leadpic_Nikon_d5100
April 5, 2011: Nikon has just released details of its latest DX-format DSLR camera, the D5100.
Replacing the D5000 and sitting between the D3100 and D7000, the new camera is 10% smaller than its predecessor. It shares the same 16.2-megapixel sensor as the D700 and boasts the next-generation EXPEED 2 image processing engine. The shutter mechanism is rated for 100,000 cycles. It’s targeted at entry-level photographers who want a higher-featured camera than the D3100. The D5100 boasts a new vari-angle monitor with a side hinge that provides greater flexibility for shooting from different angles.
Nikon_d5100_18_55_front
Front view of the Nikon D5100 with the 18-55mm kit lens. (Source: Nikon.)
Nikon_D5100_LCD_screen
Rear view of the D5100 showing some of the positions for the vari-angle monitor. (Source: Nikon.)
It’s also the first Nikon DSLR to include a Special Effects mode. This mode joins the Auto, P, S. A and M modes on the shooting mode dial and are available for shooting stills and video clips. Seven effects are provided: selective colour, colour sketch, miniature mode, silhouette, high key, low key and night vision mode. Selective colour is also available for post capture adjustments. Night vision uses an ISO equivalent 102,400 and outputs images in black and white to minimise noise.
The camera is also equipped with the D-Movie function that supports recording of Full-HD (1080p, 30 fps) movies. Auto-focusing is supported during movie recording using contrast-detect AF. Focus tracking is available when the focus mode is set to full-time-servo AF (AF-F) and the AF-area mode to subject-tracking AF. The D5100 also offers in-camera movie editing and users can save a single frame as a still JPEG image or trim the beginning and/or end of movie files. An external port is provided for the new optional the Stereo Microphone ME-1.
Standard sensitivity settings range from ISO 100 to ISO 6400 and additional increases up to Hi 2 (ISO 25600 equivalent) are available. The HDR function captures two shots of varying exposure when the shutter-release button is pressed and combines them into a single image with a broad dynamic range. A Quiet Shutter-Release mode is provided, along with support for high-speed burst shooting at up to four frames/second.
Sixteen Scene pre-sets are included for novice users. Infrared receivers for remote control operation on the front and back of the camera enable wireless control of the shutter from both in front of and behind the camera (optional ML-L3 wireless remote control supported). Built-in HDMI-CEC compatibility enables control over playback of still images and movies using the television’s remote control when the camera is connected to a high-definition TV via the HDMI connector.
Nikon Australia hasn’t released details of when the D5100 will go on sale in Australia or its RRP. We’ll add this information when it is available.
SPECIFICATIONS
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Type of Camera
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Single-lens reflex digital camera
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Effective Pixels
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16.2 million
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Image Sensor
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23.6 x 15.6 mm CMOS sensor
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Image Size (Pixels)
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4,928 x 3,264 (L), 3,696 x 2,448 (M), 2,464 x 1,632 (S)
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File Format
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NEF (RAW): 14 bit, compressed JPEG: JPEG-Baseline compliant with fine (approx. 1 : 4), normal (approx. 1 : 8), or basic (approx. 1 : 16) compression NEF (RAW)+JPEG: Single photograph recorded in both NEF (RAW) and JPEG formats
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ISO Sensitivity
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ISO 100 – 6400 in steps of 1/3 EV. Can also be set to approx. 0.3, 0.7, 1, or 2 EV (ISO 25600 equivalent) above ISO 6400; auto ISO sensitivity control available
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Picture Control System
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Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait, Landscape; selected Picture Control can be modified; storage for custom Picture Controls
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Storage Media
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SD (Secure Digital), SDHC, and SDXC memory cards
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File system
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DCF (Design Rule for Camera File System) 2.0, DPOF (Digital Print Order Format), Exif 2.3 (Exchangeable Image File Format for Digital Still Cameras), PictBridge
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Viewfinder
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Eye-level pentamirror single-lens reflex viewfinder
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Frame coverage
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Approx. 95% horizontal and 95% vertical
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Magnification
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Approx. 0.78 x (50 mm f/1.4 lens at infinity, -1.0m-1)
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Eyepoint
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17.9 mm (-1.0m-1)
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Diopter adjustment
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-1.7-+0.7 m-1
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Focusing screen
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Type B BriteView Clear Matte Mark VII screen
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Reflex mirror
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Quick return
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Lens aperture
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Instant return, electronically controlled
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Compatible lenses
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Autofocus is available with AF-S and AF-I lenses.
