Nikon
D3100
 vs
Nikon
D60

Updated (April, 2012): Compare the Nikon D3200 vs Nikon D60

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

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 24fps
Screen size
 Large screen
3.0"
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 D60

29
Runner-up

Nikon D60

Reasons to buy the Nikon D60

Sensor size
 Large sensor
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 126x94x64 mm
Thickness
 Thin
2.5"

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D3100
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 919 ISO vs 562 ISO
Help
 The D3100 has a slight edge (0.7 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.5"
Help
 More than 20% larger screen
Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 24fps vs None
Help
 Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
Live view Has live view Yes vs No
Help
 Preview your photos on the camera's screen before taking them
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
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 67.0 vs 65.0
Help
 Almost the same
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
 CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
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 522 g
Help
 Almost the same
Nikon D3100 Learn more about
the Nikon D3100

Advantages of the Nikon D60
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs APS-C 23.1x15.4mm
Help
 Almost the same
Size Smaller 126x94x64 mm vs 124x96x73 mm
Help
 More than 10% smaller
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.4 EV vs 11.3 EV
Help
 0.1 f-stops more dynamic range
Thickness Significantly thinner 2.5" vs 2.9"
Help
 More than 10% thinner
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.52x vs 0.51x
Help
 Almost the same
Nikon D60 Learn more about
the Nikon D60
vs

recommendations

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

Nikon D3100 Nikon D3100
54 vs 29
Explain scores
Nikon D60 Nikon D60
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3100.

advice

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votes
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One person recommends the Nikon D3100:

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2 people recommend the Nikon D3100:

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1
votes
by Kate-Hughes 4 days ago
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I am a beginner is DSLR photography & have been researching entry level models. I kep coming bac...

One person recommends the Nikon D3100:

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0
votes
by Larisa-Dragan this month
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similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
169 lenses
Size Fairly small Help
D3100:124x96x73 mm
D60:126x94x64 mm
Thickness Thin Help
D3100:2.9"
D60:2.5"
Weight Light weight Help
D3100:505 g
D60:522 g
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
D3100:3,200 ISO
D60:1,600 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
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
D3100:14.2 MP
D60:10 MP
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Viewfinder size Below average viewfinder size Help
D3100:0.51x
D60:0.52x
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
D3100:11.3 EV
D60:11.4 EV

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
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
Compare the D5100 vs the D3100
Compare the D5100 vs the D60
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
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D3100
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D60
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
Color depth Has slightly less color depth
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D3100
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D60
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
Compare the D3200 vs the D3100
Compare the D3200 vs the D60
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
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D3100
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D60
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
Compare the D90 vs the D3100
Compare the D90 vs the D60
Nikon D3000

Nikon D3000

Entry-level DSLR

$449 with 18-55mm lens
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Compare the D3000 vs the D3100
Compare the D3000 vs the D60

Nikon D3100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

Nikon D60 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D60.

appearance

Nikon D3100 Nikon D60
Nikon D3100 Nikon D60
Nikon D3100 Nikon D60

discussion

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