Nikon
D3200
 vs
Nikon
D80

Nikon D3200

75

  
Nikon D80

34

  
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
Color depth
 Great color depth
24.1 bits
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
13.2 EV
True resolution
 High true resolution
24.1 MP
 
Runner-up

Nikon D80

Reasons to buy the Nikon D80

Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.62x
Sensor size
 Large sensor
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
 

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D3200
Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 30fps vs None
Help
 Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO 1,131 ISO vs 524 ISO
Help
 The D3200 has excellent image quality 1.1 f-stops higher ISO than the D80
Overall image quality Much better image quality 81.0 vs 61.0
Help
 More than 30% better image quality
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.5"
Help
 More than 20% larger screen
Live view Has live view Yes vs No
Help
 Preview your photos on the camera's screen before taking them
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13.2 EV vs 11.2 EV
Help
 2 f-stops more dynamic range
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 921k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 More than 4x higher resolution screen
True resolution Much higher true resolution 24.1 MP vs 10 MP
Help
 Capture around 2.5x more detail in your photos
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
Color depth Better color depth 24.1 bits vs 22.1 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 2 more bits of color
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
 CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The D3200's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Size Significantly smaller 125x96x76 mm vs 132x103x77 mm
Help
 More than 10% smaller
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 4 fps vs 3 fps
Help
 More than 30% faster continuous shooting
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The D3200's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better
Weight Significantly lighter 505 g vs 668 g
Help
 More than 20% lighter
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 400 ms vs 500 ms
Help
 20% less delay when turning on
Thickness Slightly thinner 3" vs 3"
Help
 Almost the same
Nikon D3200 Learn more about
the Nikon D3200

Advantages of the Nikon D80
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder 0.62x vs 0.50x
Help
 More than 50% larger viewfinder
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs APS-C 23.2x15.4mm
Help
 Almost the same
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
 Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
Nikon D80 Learn more about
the Nikon D80
vs

recommendations

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

Nikon D3200 Nikon D3200
75 vs 34
Explain scores
Nikon D80 Nikon D80
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
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
D3200:400 ms
D80:500 ms
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
D3200:12,800 ISO
D80:3,200 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
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
D3200:6,400 ISO
D80:1,600 ISO
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
D3200:4 fps
D80:3 fps
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus Help
D3200:Contrast detection
D80:None
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
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
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Weight Is slightly heavier
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the D5100 vs the D3200
Compare the D5100 vs the D80
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
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D3200
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D80
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Lowest price Is slightly less expensive
Thickness Is thinner
External mic jack Lacks and external mic jack
Compare the D3100 vs the D3200
Compare the D3100 vs the D80
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 slightly more expensive
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the D5200 vs the D3200
Compare the D5200 vs the D80
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$599 - $899 body only

$799 - $1,099 with 18-105mm lens
Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
Battery life Has a significantly longer battery life
Weight Is significantly heavier
Size Is significantly larger
Compare the D90 vs the D3200
Compare the D90 vs the D80
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Weather sealed Has a weather sealed body
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Weight Is much heavier
Compare the D7000 vs the D3200
Compare the D7000 vs the D80
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,279 with 18-135mm lens
Weather sealed Has a weather sealed body
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D3200
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D80

Nikon D3200 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon 650D / T4i

Canon Rebel T4i

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $800 body only

$749 with 18-55mm lens
Touch screen Has a touch screen
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Overall image quality Much worse image quality
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the D3200

Nikon D80 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D200

Nikon D200

Pro DSLR

$1,319 body only
Autofocus Faster autofocus
Weather sealed Weather sealed
Size Much larger
Weight Much heavier
Compare the D200 vs the D80

appearance

Nikon D3200 Nikon D80
Nikon D3200 Nikon D80
Nikon D3200 Nikon D80

discussion

Showing 1 comments

Avatar for Yuliya Pearson Yuliya Pearson (0:14 AM, January 28, 2013)
In the market for a new camera, I was curious to see how the camera I want to get (3200) stacked up against the slr I used to have and loved tremendously (d80). Wow, will definitely be getting this camera, especially since Costco had it on sale with 2 lenses for $780 (versus the $1300I paid for the D80 kit bask in 2006