Nikon announces D5100

As expected, Monday night Nikon announced the replacement for the D5000, the Nikon D5100. The main specs include 16.2-megapixel resolution (like the D7000), 1080/30p/24p with a mic jack, 4fps burst, ISO sensitivity up to 6400/25,600 expanded with an ISO 102,400 Night Vision mode, and a larger 3-inch flip-out-and-twist LCD rather than the 2.7-inch drop-down articulated version of its predecessor. There's also a new 2-shot autobracket-and-combine HDR mode.

The body-only version will run $799.95 and a kit with the 18-55mm VR lens will be $899.95. At those prices, it's directly competitive with the Canon EOS Rebel T3i, albeit with a slightly faster burst rate. And though it specs higher ISO sensitivities, claiming is easy but producing is hard.

Nikon also announced a $179.95 hot-shoe microphone, the ME-1 which claims to dampen noise caused by standard autofocus lenses, among other noise filtering operations.

I'll be picking up my D5100 evaluation unit early Tuesday morning, so look for my review and more in-depth analysis later in the week. You should be able to get yours when it ships in another week or two.