Updated (April, 2012): Compare the Nikon D4 vs Nikon D3200

Nikon D3

86

Winner

Nikon D3

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3

Low light performance
Low noise at high ISO
2,290 ISO
Overall image quality
Great image quality
81.0
Color depth
Great color depth
23.5 bits
Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
12.2 EV
Screen resolution
High resolution screen
922k dots
Viewfinder size
Large viewfinder
0.70x
Nikon D3100

45

Runner-up

Nikon D3100

"The D3100 offers little to complain about in terms of image quality, and its new 14Mp sensor delivers very good results."
dpreview.com | talking about the D3100's image-quality
"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

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3100

Movie continuous focus
Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Badge
Autofocuses shooting video
Contrast detection
Sensor cleaning
Self cleaning sensor
Avoids dust in your photos

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D3

Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 2,290 ISO vs 919 ISO
Help
The D3 has excellent image quality 1.3 f-stops higher ISO than the D3100
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 81.0 vs 67.0
Help
More than 20% better image quality
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 922k dots vs 230k dots
Help
More than 4x higher resolution screen
Battery life Much longer battery life 4300 shots vs 550 shots
Help
Around 8x more shots per battery charge
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 11.3 EV
Help
0.9 f-stops more dynamic range
Viewfinder size Much larger viewfinder 0.70x vs 0.51x
Help
Around 90% larger viewfinder
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 36.0x24.0mm vs APS-C 23.1x15.4mm
Help
Around 2.5x larger sensor
Shutter lag Much less shutter lag 88 ms vs 279 ms
Help
3.2x less delay when taking photos
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
Sealed to shoot in the rain
Focus points Many more focus points 51 vs 11
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Color depth Better color depth 23.5 bits vs 22.5 bits
Help
Distinguishes 1 more bits of color
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 9 fps vs 3 fps
Help
3x faster continuous shooting
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 15 vs 1
Help
Grab focus in difficult situations
Viewfinder coverage Much better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 95%
Help
Around 10% better viewfinder coverage
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
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The D3's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
2x faster max shutter speed
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 300 ms vs 400 ms
Help
Around 30% less delay when turning on
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 12,800 ISO
Help
The D3's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Nikon D3 Learn more about
the Nikon D3

Advantages of the Nikon D3100

Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 24fps vs None
Help
Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor Yes vs No
Help
Removes dust from the sensor automatically, avoiding spots in photos
Size Much smaller 124x96x73 mm vs 160x157x88 mm
Help
2.5x smaller
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 121 lenses
Help
Around 40% more lenses available
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
Automatically focuses shooting video
Weight Much lighter 505 g vs 1,300 g
Help
2.6x lighter
Thickness Much thinner 2.9" vs 3.5"
Help
Around 20% thinner
True resolution Higher true resolution 14.2 MP vs 12.1 MP
Help
Capture around 20% more detail in your photos
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Nikon D3100 Learn more about
the Nikon D3100
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D3 Nikon D3
86 vs 45
Explain scores
Nikon D3100 Nikon D3100
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a pro DSLR with a entry-level DSLR.

advice

Need help deciding?

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I am considering either the D3 or the D3100,
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0
votes
by Wan-Mursyidah-Zuyyin last month
Nikon P500 vs Nikon D3100

I'm a beginner..i'm not to expert about this...i wanna take a nature or a beautiful scenery of nat...

2 people recommend the Nikon D3100:

" I am an owner of the P500 currently, and let me tell you, the battery life is a massive downside..."

"It depends on how far you want to go with photography. Do you want to have the ability to change l..."

1
votes
by motoservo last month
Nikon D3 vs Pentax K-5

I'd say the pros on the K-5 are much more important than the pros on the D3. And the fact that t...

One person recommends the Pentax K-5:

" The K-5 has better dynamic range, which is nice for outdoors shooting. And if you're shooting d..."

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...

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.

HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
D3:12.1 MP
D3100:14.2 MP
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
D3:6,400 ISO
D3100:3,200 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 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
Thickness Is thicker
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens

Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Nikon D300

Nikon D300

Pro DSLR

$1,000 body only

Weight Is significantly heavier
Size Is slightly larger

Nikon D3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,649 body only

Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor
Size Significantly smaller
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly slower
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,999 - $3,000 body only

True resolution Much higher true resolution
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly slower
Nikon D3S

Nikon D3S

Pro DSLR

$5,197 body only

Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor
Shutter lag Significantly more shutter lag
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,999 - $6,000 body only

Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Movie format Shoots movies
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Shutter lag Significantly more shutter lag
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,130 body only

$2,875 - $2,999 with 24-105mm lens

Movie format Shoots movies
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Low light performance More noise at high ISO

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
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Screen size Much smaller screen
Color depth Worse color depth
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
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Startup delay Significantly more startup delay
Color depth Worse color depth
Nikon D3000

Nikon D3000

Entry-level DSLR

$449 with 18-55mm lens

Thickness Significantly thinner
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag
Live view No live view
Movie format Does not take movies

appearance

Nikon D3 Nikon D3100
Nikon D3 Nikon D3100
Nikon D3 Nikon D3100

discussion

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