Updated (April, 2012): Compare the Nikon D3200 vs Nikon D800

Nikon D700

81

Winner

Nikon D700

"Fast and accurate 51 point auto-focus even in low light"
dpreview.com | talking about the D700's auto-focus
"Clean, artifact-free low ISO output with good resolution and detail"
dpreview.com | talking about the D700's image-quality

Reasons to buy the Nikon D700

Low light performance
Low noise at high ISO
2,303 ISO
Overall image quality
Great image quality
80.0
Color depth
Great color depth
23.5 bits
Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
12.2 EV
Screen resolution
High resolution screen
922k dots
Viewfinder size
Large viewfinder
0.72x
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
Weight
Light-weight
505 g

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D3100

Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 24fps vs None
Help
Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
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
Size Significantly smaller 124x96x73 mm vs 147x123x77 mm
Help
Around 40% smaller
True resolution Higher true resolution 14.2 MP vs 12.1 MP
Help
Capture around 20% more detail in your photos
Weight Much lighter 505 g vs 1,074 g
Help
2.1x lighter
Lowest price Cheaper $499.99 vs $2,649.00
Help
The best price we've seen is $2,149 cheaper (5.3x less)
Thickness Thinner 2.9" vs 3"
Help
Almost the same
Nikon D3100 Learn more about
the Nikon D3100

Advantages of the Nikon D700

Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 2,303 ISO vs 919 ISO
Help
The D700 has excellent image quality 1.3 f-stops higher ISO than the D3100
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 80.0 vs 67.0
Help
Around 20% better image quality
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 922k dots vs 230k dots
Help
More than 4x higher resolution screen
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 11.3 EV
Help
0.9 f-stops more dynamic range
Viewfinder size Much larger viewfinder 0.72x vs 0.51x
Help
Around 2x larger viewfinder
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 36.0x24.0mm vs APS-C 23.1x15.4mm
Help
Around 2.5x larger sensor
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
Color depth Better color depth 23.5 bits vs 22.5 bits
Help
Distinguishes 1 more bits of color
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 15 vs 1
Help
Grab focus in difficult situations
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 197 ms vs 279 ms
Help
Around 30% less delay when taking photos
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
Battery life Longer battery life 1000 shots vs 550 shots
Help
More than 80% more shots per battery charge
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The D700's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
2x faster max shutter speed
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 12,800 ISO
Help
The D700's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Nikon D700 Learn more about
the Nikon D700
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D3100 Nikon D3100
45 vs 81
Explain scores
Nikon D700 Nikon D700
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D700. 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

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0
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by Petter-Persson last month
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I consider myself more as a professional then a beginner, have taking on some photography jobs wit...

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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:

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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..."

0
votes
by Larisa-Dragan this month
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90

beginner/want to start a studio for newborn/children pictures/i think shooting in low light is i...

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.

Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
D3100:14.2 MP
D700:12.1 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
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
D3100:3,200 ISO
D700:6,400 ISO
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
D3100:3 fps
D700:5 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
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
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
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
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
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens

True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier

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
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

Nikon D700 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,999 - $3,000 body only

Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Continuous shooting Shoots slower
Thickness Thicker
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,130 body only

$2,875 - $2,999 with 24-105mm lens

Movie format Shoots movies
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Focus points Many fewer focus points
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

$1,620 - $1,849 with 18-135mm lens

Movie format Shoots movies
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Nikon D300S

Nikon D300S

Pro DSLR

$1,690 - $1,700 body only

$2,547 - $4,295 with 18-200mm lens

Movie format Shoots movies
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Worse image quality

appearance

Nikon D3100 Nikon D700
Nikon D3100 Nikon D700
Nikon D3100 Nikon D700

discussion

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