Nikon
D300S
 vs
Nikon
D3100

Nikon D300S

77
Winner

Nikon D300S
"Most high-end DSLRs feature Magnesium alloy construction but the D300 stood out as a particularly weighty and well-constructed example"
dpreview.com | talking about the D300S's build-quality
"The D300S is not the standout product that its predecessor was and unless you find your clients are clamoring for video footage... that shouldn't take away from an absolutely excellent product - a gently polished and refined update of a product that we considered a benchmark when it was released."
dpreview.com | talking about the D300S's overall-performance

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
Startup delay
 Almost no delay when powering up
300 ms startup delay
Nikon D3100

60
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
"Unusually fast Live View AF for an SLR"
dpreview.com | talking about the D3100's auto-focus

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3100

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 24fps
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
Weight
 Light-weight
505 g

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
Focus points Many more focus points 51 vs 11
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
 Sealed to shoot in the rain
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.62x vs 0.51x
Help
 More than 40% larger viewfinder
Cross type focus points Significantly more cross-type focus points 15 vs 1
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
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
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
Startup delay Less startup delay 300 ms vs 400 ms
Help
 Around 30% less delay when turning on
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
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
Size Smaller 124x96x73 mm vs 147x114x74 mm
Help
 Around 30% smaller
True resolution Higher true resolution 14.2 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
 Capture around 20% more detail in your photos
Weight Significantly lighter 505 g vs 938 g
Help
 Around 50% lighter
Lowest price Cheaper $499.99 vs $1,699.99
Help
 The best price we've seen is $1,200 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
77 vs 60
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.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

NikonD300S
 Nikon D300S vs Nikon D3100
NikonD3100
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
3
12
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
9
5
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
6
6
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
8
5
Vote Vote
Autofocus performance Video focusing
Speed and accuracy
3
10
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
7
5
Vote Vote
Build quality Build quality
Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal
8
5
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

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
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
D300S:300 ms
D3100:400 ms
Thickness Thin Help
2.9"
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
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

$650 - $749 body only

$600 - $750 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
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

$499 - $949 body only

$579 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thinner
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D300S
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D3100
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$869 - $897 body only

$1,099 - $1,200 with 18-105mm lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D90 vs the D300S
Compare the D90 vs the D3100
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,097 body only

$1,227 with 55-200mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
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

$609 - $800 body only

$709 - $1,180 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 D5000

Nikon D5000

Entry-level DSLR

$997 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 D300

Nikon D300

Pro DSLR

$1,673 - $1,816 body only

$2,639 with 16-85mm lens
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the D300 vs the D300S
Compare the D300 vs the D3100

Nikon D300S Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,329 - $1,821 body only

$1,498 - $1,800 with 28-135mm lens
Movie format Higher resolution movies
True resolution Higher true resolution
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the EOS 7D vs the D300S
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,750 body only
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Movie format Does not take movies
Lens availability Fewer lenses available
Compare the D700 vs the D300S

Nikon D3100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$379 body only

$460 - $550 with 18-55mm lens
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Screen size Much smaller screen
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D3100
Canon EOS Rebel T1i

Canon Rebel T1i

Entry-level DSLR

$445 - $629 body only

$504 - $609 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag
Color depth Worse color depth
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Compare the Rebel T1i vs the D3100

appearance

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

Find similar cameras

Here are some links to help you find other cameras with similar features to both of these:

discussion Which do you think is better?

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