Nikon Coolpix
L120
 vs
Nikon
D3100

Updated (March, 2012): Compare the Nikon Coolpix L810 vs Nikon D3200

Nikon D3100

69

  
Nikon Coolpix L120

50

  
Winner

Nikon D3100

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3100

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 24fps
Supports 24p
 24p movies
For that film look
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Badge
 Autofocuses shooting video
Contrast detection
Live view
 Has live view
Preview your photos
 
Runner-up

Nikon Coolpix L120

Reasons to buy the Nikon Coolpix L120

Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 110x77x78 mm
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Weight
 Light-weight
406 g
 

differences

Advantages of the Nikon L120
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Size Smaller 110x77x78 mm vs 124x96x73 mm
Help
 Around 30% smaller
Weight Lighter 406 g vs 505 g
Help
 Around 20% lighter
Nikon Coolpix L120 Learn more about
the Nikon L120

Advantages of the Nikon D3100
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
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 24fps vs 720p
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor APS-C 23.1x15.4mm vs 1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm
Help
 More than 12.5x larger sensor
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
 Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
True resolution Higher true resolution 14.2 MP vs 9.7 MP
Help
 Capture around 50% more detail in your photos
Supports RAW Shoots RAW Yes vs No
Help
 Digitally develop your own photos with precise image control
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Pentamirror vs None
Help
 A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
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
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 3 fps vs 0.7 fps
Help
 Around 4.5x faster continuous shooting
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 3,200 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The D3100's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/2000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The D3100's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Longest exposure Longer exposures 30s vs 8s
Help
 Around 4x longer exposures
Thickness Slightly thinner 2.9" vs 3.1"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Nikon D3100 Learn more about
the Nikon D3100
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon Coolpix L120 Nikon Coolpix L120
50 vs 69
Explain scores
Nikon D3100 Nikon D3100
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3100. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a super zoom with a entry-level DSLR.

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.
Thickness Quite thick Help
L120:3.1"
D3100:2.9"
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Weight Heavy Help
L120:406 g
D3100:505 g
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Size Large Help
L120:110x77x78 mm
D3100:124x96x73 mm

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the D3200 vs the Coolpix L120
Compare the D3200 vs the D3100
Nikon Coolpix P510

Nikon Coolpix P510

Super zoom

$339 - $347
Zoom Has way more more zoom
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Coolpix P510 vs the Coolpix L120
Compare the Coolpix P510 vs the D3100
Canon PowerShot SX50 HS

Canon PowerShot SX50 HS

Super zoom

$429 - $450
Zoom Has way more more zoom
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the PowerShot SX50 HS vs the Coolpix L120
Compare the PowerShot SX50 HS vs the D3100

Nikon Coolpix L120 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon Coolpix L810

Nikon Coolpix L810

Super zoom

$209 - $249
3D Takes 3D photos
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera
Thickness Slightly thicker
Fastest shutter speed Slower max shutter speed
Compare the Coolpix L810 vs the Coolpix L120
Canon PowerShot SX150 IS

Canon PowerShot SX150 IS

Travel zoom

$90 - $119
Size Smaller
Image stabilization Better image stabilization
Aperture Narrower aperture
Zoom Less zoom
Compare the PowerShot SX150 IS vs the Coolpix L120
Nikon Coolpix L820

Nikon Coolpix L820

Super zoom

$277
Zoom More zoom
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Size Slightly larger
Weight Heavier
Compare the Coolpix L820 vs the Coolpix L120
Nikon Coolpix L310

Nikon Coolpix L310

Super zoom

$194 - $200
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed
Macro focus Much worse macro capability
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Compare the Coolpix L310 vs the Coolpix L120
Fujifilm FinePix S3300

Fujifilm FinePix S3300

Super zoom
Zoom More zoom
Wide angle Slightly better wide angle
Size Larger
Thickness Thicker
Compare the FinePix S3300 vs the Coolpix L120

Nikon D3100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
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
Battery life Longer battery life
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
Supports 24p No 24p support
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D3100
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$597 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Size Slightly larger
Weight Slightly heavier
Compare the D5100 vs the D3100
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
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus
Startup delay Significantly more startup delay
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D3100
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$675 - $899 body only

$799 - $1,099 with 18-105mm lens
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Dynamic range More dynamic range
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Compare the D90 vs the D3100
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
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus
Battery life Shorter battery life
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D3100

appearance

Nikon Coolpix L120 Nikon D3100
Nikon Coolpix L120 Nikon D3100
Nikon Coolpix L120 Nikon D3100

discussion

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