bikinkawboy Loc: north central Missouri

Today I set up a Pizza Hut box and took comparison photos with my D40 and D5100 using the 18-55 D40 kit lens, the 18-55 VR D5100 kit lens and the 55-200VR lens I've had for several years. I used the pizza box because I figured the paper fibers would make sharpness comparison pretty accurate.

On both cameras I used the auto mode setting, which does not allow any user input for sharpness. I took photos with both cameras using auto focus, manual focus by eye and the rangefinder. In no case did I notice any difference in sharpness in any of the different methods, meaning the auto focus is ok on both. I set the target and cameras up on a stable surface and used the infared remote trigger each time to eliminate any movement and shot three images in rapid succession to make sure there were no differences.

Using both cameras, I took photos using each of the three lenses using the same memory card and then enlarged the image, centered on the center of focus as shown on the Nikon NX software. Here's the results I got, using the sharpness of individual paper fibers for comparison.

18-55 DX lens, the 5100 produced an image slightly sharper than the D40.

18-55 DX VR (with VR off), the 5100 produced an image slightly sharper than the D40.

55-200 DX VR (with the VR off), the D40 produced a sharp image which was markedly sharper than the 5100. As for identifying the individual fibers, the 5100 image was inferior to all other images produced by either camera regardless of which lens was used.

Anyone have any idea of what's going on here??? Something just doesn't seem right here. With either of the shorter lenses, image sharpness was determined by the camera with the higher pixel count (although no where near the difference I would have expected with nearly triple the count). With the longer lens, the so called inferior camera produced a surprisingly sharp image and the superior camera produced a lousy image. It looks like if I want sharp images, I'll need to pack around two cameras, the 55-200 on the D40 and the 18-55 on the 5100.

I'll try to include the test images Monday. With dial up here at home it would take forever.

Danilo Loc: Las Vegas

As a (relatively) new D5100 owner, I look forward to seeing the images on Monday! Very interesting predicament!

Fstop12 Loc: Kentucky

It

The D40 was my first DSLR. I have since moved on but still have and use the D40 occasionally. I am still impressed by what this camera produces, which is the reason why I didn't sell it.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Look on page 93 in your manual - Sharpening - and see if that helps. These cameras have so many adjustments that I bet the entire run of D5100s could be set so that no two are identical.

ohallboyz Loc: Boston, MA

I still have my D40, it was my first DSLR. I'm still loving the images I get from it considering it was pretty inexpensive. Even the kit lens I have with it performs pretty well.

bikinkawboy Loc: north central Missouri

Jerry, when in the auto mode, there are no adjustments you can make to sharpening, as well as a bunch of other things. Auto is pretty much just that, whatever settings the camera software chooses, unlike the other modes where the operator can tell it what to do.

I've attached the test photos. With the 200mm shots, the target was approximately 10 feet away and with the 55mm, about 5 feet. Interesting that the D40 shots are a bit more yellow or orange than the 5100, again this in on auto with no inputs as for color.

If the 55-200mm lens was inferior to the kit lens, one would expect the D40 image to be less sharp than the 5100, just like the others but that's not so.

D5100 with 200mm, enlarged


D40 with 200mm, enlarged


5100 w/18-55 @55, enlarged


D40 w/18-55@55, enlarged

OnDSnap Loc: NE New Jersey

Try as Jerry mentioned, PG 93,94 etc, Adjust setting for sharpening to about 8 under Manage picture control, save as a new Control and try that, I'm sure you'll notice a difference. The default under Standard is at 3.

wevans410 Loc: Simi Valley CA

Jerry - which manual are you referring to? My D5100 Users Manual has 92 pages in PDF, the last one numbered 82.
I had the same issue focusing. Nikonian72 suggested the following for manual focus.
1. Compose through viewfinder
2. Go to Live View
3. Press the "+" button several times to reach max mag on LCD
4. Now manually focus while viewing LCD
5. Take photo
6. Don't refocus, adjust viewfinder diopter to match LCD.

That helped me.

Sallywho Loc: Wendell, NC

I love my D40, it was given to me 12/2008 after being told I had cancer, while I am not a professional I take a lot of pictures and for the most part they are great, only problem is with operator. Maybe one I day I can justify moving on up, but for now cannot say enough good abt the D40.

jsleszynski Loc: Overland Park, Kansas

Although you are using Auto on each camera, they are not the same camera model and have different sensors and menu options (thus capabilities). Thus, you are comparing apples to oranges.
I don't have either model but thought I had similar problems with my D7000 which uses the same sensor as the D5100. I have found that the picture control dictates the sharpness as well as color hue and saturation. Reed Hoffman, one of the Nikon Instructors advised me to shoot in neutral and increase the sharpening and color hue and saturation in post processing when I wanted more sharpness or more intense color. I have found his advice to be invaluable for color but I do like a sharper picture so have increased the sharpness in Standard to 4. I've left Neutral's sharpness at 2 and use this setting for portraits. I'm considering uping the Sharpness to 5 in Standard. The sharpness is within your control and can be modified. Picture control is in the shooting menu options.

wevans410 Loc: Simi Valley CA

Jerry is correct. Found it right there on p 93 of the Reference Manual.
I've always shot in Auto but will try adjusting the Picture Control Settings and see if makes an impact. Appreciate the input.

bikinkawboy Loc: north central Missouri

All of you folks have made good arguments and suggestions, but it still comes down to if I want a sharp image all of the time, especially when using long focal lengths, then the auto setting is useless (to me) and might as well not even be there.

As far as comparing apples to oranges, I beg to differ. I'm not comparing settings, processors, sofeware, etc between the two cameras, I'm comparing the result, the image they produce. So I actually am comparing apples to apples. I could care less how each camera goes about giving me those images, I just want the quality of the results that suit me personally. Or at least get what I paid extra money for.

Lucian Loc: From Wales, living in Ohio

To really judge the true capability of each camera you need to set everything on manual, no auto at all. Then set the f-stop and aperture to get a properly exposed image and manually focus each camera and lock it in with tape to hold focus in place. Make sure each camera has the same menu settings for colour saturation and sharpness and then you should be comparing apples to apples. Any other way and you are comparing apples of different varieties but not really get a true comparison, or maybe even apples to oranges.