Nikon
D3100
 vs
Nikon
D7000

Updated (April, 2012): Compare the Nikon D3200 vs Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

91
Winner

Nikon D7000
"The D7000's Live View is certainly quite functional as a basic means of framing for stills and video shooting, as long as you understand its limitations"
dpreview.com | talking about the D7000's video-quality
"The 'feel' of the new camera is far closer to the D300S though, thanks to its heavy-duty magnesium alloy construction."
dpreview.com | talking about the D7000's build-quality

Reasons to buy the Nikon D7000

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
1,167 ISO
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
80.0
Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 24fps
Color depth
 Great color depth
23.5 bits
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
13.9 EV
Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Nikon D3100

54
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 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
Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 124x96x73 mm
Weight
 Light-weight
505 g

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D3100
Size Significantly smaller 124x96x73 mm vs 132x105x77 mm
Help
 Around 20% smaller
Weight Much lighter 505 g vs 780 g
Help
 Around 40% lighter
Lowest price Cheaper $499.99 vs $999.99
Help
 The best price we've seen is $500 cheaper (2x less)
Thickness Thinner 2.9" vs 3"
Help
 Almost the same
Nikon D3100 Learn more about
the Nikon D3100

Advantages of the Nikon D7000
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 80.0 vs 67.0
Help
 Around 20% better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13.9 EV vs 11.3 EV
Help
 2.6 f-stops more dynamic range
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 1,167 ISO vs 919 ISO
Help
 The D7000 has a slight edge (0.3 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Focus points Many more focus points 39 vs 11
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 4x higher resolution screen
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
 Sealed to shoot in the rain
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Cross type focus points Many more cross-type focus points 9 vs 1
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Color depth Better color depth 23.5 bits vs 22.5 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1 more bits of color
Battery life Much longer battery life 1050 shots vs 550 shots
Help
 More than 90% more shots per battery charge
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder 0.62x vs 0.51x
Help
 More than 40% larger viewfinder
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 6 fps vs 3 fps
Help
 2x faster continuous shooting
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
True resolution Higher true resolution 16.1 MP vs 14.2 MP
Help
 Capture more than 10% more detail in your photos
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The D7000's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
 Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 238 ms vs 279 ms
Help
 More than 10% 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
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 12,800 ISO
Help
 The D7000's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.6mm vs APS-C 23.1x15.4mm
Help
 Almost the same
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Nikon D7000 Learn more about
the Nikon D7000
vs

recommendations

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

Nikon D3100 Nikon D3100
54 vs 91
Explain scores
Nikon D7000 Nikon D7000
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D7000.

advice

Need help deciding?

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I am considering either the D3100 or the D7000,
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Nikon D300S vs Nikon D7000

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2 people recommend the Nikon D7000:

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similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Movie format Both shoot high resolution HD movies Help
1080p @ 24fps
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
169 lenses
Movie continuous focus Focus continuously recording movies Help
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Supports 24p 24p support Help
For that film look
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
400 ms startup delay
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
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
D7000:6,400 ISO

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 D7000
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
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the D90 vs the D3100
Compare the D90 vs the D7000
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 D3100
Compare the D3200 vs the D7000
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
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D3100
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D7000
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
Size Is slightly smaller
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Sensor size Has a marginally smaller sensor
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D3100
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D7000
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 D3100
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D7000
Nikon D300

Nikon D300

Pro DSLR

$1,000 body only
Focus points Has significantly more focus points
Cross type focus points Has significantly more cross-type focus points
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is much heavier
Compare the D300 vs the D3100
Compare the D300 vs the D7000

Nikon D3100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$333 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens
Battery life Longer battery life
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Screen size Much smaller screen
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D3100
Nikon D3000

Nikon D3000

Entry-level DSLR

$449 with 18-55mm lens
Sensor size Larger sensor
Size Smaller
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
Movie format Does not take movies
Compare the D3000 vs the D3100

Nikon D7000 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
Cross type focus points Many more cross-type focus points
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag
Overall image quality Much worse image quality
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
Compare the EOS 7D vs the D7000
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,649 body only
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO
Sensor size Much larger sensor
Movie format Does not take movies
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the D700 vs the D7000
Nikon D300S

Nikon D300S

Pro DSLR

$1,690 - $1,700 body only

$2,547 - $4,295 with 18-200mm lens
Focus points Significantly more focus points
Cross type focus points Significantly more cross-type focus points
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Compare the D300S vs the D7000
Pentax K-5

Pentax K-5

Entry-level DSLR

$888 - $1,129 body only

$1,033 - $1,283 with 18-55mm lens
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Shutter lag Much less shutter lag
Focus points Many fewer focus points
Supports 24p No 24p support
Compare the K-5 vs the D7000

appearance

Nikon D3100 Nikon D7000
Nikon D3100 Nikon D7000
Nikon D3100 Nikon D7000

discussion

Showing 8 comments

Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (4:29 PM, April 05, 2011)
Hi Mohd, camera weight is a factor. I have shot with the Nikon D3 with the 24-70 f/2.8 lens, and it is really heavy, my wife can't hold it with one hand.

A DSLR that offers great image quality but is still light and small would be great!
 
Avatar for Mohd Baker Mohd Baker (10:18 AM, March 31, 2011)
if you think weight is more important than image quality, why you're interested in a DSLR in the first place? a point and shot camera is going to be extremely useful for you since they can be more than 2X lighter than a D3100.
 
Avatar for Mohd Baker Mohd Baker (9:50 AM, March 31, 2011)
I think by the time you master your photography and feel the limitation of your D3100, there will be another update cycle in Nikon range of cameras, probably you'll be getting the D7100.
 
Biomarkunit (5:03 AM, March 21, 2011)
I agree, the D3100 is a smaller device which can easily replace any digital camera out there, there is no much potential in the D3100 for the price its offered at. However the D7000 is such a awesome piece of equipment. Im getting the D3100 and probs get the D7000 once I become better at Photographer.

Does anyone think having both is a waste of money? I figure since i will invest in Nikkon lenses I could just get the D7000 body by itself.
 
Ipatronius (5:46 AM, February 20, 2011)
OK, I just bought the D7000. I do love it. It is incredibly capable and though larger than the 3100, it's still much smaller than all the big honking Pro cameras. I was going to sell my D3100 but I love that too and nothing fits better in my small hands. So I'm just gong to have to keep it too!
 
Ipatronius (0:37 PM, February 19, 2011)
Don't forget the D-7000 has the command flash ability and IR remote, both lacking in the D-3100. But the smallness and lightness of the D3100 is very significant to me, especially when carrying around while travelling. I may have to keep my 3100 for trips and get a 7000 for taking portraits and use around the home....
 
Rick (1:24 AM, February 07, 2011)
lighter means more plastic, I prefer the weight.
 
Liamong27 (11:43 AM, January 19, 2011)
I know that The Nikon D7000 is more nicer but to be honest i find the Nikon D3100 more useful because its more lighter and much more cheaper even though i can afford the Nikon D7000 for me Nikon D3100 is MUCH MUCH MUCH better......