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Shutter Type
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Electronically-controlled vertical-travel focal-plane shutter
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Shutter Speed
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1/4000 – 30 s in steps of 1/3 or 1/2 EV; Bulb; Time (requires optional ML-L3 remote control)
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Flash sync speed
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X=1/200 s; synchronizes with shutter at 1/200 s or slower
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Release mode
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Single frame, continuous, self-timer, delayed remote, quick-response remote, quiet shutter release
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Frame advance rate
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Up to 4 fps (manual focus, mode M or S, shutter speed 1/250 s or faster, and other settings at default values)
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Release Self-timer
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2 s, 5 s, 10 s, 20 s; 1-9 exposures
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Exposure Metering
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TTL exposure metering using 420-pixel RGB sensor
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Exposure Metering method
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Matrix: 3D colour matrix metering II (type G and D lenses); colour matrix metering II (other CPU lenses) Centre-weighted: Weight of 75% given to 8-mm circle in centre of frame Spot: Meters 3.5-mm circle (about 2.5% of frame) centred on selected focus point
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Exposure Range (ISO 100, f/1.4 lens, 20 °C/68 °F)
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Matrix or centre-weighted metering: 0-20 EV; Spot metering: 2-20 EV
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Exposure meter coupling
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CPU
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Exposure Mode
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Auto modes (auto; auto, flash off ); programmed auto with flexible program (P); shutter-priority auto (S); aperture-priority auto (A); manual (M); scene modes (portrait; landscape; child; sports; close up; night portrait; night landscape; party/indoor; beach/snow; sunset; dusk/dawn; pet portrait; candlelight; blossom; autumn colours; food); special effects modes (night vision; colour sketch; miniature effect; selective colour; silhouette; high key; low key)
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Exposure compensation
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-5 – +5 EV in increments of 1/3 or 1/2 EV
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Bracketing
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Exposure bracketing: 3 frames in steps of 1/3 or 1/2 EV; White balance bracketing: 3 frames in steps of 1; Active D-Lighting bracketing: 2 frames
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Exposure lock
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Luminosity locked at detected value with AE-L/AF-L button
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ISO sensitivity (Recommended Exposure Index)
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ISO 100 – 6400 in steps of 1/3 EV. Can also be set to approx. 0.3, 0.7, 1, or 2 EV (ISO 25600 equivalent) above ISO 6400; auto ISO sensitivity control available
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Active D-Lighting
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Auto, extra high, high, normal, low, off
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Autofocus
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Nikon Multi-CAM 1000 autofocus sensor module with TTL phase detection, 11 focus points (including one cross-type sensor), and AF-assist illuminator (range approx. 0.5-3 m/1 ft. 8 in.-9 ft. 10 in.)
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Detection range
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-1 – +19 EV (ISO 100, 20 °C/68 °F)
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Lens servo
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Autofocus (AF): Single-servo AF (AF-S); continuous-servo AF (AF-C); auto AF-S/AF-C selection (AF-A); predictive focus tracking activated automatically according to subject status Manual focus (MF): Electronic rangefinder can be used
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Focus point
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Can be selected from 11 focus points
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AF-area mode
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Single-point AF, dynamic-area AF, auto-area AF, 3D-tracking (11 points)
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Focus lock
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Focus can be locked by pressing shutter-release button halfway (single-servo AF) or by pressing AE-L/AF-L button
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Built-in flash
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Auto, portrait, child, close up, night portrait, party/indoor, pet portrait, colour sketch: Auto flash with auto pop-up P, S, A, M, food: Manual pop-up with button release
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Guide Number
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Approx. 12/39, 13/43 with manual flash (m/ft, ISO 100, 20 °C/68 °F)
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Flash control
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TTL: i-TTL balanced fill-flash and standard i-TTL flash for digital SLR using 420-pixel RGB sensor are available with built-in flash and SB-900, SB-800, SB-700, SB-600, or SB-400 (i-TTL balanced fill-flash is available when matrix or centre-weighted metering is selected); Auto aperture: Available with SB-900/SB-800 and CPU lens; Non-TTL auto: Supported flash units include SB-900, SB-800, SB-80DX, SB-28DX, SB-28, SB-27, and SB-22S; Distance-priority manual: Available with SB-900, SB-800, and SB-700
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Flash mode
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Auto, auto with red-eye reduction, auto slow sync, auto slow sync with red-eye reduction, fill-flash, red-eye reduction, slow sync, slow sync with red-eye reduction, rear-curtain with slow sync, rear-curtain sync, off
