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

Nikon D3100
Winner
Nikon D3100

56

vs
Nikon D3000

35

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
Thickness
 Thin
2.5"
 
Differences | Recommendations | Similarities | Competitors | Appearance | Discussion

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 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
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
Overall image quality Better image quality 67.0 vs 62.0
Help
 Around 10% better image quality
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
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
Color depth Better color depth 22.5 bits vs 22.3 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.2 more bits of color
Startup delay Less startup delay 400 ms vs 700 ms
Help
 More than 40% less delay when turning on
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
Lowest price Cheaper $372.99 vs $435.54
Help
 The best price we've seen is $63 cheaper (more than 10% less)
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
35 vs 56
Explain scores
Nikon D3100 Nikon D3100
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3100.

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
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
D3000:$435.54
D3100:$372.99
Thickness Thin Help
D3000:2.5"
D3100:2.9"
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
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
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
230k dots
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
D3000:10 MP
D3100:14.2 MP
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
1
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
D3000:1,600 ISO
D3100:3,200 ISO
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus Help
D3000:None
D3100:Contrast detection
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
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
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
D3000:11.1 EV
D3100:11.3 EV
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
D3000:62.0
D3100:67.0

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$328 body only

$449 with 18-55mm lens
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Thickness Is thicker
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D3000
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D3100
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D3200 vs the D3000
Compare the D3200 vs the D3100
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$595 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the D3000
Compare the D5100 vs the D3100
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$595 - $599 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D3000
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D3100
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$600 - $899 body only

$740 - $1,099 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
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$540 body only

$638 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Sensor size Has a slightly smaller sensor
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D3000
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D3100
Nikon D5000

Nikon D5000

Entry-level DSLR

$642 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

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

Showing 1 comments

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 ??