Nikon D5300 has a
24.0MP APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Expeed 4 processor. On the other hand, Nikon D5100 has a
16.0MP APS-C (23.6 x 15.7 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Expeed 2 processor.
Nikon D5300's sensor provides 8MP more than Nikon D5100's sensor, which gives a significant advantage in real life. You can print your images larger or crop more freely.
On the other hand, please keep in mind that Max sensor resolution is not the only determinant of resolving power. Factors such as the optical elements, low pass filter, pixel size and sensor technology also affects the final resolution of the captured image.
Another difference between these two cameras is that Nikon D5300's sensor lacks anti-alias (Low-Pass) filter. Removing anti-alias filter increases the sharpness and level of detail but at the same time, it increases the chance of moiré occurring in certain scenes.
Below you can see the D5300 and D5100 sensor size comparison.
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon D5300 and Nikon D5100 Cameras
Nikon D5300 and Nikon D5100 have almost the same sensor size, so neither of them has any significant advantage over the other in terms of providing control over depth of field when used with the same focal length and aperture.
DxOMark Sensor Scores
Both Nikon D5300 and Nikon D5100 sensors have been tested by DxoMark. DxoMark scores camera sensors for color depth (DXO Portrait), dynamic range (DXO Landscape) and low-light sensitivity (DXO Sports), and also gives them an overall score. Of the two cameras that we are comparing, D5300 has scored 83, 3 points higher than D5100.
Model
Overall
Color Depth
Dynamic Range
Low-light ISO
Nikon D5300
83
24.0 bits
13.9 Evs
1338 ISO
Nikon D5100
80
23.5 bits
13.6 Evs
1183 ISO
Sensor size sets the circle of confusion, so it drives how much depth of field each
of these bodies gives you at a given aperture. You can calculate it exactly for the
Nikon D5300
or the
Nikon D5100 ,
including hyperfocal distance.
