Today, Nikon announced the new 16.2-megapixel Nikon D5100 Digital SLR housing a host of new and innovative features. The D5100 comes with new 3-inch super sharp 921,000-dot Vari-angle LCD screen and full HD (1080p) movie recording with full time autofocus. The new camera is also the first Nikon D-SLR to provide in-camera effects that can be applied to both photos and movies.

“Now more than ever, consumers want to pack only one device with them when travelling on excursions both far away and close to home,” said Lisa Osorio, general manager of marketing at Nikon Inc. “By providing consumers with a simple path to creative freedom for both stills and movies, the Nikon D5100 is designed to become an essential camera for capturing all of life’s occasions.”

The D5100’s in-camera Special Effects Mode allows photographers are use Selective Color effect, Color Sketch effect, Miniature effect and shoot up to super high 102,400 ISO in extreme lighting conditions. The camera has wide ISO range of 100-6400 and offers various Picture Control as well as versatile Scene modes.

The 16.2-megapixel DX-format CMOS sensor on D5100 combined with EXPEED 2 image processing engine offers vivid colors and amazing contrast, accurate exposure, and low noise levels resulting in brilliant image quality. The EXPEED 2 engine also drives the quick 11-point AF system on the D5100 to provide rapid focus acquisition even on fast moving subjects.

Nikon D5100 DSLR camera will be available throughout the United States beginning mid April 2011, priced $799.95 for the body only, and $899.95 for the body and lens outfit that includes the AF-S DX Zoom-NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR lens. Check out the introductory video of Nikon D5100 below.