Well, qbert. Further along these lines. I do have both the D300s and the ff D700, but the smaller cameras in the D5-series are easier to carry around when I go on a all-day photo-shoot normally lasting many hours. I get tired lugging the big ones around for more than 3 to 4 hours.
In my opinion, the sensor in the D5100 is one of the best Nikon has ever had in one of their cameras - except the ff sensor in the D3S, and I am sorry that they did not continue it.
It is a forgiving sensor where one can pull out a lot of details from shadow areas in a normally exposed shot, even slightly underexposed ones. Ideally I would wish for this 16.1Mp sensor from the D5100 to be inside the D5200 and the D5300, because I do not need 24Mp. This would be the ideal combo for me. 16.1 Mp sensor and the 39 AF-points of the D5300 would be just great. The rather slow 11-point AF of the D5100 presents a real limitation.
Anyway, nice to "chat" and swap experience. Ideally we should do this in the Forum, but ther is never anybody there...which I miss a lot.
Best regards from Norway,
Walter