Nikon
D3200
 vs
Nikon
D3100

Nikon D3200

74

  
Nikon D3100

55

  
Winner

Nikon D3200

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3200

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
1,131 ISO
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
81.0
Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
13.2 EV
Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
921k dots
True resolution
 High true resolution
24.1 MP
 
Runner-up

Nikon D3100

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3100

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 24fps
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 124x96x73 mm
Weight
 Light-weight
505 g
 

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D3200
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 81.0 vs 67.0
Help
 More than 20% better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13.2 EV vs 11.3 EV
Help
 1.9 f-stops more dynamic range
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 921k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 More than 4x higher resolution screen
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,131 ISO vs 919 ISO
Help
 The D3200 has a slight edge (0.3 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
True resolution Much higher true resolution 24.1 MP vs 14.2 MP
Help
 Capture around 70% more detail in your photos
Color depth Better color depth 24.1 bits vs 22.5 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.6 more bits of color
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The D3200's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 4 fps vs 3 fps
Help
 More than 30% faster continuous shooting
Nikon D3200 Learn more about
the Nikon D3200

Advantages of the Nikon D3100
Size Smaller 124x96x73 mm vs 125x96x76 mm
Help
 Almost the same
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.51x vs 0.50x
Help
 Almost the same
Lowest price Cheaper $399.00 vs $546.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $148 cheaper (around 30% less)
Thickness Thinner 2.9" vs 3"
Help
 Almost the same
Nikon D3100 Learn more about
the Nikon D3100
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent entry-level DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D3200 Nikon D3200
74 vs 55
Explain scores
Nikon D3100 Nikon D3100
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3200.

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
169 lenses
Movie continuous focus Focus continuously recording movies Help
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
400 ms startup delay
Supports 24p 24p support Help
For that film look
Size Fairly small Help
D3200:125x96x76 mm
D3100:124x96x73 mm
Weight Light weight Help
505 g
Lens focus motor No focus motor Help
Won't autofocus with all lenses
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
12,800 ISO
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
1
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
D3200:6,400 ISO
D3100:3,200 ISO
Shutter lag Significant shutter lag Help
D3200:276 ms
D3100:279 ms
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
D3200:4 fps
D3100:3 fps
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Autofocus Slower contrast detection video autofocus Help
slower focusing
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Viewfinder size Below average viewfinder size Help
D3200:0.50x
D3100:0.51x
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$597 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Sensor size Has a marginally larger sensor
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D5100 vs the D3200
Compare the D5100 vs the D3100
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$599 - $649 with 18-55mm lens
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D3200
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D3100
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$332 body only

$449 - $499 with 18-55mm lens
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Thickness Is thicker
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D3200
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D3100
Nikon D5200

Nikon D5200

Entry-level DSLR

$697 body only

$797 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5200 vs the D3200
Compare the D5200 vs the D3100
Canon Rebel T4i

Canon Rebel T4i

Entry-level DSLR

$672 - $800 body only

$719 - $749 with 18-55mm lens
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the D3200
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the D3100
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$675 - $899 body only

$799 - $1,099 with 18-105mm lens
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder
Sensor size Has a marginally larger sensor
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D90 vs the D3200
Compare the D90 vs the D3100
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$550 body only

$609 with 18-55mm lens
Size Is slightly smaller
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Sensor size Has a slightly smaller sensor
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D3200
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D3100

Nikon D3200 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D3200.

Nikon D3100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D3100.

appearance

Nikon D3200 Nikon D3100
Nikon D3200 Nikon D3100
Nikon D3200 Nikon D3100

discussion

Showing 7 comments

Avatar for Abishai Madridista Abishai Madridista (7:58 AM, February 27, 2013)
Which camera comes closest to what the D3200 can produce?
 
me (11:54 AM, June 15, 2012)
I'm sure the two cameras are perfectly capable for that purpose.
 
Avatar for PhilB PhilB (11:50 PM, May 06, 2012)
Would either of these two cameras be my best option if I want to be able to use my camera as a video camera to record home videos of my kids and things like that? I also want to be able to take indoor pictures that don't look so grainy..
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (2:15 PM, April 20, 2012)
You are correct, we have fixed that but it will take a while to show up here. Thanks for your support. 
 
captvizcenzo (1:50 AM, April 20, 2012)
I'm pretty sure there is no built in AF motor for D3200.
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (7:23 PM, April 19, 2012)
Glad we could help the D3200 should be out mid May for $699
 
Rohan (7:19 PM, April 19, 2012)
was planning to buy d3100 :) , now my plans have altered . thank you snapsort