Nikon
D5100
 vs
Nikon Coolpix
3200

Updated (October, 2012): Compare the Nikon D5200 Hands-on P vs Nikon Coolpix 3200

Nikon D5100

100

  
Nikon Coolpix 3200

32

  
Winner

Nikon D5100

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5100

Overall image quality
 Great image quality
80.0
Screen size
 Large screen
3.0"
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
13 EV
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
 
Runner-up

Nikon Coolpix 3200

Reasons to buy the Nikon Coolpix 3200

Size
 Really small
Compact 88x65x38 mm
Thickness
 Thin
1.5"
Weight
 Light-weight
190 g
 

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D5100
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 1.6"
Help
 Around 90% larger screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 480p
Help
 Shoots high resolution Full HD (1080p) video
True resolution Much higher true resolution 16.1 MP vs 3.1 MP
Help
 Capture more than 5x more detail in your photos
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
 Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.6mm vs 1/3" 5.3x4.0mm
Help
 More than 17.5x larger sensor
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
 Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
Supports RAW Shoots RAW Yes vs No
Help
 Digitally develop your own photos with precise image control
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
 CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
External flash Supports an external flash Yes vs No
Help
 An external flash often produces better looking flash images
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs None
Help
 Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 4 fps vs 1.5 fps
Help
 More than 2.5x faster continuous shooting
Viewfinder Has a through-the-lens viewfinder Pentamirror vs Tunnel
Help
 Through-the-lens viewfinders let you see exactly what your photo will look like
Longest exposure Longer exposures 30s vs 4s
Help
 7.5x longer exposures
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/3000s
Help
 More than 20% faster max shutter speed
Nikon D5100 Learn more about
the Nikon D5100

Advantages of the Nikon 3200
Size Significantly smaller 88x65x38 mm vs 127x96x78 mm
Help
 4.4x smaller
Weight Significantly lighter 190 g vs 560 g
Help
 2.9x lighter
Thickness Significantly thinner 1.5" vs 3.1"
Help
 2.1x thinner
Lowest price Cheaper $111.17 vs $496.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $386 cheaper (4.5x less)
Nikon Coolpix 3200 Learn more about
the Nikon 3200
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon D5100 Nikon D5100
100 vs 32
Explain scores
Nikon Coolpix 3200 Nikon Coolpix 3200
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D5100. 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 compact.

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
D5100:Pentamirror
3200:Tunnel
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
D5100:1/4000s
3200:1/3000s
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$599 - $649 with 18-55mm lens
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D5100
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the Coolpix 3200
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$675 - $899 body only

$799 - $1,099 with 18-105mm lens
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
Compare the D90 vs the D5100
Compare the D90 vs the Coolpix 3200
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Weather sealed Has a weather sealed body
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D7000 vs the D5100
Compare the D7000 vs the Coolpix 3200
Canon EOS 650D

Canon EOS 650D

Entry-level DSLR

$580 - $797 body only

$639 - $1,144 with 18-55mm lens
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the EOS 650D vs the D5100
Compare the EOS 650D vs the Coolpix 3200
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
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D5100
Compare the EOS 60D vs the Coolpix 3200
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$500 body only

$600 with 18-55mm lens
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D5100
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the Coolpix 3200
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$332 body only

$429 - $499 with 18-55mm lens
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D5100
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the Coolpix 3200

Nikon D5100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Size Slightly smaller
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Compare the D3200 vs the D5100
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Size Slightly smaller
Weight Slightly lighter
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Compare the D3100 vs the D5100

Nikon Coolpix 3200 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon Coolpix S3300

Nikon Coolpix S3300

Compact

$68
Screen size Much larger screen
Wide angle Much better wide angle
Aperture Significantly narrower aperture
Viewfinder No viewfinder
Compare the Coolpix S3300 vs the Coolpix 3200
Placeholder

Nikon Coolpix 5200

Compact
True resolution Higher true resolution
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster
Aperture Narrower aperture
Screen size Smaller screen
Compare the Coolpix 5200 vs the Coolpix 3200
Nikon Coolpix 3100

Nikon Coolpix 3100

Compact
Aperture Narrower aperture
Screen size Smaller screen
Compare the Coolpix 3100 vs the Coolpix 3200

appearance

Nikon D5100 Nikon Coolpix 3200
Nikon D5100 Nikon Coolpix 3200
Nikon D5100 Nikon Coolpix 3200

discussion

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