Nikon D5100 Video Control

I purchased a Nikon D5100 after upgrading from a Nikon D3000. As a film student the D5100 is one hard thing to work with due to its lack of manual control. Although Cannons are better for video moving to Cannon would not have been a manageable move due to money issues. College Student here. Now I love the Nikon D5100 it does a solid job for most things. I'm looking for any tips, firmware hacks, or anything that would help make my life easier when shooting with my D5100.

First thing, lets hold a spelling contest. A cannon is a tool of war, a Canon is a camera.

I don't understand your problem with this camera. You need to learn how to properly operate the camera before it becomes easy. Besides it's never easy it's just that other people you may watch have lots of experience with their cameras and can therefore operate them quickly. So practice is the key.

I don't understand why you think there should be firmware hacks for any camera just so you don't have to learn how to operate the camera. No camera will do everything for you and that's why you're a student, you're trying to learn aren't you? If not, and you want it easy then you're wasting your money on school.

You want it to be easier? Nothing worth having is easy or haven't you figured that out yet. Come on, get a life, learn your camera inside out. Besides that I shoot Canon (notice the single "n") and they're not easy either. It's a matter of experience and learning.

I do not understand why a "film student" would purchase a camera that does not have the manual controls required. Could you trade the Nikon in for a camera that would do the job?