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Flash compensation
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-3 – +1 EV in increments of 1/3 or 1/2 EV
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Flash-ready indicator
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Lights when built-in flash or optional flash unit such as SB-900, SB-800, SB-700, SB-600, or SB-400 is fully charged; blinks for 3 s after flash is fired at full output
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Accessory shoe
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ISO 518 hot-shoe with sync and data contacts and safety lock
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Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS)
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Advanced Wireless Lighting supported with SB-900, SB-800, or SB-700 as a master flash, or SU-800 as commander; Flash Colour Information Communication supported with built-in flash and all CLS-compatible flash units
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Sync terminal
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AS-15 sync terminal adapter (available separately)
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White balance
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Auto, incandescent, fluorescent (7 types), direct sunlight, flash, cloudy, shade, preset manual, all except preset manual with fine tuning.
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Lens servo
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Autofocus (AF): Single-servo AF (AF-S); full-time-servo AF (AF-F) Manual focus (MF)
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AF-area mode
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Face-priority AF, wide-area AF, normal-area AF, subject-tracking AF
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Autofocus
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Contrast-detect AF anywhere in frame (camera selects focus point automatically when face-priority AF or subject-tracking AF is selected)
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Automatic scene selection
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Available in auto and flash off modes
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Movie Metering
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TTL exposure metering using main image sensor
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Movie Metering method
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Matrix
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Movie Frame size (pixels) and frame rate
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1,920 x 1,080, 30 p/25 p/24 p, high/normal 1,280 x 720, 30 p/25 p/24 p, high/normal 640 x 424, 30 p/25 p, high/normal. A frame rate of 30 p (actual frame rate 29.97 fps) is available when NTSC is selected for video mode. 25 p is available when PAL is selected for video mode. Actual frame rate when 24 p is selected is 23.976 fps.
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Video compression
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H.264/MPEG-4 Advanced Video Coding
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Audio recording device
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Built-in monaural or external stereo microphone; sensitivity adjustable
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Monitor
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7.5-cm/3-in., approx. 921k-dot (VGA), vari-angle low-temperature polysilicon TFT LCD with 170 °; viewing angle, approx. 100% frame coverage, and brightness adjustment
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Playback
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Full-frame and thumbnail (4, 9, or 72 images or calendar) playback with playback zoom, movie playback, slide show, histogram display, highlights, auto image rotation, and image comment (up to 36 characters)
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USB
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Hi-Speed USB
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Video output
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NTSC, PAL
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HDMI output
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Type C mini-pin HDMI connector
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Accessory terminal
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Remote cord: MC-DC2 (available separately) GPS unit: GP-1 (available separately)
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Audio input
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Stereo mini-pin jack (3.5mm diameter)
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Supported languages
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Finnish, French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, Turkish
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Battery
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One rechargeable Li-ion EN-EL14 battery
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AC adapter
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EH-5b AC adapter; requires EP-5A power connector (available separately)
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Tripod socket
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1/4 in. (ISO 1222)
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Dimensions (W x H x D)
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Approx.128 x 97 x 79 mm (5.0 x 3.8 x 3.1 in.)
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Weight
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Approx. 510 g/1 lb. 2 oz. (camera body only); Approx. 560 g (1 lb. 3.7 oz.) with battery and memory card but without body cap
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Temperature
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0-40 °C (+32-104 °F)
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Humidity
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Less than 85% (no condensation)
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Supplied accessories
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EN-EL14 rechargeable Li-ion battery (with terminal cover), MH-24 battery charger, AN-DC3 strap, EG-CP14 audio/video cable, UC-E6 USB cable, DK-5 eyepiece cap, BS-1 accessory shoe cover, DK-20 rubber eyecup, BF-1B body cap, ViewNX 2 CD, User’s Manual
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