Updated (March, 2012): Compare the Nikon D3200 vs Nikon D4

Nikon D3S
Winner
Nikon D3S

86

vs
Nikon D3200

60

Nikon D3200
Runner-up
 
 
 
 

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3S

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
3,253 ISO
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
82.0
Color depth
 Great color depth
23.5 bits
Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.70x
 

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3200

Overall image quality
 Great image quality
81.0
Color depth
 Great color depth
24.1 bits
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
13.2 EV
True resolution
 High true resolution
24.1 MP
 
Differences | Recommendations | Similarities | Competitors | Appearance | Discussion

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D3200
True resolution Much higher true resolution 24.1 MP vs 12.1 MP
Help
 Capture around 2x more detail in your photos
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 24fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video at a higher frame rate
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13.2 EV vs 12 EV
Help
 1.2 f-stops more dynamic range
Size Much smaller 125x96x76 mm vs 160x157x88 mm
Help
 2.4x smaller
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 121 lenses
Help
 Around 40% more lenses available
Color depth Better color depth 24.1 bits vs 23.5 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.6 more bits of color
Weight Much lighter 505 g vs 1,240 g
Help
 2.5x lighter
Thickness Much thinner 3" vs 3.5"
Help
 More than 10% thinner
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
 A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Nikon D3200 Learn more about
the Nikon D3200

Advantages of the Nikon D3S
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO 3,253 ISO vs 1,131 ISO
Help
 The D3S has excellent image quality 1.5 f-stops higher ISO than the D3200
Battery life Much longer battery life 4200 shots vs 540 shots
Help
 Around 8x more shots per battery charge
Viewfinder size Much larger viewfinder 0.70x vs 0.50x
Help
 More than 90% larger viewfinder
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 36.0x23.9mm vs APS-C 23.2x15.4mm
Help
 Around 2.5x larger sensor
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
 Sealed to shoot in the rain
Focus points Significantly more focus points 51 vs 11
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 9 fps vs 4 fps
Help
 Around 2.5x faster continuous shooting
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 15 vs 1
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Viewfinder coverage Much better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 95%
Help
 Around 10% better viewfinder coverage
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 197 ms vs 276 ms
Help
 Around 30% less delay when taking photos
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 102,400 ISO vs 12,800 ISO
Help
 The D3S's boost ISO is 3 f-stops better
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
 Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The D3S's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
 More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 82.0 vs 81.0
Help
 Almost the same
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 300 ms vs 400 ms
Help
 Around 30% less delay when turning on
Nikon D3S Learn more about
the Nikon D3S
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D3200 Nikon D3200
60 vs 86
Explain scores
Nikon D3S Nikon D3S
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3S. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a entry-level DSLR with a pro DSLR.

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
D3200:400 ms
D3S:300 ms
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus Help
D3200:Contrast detection
D3S:None
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$585 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the D5100 vs the D3200
Compare the D5100 vs the D3S
Nikon D5200

Nikon D5200

Entry-level DSLR

$697 body only

$797 with 18-55mm lens
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Compare the D5200 vs the D3200
Compare the D5200 vs the D3S
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$600 - $899 body only

$739 - $1,099 with 18-105mm lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D90 vs the D3200
Compare the D90 vs the D3S
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Weight Is slightly heavier
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the D7000 vs the D3200
Compare the D7000 vs the D3S
Nikon D7100

Nikon D7100

Entry-level DSLR

$1,197 body only

$1,497 with 18-105mm lens
Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Weight Is slightly heavier
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the D7100 vs the D3200
Compare the D7100 vs the D3S
Nikon D600

Nikon D600

Pro DSLR

$1,997 body only

$2,797 with 28-300mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D600 vs the D3200
Compare the D600 vs the D3S
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,299 - $1,725 body only

$1,499 with 28-135mm lens
Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
Thickness Is thinner
Weight Is significantly heavier
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the EOS 7D vs the D3200
Compare the EOS 7D vs the D3S

Nikon D3200 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$595 - $599 with 18-55mm lens
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D3200
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Thickness Thinner
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the D3100 vs the D3200
Canon Rebel T4i

Canon Rebel T4i

Entry-level DSLR

$580 - $799 body only

$731 - $899 with 18-55mm lens
Touch screen Has a touch screen
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Color depth Worse color depth
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the D3200
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$649 - $968 body only

$949 - $1,182 with 18-135mm lens
Weather sealed Weather sealed
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D3200

Nikon D3S Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,997 body only
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Overall image quality Better image quality
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Compare the D4 vs the D3S
Nikon D3

Nikon D3

Pro DSLR
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag
Dynamic range More dynamic range
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
Movie format Does not take movies
Compare the D3 vs the D3S
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,797 body only

$3,187 with 70-300mm lens
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Compare the D800 vs the D3S
Nikon D3X

Nikon D3X

Pro DSLR

$4,699 - $6,699 body only
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Dynamic range More dynamic range
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Compare the D3X vs the D3S
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$3,400 body only
Size Much smaller
Thickness Much thinner
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Compare the D700 vs the D3S

appearance

Nikon D3200 Nikon D3S
Nikon D3200 Nikon D3S
Nikon D3200 Nikon D3S

discussion

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