Nikon
D300S
 vs
Nikon
D3100

Updated (April, 2012): Compare the Nikon D300S vs Nikon D3200

Nikon D300S

63
Winner

Nikon D300S
"Although the fine detail of ergonomics can come down to personal preference and hand shape/size, the basics are universal"
dpreview.com | talking about the D300S's feel
"Sophisticated AF system with effective subject tracking"
dpreview.com | talking about the D300S's auto-focus

Reasons to buy the Nikon D300S

Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12.2 EV
Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
920k dots
Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.62x
Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
7 fps
External mic jack
 External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
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

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D300S
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 4x higher resolution screen
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 11.3 EV
Help
 0.9 f-stops more dynamic range
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
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
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.62x vs 0.51x
Help
 More than 40% larger viewfinder
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 7 fps vs 3 fps
Help
 Around 2.5x faster continuous shooting
Overall image quality Better image quality 70.0 vs 67.0
Help
 Almost the same
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
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 225 ms vs 279 ms
Help
 Around 20% less delay when taking photos
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
 More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Battery life Longer battery life 950 shots vs 550 shots
Help
 More than 70% more shots per battery charge
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
Nikon D300S Learn more about
the Nikon D300S

Advantages of the Nikon D3100
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 24fps vs 720p @ 24fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 919 ISO vs 787 ISO
Help
 The D3100 has a slight edge (0.2 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
True resolution Higher true resolution 14.2 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
 Capture around 20% more detail in your photos
Size Smaller 124x96x73 mm vs 147x114x74 mm
Help
 Around 30% smaller
Weight Significantly lighter 505 g vs 938 g
Help
 Around 50% lighter
Lowest price Cheaper $499.99 vs $1,690.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $1,190 cheaper (3.4x less)
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The D3100's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Nikon D3100 Learn more about
the Nikon D3100
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D300S Nikon D300S
63 vs 45
Explain scores
Nikon D3100 Nikon D3100
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D300S. 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

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Are you a camera expert? Share your knowledge!
1
votes
by John-Dettinger last month
Nikon D300S vs Nikon D7000

I began photography around 11 months ago. I currently have the entry level Nikon D3100. It has d...

2 people recommend the Nikon D7000:

" I've got the d7000 and im really happy with it. 39 focuspoints are more than enough! The low lig..."

" I don't have experience with either camera... but the stats show that the D7000 is better in eve..."
0
votes
by Katie-Renee-Roloson last week
Nikon D300S vs Nikon D7000

I am looking to upgrade to start a wedding photography business ...

2 people recommend the Nikon D7000:

" surely the D7000 is more up to date and seems to be at least as relyable as the d300s (both shut..."

"I shoot weddings with the D7000 and love it.. use the money saved and put it toward a great lens. ..."
0
votes
by Marcos-Panayiotou last month
Nikon D300S vs Nikon D7000

I would like a camera that shoots sharp both during day and night(both raw and bright light) A c...

One person recommends the Nikon D7000:

" noise reduction at high iso. more true resolution .bigger sensor than other semipro camera"
0
votes
by Sherry-McCollum last month
Nikon D300S vs Nikon D700

I'm an advanced amateur and the most important features in the camera are ease of use and very sha...

One person recommends the Nikon D300S:

"Go for the D300s and spend some extra money on lenses. To get great wildlife shots you'll need a l..."
0
votes
by Saeddo-Fodi last week
Nikon D2Xs vs Nikon D300S

dear sir /madam i want to buy a second body with my nikon d80 but i want it to be better i wa...

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
169 lenses
Supports 24p 24p support Help
For that film look
Thickness Thin Help
2.9"
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
D300S:6,400 ISO
D3100:12,800 ISO
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
3,200 ISO
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
D300S:12.2 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

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
Color depth Has slightly more color depth
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the D300S
Compare the D5100 vs the D3100
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
Thickness Is thinner
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Color depth Has slightly less color depth
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D300S
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D3100
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $700 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Compare the D3200 vs the D300S
Compare the D3200 vs the D3100
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Color depth Has slightly more color depth
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D7000 vs the D300S
Compare the D7000 vs the D3100
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D300S
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D3100
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
Compare the D90 vs the D300S
Compare the D90 vs the D3100
Nikon D5000

Nikon D5000

Entry-level DSLR

$880 with 18-55mm lens
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5000 vs the D300S
Compare the D5000 vs the D3100

Nikon D300S Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

$1,620 - $1,849 with 18-135mm lens
Movie format Higher resolution movies
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Focus points Significantly fewer focus points
Compare the EOS 7D vs the D300S
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,649 body only
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Better image quality
Movie format Does not take movies
Lens availability Significantly fewer lenses available
Compare the D700 vs the D300S

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
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D3100
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
Compare the D3000 vs the D3100

appearance

Nikon D300S Nikon D3100
Nikon D300S Nikon D3100
Nikon D300S Nikon D3100

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