Nikon D3100

54

Winner

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

Low light performance
Low noise at high ISO
919 ISO
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
Sensor type
CMOS Sensor
Better in low light
Nikon D3000

32

Runner-up

Nikon D3000

"User-friendly ergonomics, without sacrificing control"
dpreview.com | talking about the D3000's button-layout
"Very capable AF system, including 3D AF tracking, on a par with much more expensive DSLRs"
dpreview.com | talking about the D3000's auto-focus

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3000

Sensor size
Large sensor
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Size
Really small
Prosumer size 126x97x64 mm
Thickness
Thin
2.5"

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D3000

Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs APS-C 23.1x15.4mm
Help
Almost the same
Size Smaller 126x97x64 mm vs 124x96x73 mm
Help
More than 10% smaller
Thickness Significantly 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

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
Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 24fps vs None
Help
Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Live view Has live view Yes vs No
Help
Preview your photos on the camera's screen before taking them
Overall image quality Better image quality 67.0 vs 62.0
Help
Around 10% better image quality
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 14.2 MP vs 10 MP
Help
Capture more than 40% more detail in your photos
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
Automatically focuses shooting video
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Startup delay Less startup delay 400 ms vs 700 ms
Help
More than 40% less delay when turning on
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.3 EV vs 11.1 EV
Help
0.2 f-stops more dynamic range
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
Nikon D3100 Learn more about
the Nikon D3100
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent entry-level DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D3000 Nikon D3000
32 vs 54
Explain scores
Nikon D3100 Nikon D3100
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3100.

advice

Need help deciding?

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I am considering either the D3000 or the D3100,
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1
votes
by NicoleUCD last month
Canon Rebel XSi vs Nikon D3000

My boyfriend is interested in photography as a hobby. I may be biased, but I think he takes grea...

One person recommends the Canon Rebel XSi:

" These are both great choices for a beginner. I used the XSi for two years and enjoyed it thorou..."

0
votes
by Jithmi-Alwis last month
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5000

iam a beginner ...and need a good entry level dslr...which is cheap...and have great image stab...

One person recommends the Nikon D3100:

" The D3100 is a great starter camera"

0
votes
by Neeraj-Jain last week
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5000

I am beginner and I want to become an expert in portrait photography, especially baby shots. Ple...

0
votes
by telmanri last week
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5000

I'm photography enthusiast and I plan to move on for my first dSLR. I want to buy a refurbished ...

0
votes
by Ketan-Nivding last month
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5000

Hi, I' am an amateur photographer and have taken up photography as a hobby. Recently, while on a J...

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
169 lenses
Size Fairly small Help
D3000:126x97x64 mm
D3100:124x96x73 mm
Thickness Thin Help
D3000:2.5"
D3100:2.9"
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
D3000:$449.00
D3100:$499.99
Lens focus motor No focus motor Help
Won't autofocus with all lenses
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
D3000:1,600 ISO
D3100:3,200 ISO
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
3 fps
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
1
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
230k dots
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
D3000:10 MP
D3100:14.2 MP
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
D3000:11.1 EV
D3100:11.3 EV
Viewfinder size Below average viewfinder size Help
D3000:0.52x
D3100:0.51x

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$333 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens

Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Thickness Is thicker
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Sensor size Has a marginally smaller sensor
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

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

Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm 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
Canon EOS Rebel T1i

Canon Rebel T1i

Entry-level DSLR

$475 - $629 body only

$549 - $580 with 18-55mm lens

Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
Shutter lag Has significantly less shutter lag
Sensor size Has a marginally smaller sensor
Battery life Has a slightly shorter battery life

Nikon D3000 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D3000.

Nikon D3100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D3100.

appearance

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

discussion

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