop factor of 1.7x which means that a 35mm equivalent focal length of the mounted lens will be equal to its actual focal length times 1.7.

No Low-Pass Filter on Sigma SD14

There is no optical low-pass filter (OLPF), also known as an anti-aliasing filter, in front of the sensor on Sigma SD14. This results in a slightly sharper image but may also introduce moiré patterns and aliasing artifacts when photographing subjects with fine, repetitive patterns or details.

No Image Stabilization

The cameras do not have image stabilization. On Nikon D5100 it means that you need lenses with optical image stabilization for vibration reduction. As for Sigma SD14 nothing can be done. On Sigma SD14 it means that you need lenses with optical image stabilization for vibration reduction. As for Nikon D5100 nothing can be done.

USB Inputs and HDMI Outputs

Both models have USB inputs for data transfer. connector for video signal output.

Battery

Nikon D5100 comes with EN-EL14 battery pack with battery life of 660 shots.

External Storage Slots

Nikon D5100 has a single SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot. Sigma SD14 has a single CompactFlash (Type I/II, UDMA compatible), Microdrive card slot.

Shutter

Nikon D5100 has Electronically controlled vertical-travel focal-plane shutter. Sigma SD14 has Electronically controlled focal plane shutter. Shutter speed can go up to 1/4000 sec on Nikon D5100, and up to 1/4000 sec on Sigma SD14. Nikon D5100 can shoot continuously up to 4.0 fps. Sigma SD14 can shoot continuously up to 3.0 fps.

Focusing

Nikon D5100 has 11 (1 cross-type) focusing points and Sigma SD14 has . Nikon D5100 has detection range from -1 to +19 EV.

Exposure

Exposure meterings of Nikon D5100 and Sigma SD14 range from 0 to +20 EV and +1 to +20 EV respectively and you can set the exposure compensation within the ±5 EV range on Nikon D5100 and ±3 EV range on Sigma SD14. You can also do exposure lock, exposure bracketing and manual exposure adjustment on Nikon D5100 and exposure bracketing and manual exposure adjustment on Sigma SD14.

Flash

Cameras have built-in flash with maximum range of 12.00 m at ISO 100 on Nikon D5100. They also accept external flash which can be connected via Hot Shoe. The fastest flash synchronization speed is 1/200 sec on Nikon D5100 and 1/180 sec on Sigma SD14.

Nikon D5100 body has dimensions of 128 x 97 x 79 mm (5.04 x 3.82 x 3.11") and Sigma SD14 body has dimensions of 144 x 107 x 81 mm (5.67 x 4.21 x 3.19"). Nikon D5100 weighs 560 g (1.23 lb / 19.75 oz) and Sigma SD14 weighs 750 g (1.65 lb / 26.46 oz).

Nikon D5100

Sigma SD14

128 mm

97 mm

144 mm

107 mm