Nikon
D3200
 vs
Nikon
D7000

Updated (February, 2013): Compare the Nikon D3200 vs Nikon D7100

Nikon D7000

92

  
Nikon D3200

74

  
Winner

Nikon D7000

Reasons to buy the Nikon D7000

Overall image quality
 Great image quality
80.0
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
13.9 EV
Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.62x
Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
External mic jack
 External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
 
Runner-up

Nikon D3200

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3200

Overall image quality
 Great image quality
81.0
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
13.2 EV
True resolution
 High true resolution
24.1 MP
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
External mic jack
 External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 125x96x76 mm
 

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D3200
True resolution Much higher true resolution 24.1 MP vs 16.1 MP
Help
 Capture around 50% more detail in your photos
Size Significantly smaller 125x96x76 mm vs 132x105x77 mm
Help
 More than 10% smaller
Weight Much lighter 505 g vs 780 g
Help
 Around 40% lighter
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 81.0 vs 80.0
Help
 Almost the same
Lowest price Significantly cheaper $546.95 vs $896.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $350 cheaper (around 40% less)
Color depth Better color depth 24.1 bits vs 23.5 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.6 more bits of color
Thickness Slightly thinner 3" vs 3"
Help
 Almost the same
Nikon D3200 Learn more about
the Nikon D3200

Advantages of the Nikon D7000
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
 Sealed to shoot in the rain
Battery life Much longer battery life 1050 shots vs 540 shots
Help
 More than 90% more shots per battery charge
Focus points Many more focus points 39 vs 11
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder 0.62x vs 0.50x
Help
 More than 50% larger viewfinder
Cross type focus points Significantly more cross-type focus points 9 vs 1
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Viewfinder coverage Significantly better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 95%
Help
 Around 10% better viewfinder coverage
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 6 fps vs 4 fps
Help
 50% faster continuous shooting
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
 More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 1,167 ISO vs 1,131 ISO
Help
 The D7000 has a slight edge (0 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.6mm vs APS-C 23.2x15.4mm
Help
 Almost the same
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
 Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 12,800 ISO
Help
 The D7000's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13.9 EV vs 13.2 EV
Help
 0.7 f-stops more dynamic range
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 238 ms vs 276 ms
Help
 More than 10% less delay when taking photos
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Nikon D7000 Learn more about
the Nikon D7000
vs

recommendations

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

Nikon D3200 Nikon D3200
74 vs 92
Explain scores
Nikon D7000 Nikon D7000
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D7000.

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Low light performance Relatively low noise at high ISO Help
D3200:1,131 ISO
D7000:1,167 ISO
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
D3200:81.0
D7000:80.0
Dynamic range Good dynamic range Help
D3200:13.2 EV
D7000:13.9 EV
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
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
6,400 ISO
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

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
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D5100 vs the D3200
Compare the D5100 vs the D7000
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 slightly higher resolution screen
Lowest price Is much more expensive
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the D7100 vs the D3200
Compare the D7100 vs the D7000
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
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D3200
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D7000
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,279 with 18-135mm lens
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D3200
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D7000
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Lowest price Is slightly less expensive
Thickness Is thinner
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
External mic jack Lacks and external mic jack
Compare the D3100 vs the D3200
Compare the D3100 vs the D7000
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$675 - $899 body only

$799 - $1,099 with 18-105mm lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the D90 vs the D3200
Compare the D90 vs the D7000
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,499 body only

$1,699 with 28-135mm lens
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Shutter lag Has significantly less shutter lag
Lowest price Is much more expensive
Weight Is much heavier
Compare the EOS 7D vs the D3200
Compare the EOS 7D vs the D7000

Nikon D3200 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

Nikon D7000 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D300S

Nikon D300S

Pro DSLR

$1,294 - $1,697 body only

$2,227 with 85mm lens
Cross type focus points Significantly more cross-type focus points
Focus points More focus points
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
Compare the D300S vs the D7000

appearance

Nikon D3200 Nikon D7000
Nikon D3200 Nikon D7000
Nikon D3200 Nikon D7000

discussion

Showing 6 comments

Avatar for Michael Saxon Michael Saxon (8:40 AM, March 24, 2013)
The D3200 is stunning in image quality especially when you put some real glass behind it. Not saying that the D7000 isn't a great camera with stunning image quality as well, just that Nikon put a $699 price tag on a $1500 camera in my o[pinion. Why would I say that? I have owned one since April of 2012 (the month they came out) and am still amazed at the ability of this little camera and I have friends with more expensive cameras than mine questioning their equipment now because their image quality does not compare with this little beast. But don't worry... at the rate cameras keep advancing, the camera we own today will be considered out dated bottom of the barrel in five years. Five years from now the standard will probably be gigapixels and anything in megapixels will be considered cheap and not enough. lol
 
Avatar for Lana Coetzee Lana Coetzee (1:09 PM, February 25, 2013)
Hi. I can't decide whether to go for the D3200.....it's basically for family and vacation use. But, I keep wondering whether I should go with something with a flip-out screen. Do u find that the d3200 would have been better with a flip-out screen??
 
Sanjay Sagar (9:45 PM, December 17, 2012)
Not necessary. D3200 is latest and the latest is always better than the earlier ones, because it is the result of extensive R&D works of the manufacturer...
 
Sanjay Sagar (9:42 PM, December 17, 2012)
Go ahead and check it out yourself. I am using D3200 and it gives higher resolution, better image quality, higher dynamic range, & better color depth in comparision to D7000... <(")
 
Kris (6:08 AM, July 23, 2012)
How the F does the D3200 win on higher resolution, better image quality, higher dynamic range, AND better color depth?

It sounds like the D3200 takes higher quality images than the D7000. Absurd.
 
me (11:56 AM, June 15, 2012)
of course the D7000 would win. It's designed for pros! :)