Nikon
D3100
 vs
Nikon
D3X

Updated (April, 2012): Compare the Nikon D3200 vs Nikon D3X

Nikon D3X

80
Winner

Nikon D3X

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3X

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
1,992 ISO
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
88.0
Color depth
 Great color depth
24.7 bits
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
13.7 EV
Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
920k dots
Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.70x
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
Sensor cleaning
 Self cleaning sensor
Avoids dust in your photos

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D3100
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor Yes vs No
Help
 Removes dust from the sensor automatically, avoiding spots in photos
Size Much smaller 124x96x73 mm vs 160x157x88 mm
Help
 2.5x smaller
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 121 lenses
Help
 Around 40% more lenses available
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Weight Much lighter 505 g vs 1,260 g
Help
 2.5x lighter
Thickness Much thinner 2.9" vs 3.5"
Help
 Around 20% thinner
Lowest price Much cheaper $499.99 vs $7,996.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $7,497 cheaper (16x less)
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
 A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
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
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs None
Help
 Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Nikon D3100 Learn more about
the Nikon D3100

Advantages of the Nikon D3X
Overall image quality Much better image quality 88.0 vs 67.0
Help
 More than 30% better image quality
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 1,992 ISO vs 919 ISO
Help
 The D3X has excellent image quality 1.1 f-stops higher ISO than the D3100
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13.7 EV vs 11.3 EV
Help
 2.4 f-stops more dynamic range
Battery life Much longer battery life 4400 shots vs 550 shots
Help
 8x more shots per battery charge
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 4x higher resolution screen
Color depth Better color depth 24.7 bits vs 22.5 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 2.2 more bits of color
Viewfinder size Much larger viewfinder 0.70x vs 0.51x
Help
 More than 80% larger viewfinder
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 35.9x24.0mm vs APS-C 23.1x15.4mm
Help
 Around 2.5x larger sensor
True resolution Much higher true resolution 24.4 MP vs 14.2 MP
Help
 Capture more than 70% more detail in your photos
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
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag 161 ms vs 279 ms
Help
 More than 40% less delay when taking photos
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
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 5 fps vs 3 fps
Help
 Around 70% faster continuous shooting
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
 Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
 More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
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 D3X Learn more about
the Nikon D3X
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D3100 Nikon D3100
45 vs 80
Explain scores
Nikon D3X Nikon D3X
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3X. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a entry-level DSLR with a pro DSLR.

advice

Need help deciding?

Ask the community!
I am considering either the D3100 or the D3X,
For example: Taking photos in low light or great family photos or ability to take great photos underwater

Select aspects that are most important to you: (max 3)

Popular tags:

Are you a camera expert? Share your knowledge!
1
votes
by Kelly-Charpie last week
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D7000

I am not a beginner nor am I am expert.. in between I suppose. I've worked for professional phot...
0
votes
by Faizaan-Ahmad last month
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D7000

I am a beginner enthusiast and have been learning photography on nikon p7000 for almost a year. no...

One person recommends the Nikon D7000:

" He is willing to learn,might outgrow the D3100 then wishing he would have invested in the D7000...."
0
votes
by Vgill25 this month
Nikon D3X vs Nikon D7000

I love taking photos, all kind of photos. I love it when it is sharp and stunning.
1
votes
by Lance-Villanueva-Ramos last month
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90

Beginner,capturing the moment of different events

2 people recommend the Nikon D3100:

" D3100 is going to have better video capabilities which you outlined as a need, image quality wil..."

"The D3100 is better for beginners because it has a great guide that will help you set up the camer..."
1
votes
by Kate-Hughes 4 days ago
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90

I am a beginner is DSLR photography & have been researching entry level models. I kep coming bac...

One person recommends the Nikon D3100:

" Hi Kate, Since you are a beginner in DSLR photography and it seems you have a budget, I would..."

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.
External mic jack Neither has an external mic jack Help
Limited to the in-camera mic
Light sensitivity (boost) One has boost ISO Help
D3100:12,800 ISO
D3X:None
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
D3100:3,200 ISO
D3X:1,600 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
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
D3100:3 fps
D3X:5 fps

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the D3100
Compare the D5100 vs the D3X
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Thickness Is thinner
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D3100
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D3X
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $700 with 18-55mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Compare the D3200 vs the D3100
Compare the D3200 vs the D3X
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D3100
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D3X
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 D3100
Compare the D90 vs the D3X
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D7000 vs the D3100
Compare the D7000 vs the D3X

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

Nikon D3X Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,999 - $3,000 body only
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Better image quality
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Continuous shooting Shoots slower
Compare the D800 vs the D3X
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,999 - $6,000 body only
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Battery life Much shorter battery life
True resolution Significantly lower true resolution
Compare the D4 vs the D3X
Nikon D3S

Nikon D3S

Pro DSLR

$5,197 body only
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the D3S vs the D3X
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Pro DSLR

$5,000 - $5,930 body only
Cross type focus points Significantly more cross-type focus points
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Compare the EOS-1D Mark IV vs the D3X
Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Pro DSLR

$3,499 - $3,500 body only

$4,299 - $4,300 with 24-105mm lens
Screen size Significantly larger screen
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the D3X

appearance

Nikon D3100 Nikon D3X
Nikon D3100 Nikon D3X
Nikon D3100 Nikon D3X

discussion

Showing 0 comments