Nikon
D3100
 vs
Nikon
D80

Updated (April, 2012): Compare the Nikon D3200 vs Nikon D80

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 D80

32
Runner-up

Nikon D80

Reasons to buy the Nikon D80

Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.62x
Sensor size
 Large sensor
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D3100
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 919 ISO vs 524 ISO
Help
 The D3100 has a slight edge (0.8 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
Overall image quality Better image quality 67.0 vs 61.0
Help
 Around 10% better image quality
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 14.2 MP vs 10 MP
Help
 Capture more than 40% more detail in your photos
Color depth Better color depth 22.5 bits vs 22.1 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.4 more bits of color
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
 CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Size Significantly smaller 124x96x73 mm vs 132x103x77 mm
Help
 Around 20% smaller
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The D3100's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.3 EV vs 11.2 EV
Help
 0.1 f-stops more dynamic range
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 Significantly lighter 505 g vs 668 g
Help
 More than 20% lighter
Thickness Thinner 2.9" vs 3"
Help
 Almost the same
Lowest price Cheaper $499.99 vs $700.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $200 cheaper (around 30% less)
Nikon D3100 Learn more about
the Nikon D3100

Advantages of the Nikon D80
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder 0.62x vs 0.51x
Help
 Around 50% larger viewfinder
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
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs APS-C 23.1x15.4mm
Help
 Almost the same
Nikon D80 Learn more about
the Nikon D80
vs

recommendations

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

Nikon D3100 Nikon D3100
54 vs 32
Explain scores
Nikon D80 Nikon D80
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3100.

advice

Need help deciding?

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0
votes
by Jithmi-Alwis last month
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5000

iam a beginner ...and need a good entry level dslr...which is cheap...and have great image stab...

One person recommends the Nikon D3100:

" The D3100 is a great starter camera"
0
votes
by Neeraj-Jain last week
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5000

I am beginner and I want to become an expert in portrait photography, especially baby shots. Ple...
0
votes
by telmanri last week
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5000

I'm photography enthusiast and I plan to move on for my first dSLR. I want to buy a refurbished ...
0
votes
by Ketan-Nivding last month
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5000

Hi, I' am an amateur photographer and have taken up photography as a hobby. Recently, while on a J...
0
votes
by ImranVirk last month
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5000

Im a beginner and will mainly be using the camera for vacation pictures and weekend hobby photogra...

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
169 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
D80:1,600 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
D80:10 MP
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
D3100:11.3 EV
D80:11.2 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 D80
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 D80
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
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D3100
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D80
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
Compare the D3200 vs the D3100
Compare the D3200 vs the D80
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 D80
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 D80
Nikon D3000

Nikon D3000

Entry-level DSLR

$449 with 18-55mm lens
Size Is slightly smaller
Thickness Is thinner
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Compare the D3000 vs the D3100
Compare the D3000 vs the D80

Nikon D3100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

Nikon D80 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D80.

appearance

Nikon D3100 Nikon D80
Nikon D3100 Nikon D80
Nikon D3100 Nikon D80

discussion

Showing 6 comments

Avatar for Adam Clark Adam Clark (3:20 PM, April 13, 2011)
I love the LensHero site. Good stuff. Very useful and fun too.
 
Avatar for Adam Clark Adam Clark (3:19 PM, April 13, 2011)
Good point! I actually own a 50mm f/1.8. It seems the D3100 won't work with most of my lenses because of it's lack of an autofocus motor. Damn! You'd think Nikon would have put a motor in the body. I'm also concerned that the viewfinder is smaller on the 3100 then the 80...and I don't fully trust liveview. I'm going to sell my D3100. I'd never get anything for my D80 anyway these days.
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (5:26 PM, April 07, 2011)
I'd say sell the D80, unless there are some features that the D80 has that the D3100 is lacking? One reason to keep the D80 would be if you already (or plan to) use older design lenses like the Nikon 50mm f/1.8D which won't autofocus on the D3100.
 
Avatar for Adam Clark Adam Clark (4:27 PM, April 07, 2011)
I've got a D80 - that trusty workhorse - but I've recently won a D3100. Which should I sell?
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (1:21 PM, February 18, 2011)
Both cameras have the same lens mount, so the kit lens from the D3100 should work on the D80. You might want to check out LensHero our sister site to find other lenses.
 
Jasjervis (4:46 AM, February 18, 2011)
does anyone know if the lense that comes with the d3100 will work with the d80?