Updated (March, 2012): Compare the Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D3200

Nikon D3100
Winner
Nikon D3100

54

vs
Nikon D3000

34

Nikon D3000
Runner-up
     
 

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3100

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

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3000

Sensor size
 Large sensor
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 126x97x64 mm
Sensor cleaning
 Self cleaning sensor
Avoids dust in your photos
Thickness
 Thin
2.5"
 
Differences | Recommendations | Cast your vote | Similarities | Competitors | Appearance | Discussion

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D3000

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Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs APS-C 23.1x15.4mm
Help
 Almost the same
Size Significantly smaller 126x97x64 mm vs 124x96x73 mm
Help
 More than 10% smaller
Thickness Much thinner 2.5" vs 2.9"
Help
 More than 10% thinner
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 262 ms vs 279 ms
Help
 Around 10% less delay when taking photos
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.52x vs 0.51x
Help
 Almost the same
Nikon D3000 Learn more about
the Nikon D3000

Advantages of the Nikon D3100

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Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 24fps vs None
Help
 Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 919 ISO vs 563 ISO
Help
 The D3100 has a slight edge (0.7 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Live view Has live view Yes vs No
Help
 Preview your photos on the camera's screen before taking them
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Overall image quality Better image quality 67.0 vs 62.0
Help
 Around 10% better image quality
True resolution Higher true resolution 14.2 MP vs 10 MP
Help
 Capture more than 40% more detail in your photos
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
 CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.3 EV vs 11.1 EV
Help
 0.2 f-stops more dynamic range
Startup delay Less startup delay 400 ms vs 700 ms
Help
 More than 40% less delay when turning on
Color depth Better color depth 22.5 bits vs 22.3 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.2 more bits of color
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The D3100's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better
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
Weight Slightly lighter 505 g vs 536 g
Help
 Around 10% lighter
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $278.29 vs $329.99
Help
 The best price we've seen is $52 cheaper (around 20% less)
Nikon D3100 Learn more about
the Nikon D3100
vs

recommendations

Which camera do we recommend? Relative to the best recent entry-level DSLRs, and ignoring price

Snapsort Recommends
Nikon D3000 Nikon D3000 34
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    Style
      Color
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        vs
        54 Nikon D3100 Nikon D3100
        Retailer
          Style
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              similarities

              Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

              Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
              Lens availability Many lenses available Help
              205 lenses
              Size Fairly small Help
              D3000:126x97x64 mm
              D3100:124x96x73 mm
              Lowest price Inexpensive Help
              D3000:$329.99
              D3100:$278.29
              Thickness Thin Help
              D3000:2.5"
              D3100:2.9"
              Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
              1/4000 of a second
              Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
              D3000:3,200 ISO
              D3100:12,800 ISO
              Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
              95%
              HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
              You could do HDR manually
              Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
              3 fps
              True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
              D3000:10 MP
              D3100:14.2 MP
              Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
              230k dots
              Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
              1
              Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
              D3000:1,600 ISO
              D3100:3,200 ISO
              Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
              D3000:11.1 EV
              D3100:11.3 EV
              Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
              Less flexible
              Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
              Risk of blur
              Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
              Need to shelter it from weather
              Shutter lag Significant shutter lag Help
              D3000:262 ms
              D3100:279 ms
              Viewfinder size Below average viewfinder size Help
              D3000:0.52x
              D3100:0.51x
              Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
              You could stitch photos in post
              Focus points Few focus points Help
              11
              Autofocus Lacks video autofocus Help
              D3000:None
              D3100:Contrast detection
              Movie format One shoots movies Help
              D3000:None
              D3100:1080p @ 24fps
              Overall image quality Low image quality Help
              D3000:62.0
              D3100:67.0

              dxomark

              DXOMark

              competitors

              Shared Competitors

              Advantages

              Disadvantages
              Nikon D3200

              Nikon D3200

              Entry-level DSLR

              $319 - $656 body only

              $399 - $477 with 18-55mm lens
              Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
              Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
              Thickness Is thicker
              Size Is significantly larger
              Compare the D3200 vs the D3000
              Compare the D3200 vs the D3100
              Canon Rebel T3

              Canon Rebel T3

              Entry-level DSLR

              $276 - $290 body only

              $350 - $409 with 18-55mm lens
              Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
              Thickness Is thicker
              Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
              Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D3000
              Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D3100
              Canon Rebel T3i

              Canon Rebel T3i

              Entry-level DSLR

              $480 - $774 body only

              $200 - $617 with 18-55mm lens
              Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
              True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
              Thickness Is thicker
              Weight Is slightly heavier
              Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D3000
              Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D3100
              Nikon D5100

              Nikon D5100

              Entry-level DSLR

              $400 - $670 body only

              $485 - $625 with 18-55mm lens
              Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
              Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
              Thickness Is thicker
              Size Is much larger
              Compare the D5100 vs the D3000
              Compare the D5100 vs the D3100
              Nikon D90

              Nikon D90

              Entry-level DSLR

              $575 - $629 body only

              $830 - $966 with 18-105mm lens
              Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
              Dynamic range Has significantly wider dynamic range
              Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
              Thickness Is thicker
              Compare the D90 vs the D3000
              Compare the D90 vs the D3100
              Nikon D3300

              Nikon D3300

              Entry-level DSLR

              $597 with 18-55mm lens
              Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
              Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
              Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
              Thickness Is thicker
              Compare the D3300 vs the D3000
              Compare the D3300 vs the D3100
              Nikon D5000

              Nikon D5000

              Entry-level DSLR

              $625 with 18-55mm lens
              Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
              Dynamic range Has significantly wider dynamic range
              Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
              Thickness Is thicker
              Compare the D5000 vs the D3000
              Compare the D5000 vs the D3100

              Nikon D3000 Competitors

              Advantages

              Disadvantages
              Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS

              Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS

              Entry-level DSLR

              $430 with 18-55mm lens
              Live view Has live view
              Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
              Screen size Much smaller screen
              Autofocus Slower autofocus
              Compare the EOS Digital Rebel XS vs the D3000

              Nikon D3100 Competitors

              Advantages

              Disadvantages
              Canon EOS Rebel T5

              Canon EOS Rebel T5

              Entry-level DSLR

              $599 - $681 body only

              $499 - $823 with 18-55mm lens
              Screen resolution Higher resolution screen
              True resolution Higher true resolution
              Low light performance More noise at high ISO
              Color depth Worse color depth
              Compare the EOS Rebel T5 vs the D3100

              appearance

              Nikon D3000 Nikon D3100
              Nikon D3000 Nikon D3100
              Nikon D3000 Nikon D3100

              discussion

              Nikon D3000
              D3000
              Nikon

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              Nikon D3100
              D3100
              Nikon

              Report a correction

              Showing 2 comments

              Avatar for Omer Irfan Omer Irfan (4:08 PM, August 29, 2013)
              D3000 is good ..
               
              Avatar for Ahmed Mamdouh Ahmed Mamdouh (8:50 AM, December 22, 2012)
              hi .. i m ahmed
              its my first time to get a DSLR camera .. and i wanna choose one of them
              my use for camera just for personal use ... i am not a professional photographer
              so may u advice me which to buy D3100 or D3000 or a ordinary digital camera ??