Updated (April, 2012): Compare the Nikon Coolpix L100 vs Nikon D3200

Nikon D3100

65

Winner

Nikon D3100

"It's almost impossible to pick up without your hand falling into a sensible position with the key controls at your fingertips."
dpreview.com | talking about the D3100's button-layout
"Thanks to its lineage the D3100 remains one of the most pleasant to hold cameras in its class."
dpreview.com | talking about the D3100's feel

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
Nikon Coolpix L100

47

Runner-up

Nikon Coolpix L100

Reasons to buy the Nikon Coolpix L100

Size
Really small
Standard size 110x72x78 mm
Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Lens
Weight
Light-weight
360 g

differences

Advantages of the Nikon L100

Image stabilization Image stabilization Lens vs None
Help
Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Size Smaller 110x72x78 mm vs 124x96x73 mm
Help
More than 30% smaller
Weight Lighter 360 g vs 505 g
Help
Around 30% lighter
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $310.94 vs $499.99
Help
The best price we've seen is $189 cheaper (around 40% less)
Nikon Coolpix L100 Learn more about
the Nikon L100

Advantages of the Nikon D3100

Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 24fps vs 480p
Help
Shoots high resolution Full HD (1080p) video
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
Sensor size Much larger sensor APS-C 23.1x15.4mm vs 1/2.3" 6.1x4.6mm
Help
More than 12.5x larger sensor
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 14.2 MP vs 9.8 MP
Help
Capture around 50% more detail in your photos
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
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
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs None
Help
Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Fastest shutter speed Significantly faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/2000s
Help
2x faster max shutter speed
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 L100 Nikon Coolpix L100
47 vs 65
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.

advice

Need help deciding?

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I am considering either the L100 or the D3100,
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1
votes
by Lance-Villanueva-Ramos last month
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90

Beginner,capturing the moment of different events

2 people recommend the Nikon D3100:

" D3100 is going to have better video capabilities which you outlined as a need, image quality wil..."

"The D3100 is better for beginners because it has a great guide that will help you set up the camer..."

1
votes
by Kate-Hughes 4 days ago
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90

I am a beginner is DSLR photography & have been researching entry level models. I kep coming bac...

One person recommends the Nikon D3100:

" Hi Kate, Since you are a beginner in DSLR photography and it seems you have a budget, I would..."

0
votes
by Larisa-Dragan this month
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90

beginner/want to start a studio for newborn/children pictures/i think shooting in low light is i...

0
votes
by Cathy-Bodie last month
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90

Not beginner, but not novice, want also to use for family gatherings and holidays, night shots, sc...

0
votes
by Terence-Robertson this month
Fujifilm HS20 vs Nikon D3100

i am a beginer with £400 budget just want best alrounder for my money

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
L100:3.1"
D3100:2.9"
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
230k dots
Size Large Help
L100:110x72x78 mm
D3100:124x96x73 mm

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
Weight Is slightly heavier
Size Is slightly larger
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is much heavier
Nikon Coolpix P510

Nikon Coolpix P510

Super zoom

$397 - $400

Aperture Has a slightly wider aperture
Zoom Has way more more zoom
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon D40

Nikon D40

Entry-level DSLR

$669 with 18-55mm lens

Live view Doesn't let you preview your photos on the screen
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Fujifilm FinePix HS20 EXR

Fujifilm FinePix HS20

Super zoom

$299 - $335

Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
Zoom Has way more more zoom
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier

Nikon Coolpix L100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon Coolpix L120

Nikon Coolpix L120

Super zoom

$180 - $229

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Aperture Wider aperture
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Size Slightly larger
Nikon Coolpix L110

Nikon Coolpix L110

Super zoom

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen
Image stabilization Worse image stabilization
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Nikon Coolpix P100

Nikon Coolpix P100

Super zoom

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Size Larger
Image stabilization Worse image stabilization
Fujifilm FinePix S2950

Fujifilm FinePix S2950

Super zoom

$150 - $159

Aperture Wider aperture
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera
Image stabilization Worse image stabilization
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Nikon Coolpix L810

Nikon Coolpix L810

Super zoom

$250 - $265

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Zoom Significantly more zoom
Size Slightly larger
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity

Nikon D3100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$333 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens

Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Battery life Longer battery life
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus
Battery life Shorter battery life
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Thickness Slightly thicker
Lowest price Slightly more expensive
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus
Startup delay More startup delay
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus

appearance

Nikon Coolpix L100 Nikon D3100
Nikon Coolpix L100 Nikon D3100
Nikon Coolpix L100 Nikon D3100

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