Updated (March, 2012): Compare the Nikon D3200 vs Sony Alpha DSLR-A200

Nikon D3100
Winner
Nikon D3100

56

vs
Sony Alpha DSLR-A200

41
 
 
 
 

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
 

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha DSLR-A200

Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Sensor size
 Large sensor
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
189 ms shutter lag
Battery life
 Great battery life
750 shots
 
Differences | Recommendations | Similarities | Competitors | Appearance | Discussion

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
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 919 ISO vs 521 ISO
Help
 The D3100 has a slight edge (0.8 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Live view Has live view Yes vs No
Help
 Preview your photos on the camera's screen before taking them
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
 More than 10% larger screen
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
Lens availability Much more lenses available 169 lenses vs 92 lenses
Help
 More than 80% more lenses available
Overall image quality Better image quality 67.0 vs 63.0
Help
 Around 10% better image quality
Startup delay Significantly less startup delay 400 ms vs 1500 ms
Help
 3.7x less delay when turning on
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
True resolution Higher true resolution 14.2 MP vs 10 MP
Help
 Capture more than 40% more detail in your photos
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
 CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
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
Color depth Better color depth 22.5 bits vs 22.3 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.2 more bits of color
Size Smaller 124x96x73 mm vs 131x99x71 mm
Help
 Almost the same
Weight Lighter 505 g vs 572 g
Help
 More than 10% lighter
Nikon D3100 Learn more about
the Nikon D3100

Advantages of the Sony DSLR-A200
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag 189 ms vs 279 ms
Help
 More than 30% less delay when taking photos
Battery life Longer battery life 750 shots vs 550 shots
Help
 Around 40% more shots per battery charge
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs APS-C 23.1x15.4mm
Help
 Almost the same
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.54x vs 0.51x
Help
 More than 10% larger viewfinder
Thickness Thinner 2.8" vs 2.9"
Help
 Almost the same
Sony Alpha DSLR-A200 Learn more about
the Sony DSLR-A200
vs

recommendations

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

Nikon D3100 Nikon D3100
56 vs 41
Explain scores
Sony Alpha DSLR-A200 Sony Alpha DSLR-A200
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3100.

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Size Fairly small Help
D3100:124x96x73 mm
DSLR-A200:131x99x71 mm
Thickness Thin Help
D3100:2.9"
DSLR-A200:2.8"
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Light sensitivity (boost) One has boost ISO Help
D3100:12,800 ISO
DSLR-A200:None
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
3 fps
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
230k dots
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
D3100:14.2 MP
DSLR-A200:10 MP
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
3,200 ISO
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus Help
D3100:Contrast detection
DSLR-A200:None
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
11.3 EV
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Viewfinder size Below average viewfinder size Help
D3100:0.51x
DSLR-A200:0.54x
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
D3100:67.0
DSLR-A200:63.0

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$328 body only

$449 with 18-55mm lens
Thickness Is thicker
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D3100
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the Alpha DSLR-A200
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$595 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the D3100
Compare the D5100 vs the Alpha DSLR-A200
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$595 - $599 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D3100
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the Alpha DSLR-A200
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$600 - $899 body only

$740 - $1,099 with 18-105mm 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 Alpha DSLR-A200
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$540 body only

$638 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Sensor size Has a slightly smaller sensor
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D3100
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the Alpha DSLR-A200
Nikon D3000

Nikon D3000

Entry-level DSLR

$436 - $456 with 18-55mm lens
Size Is slightly smaller
Thickness Is thinner
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the D3000 vs the D3100
Compare the D3000 vs the Alpha DSLR-A200
Canon EOS Rebel T1i

Canon Rebel T1i

Entry-level DSLR

$723 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
Size Is slightly smaller
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Sensor size Has a slightly smaller sensor
Compare the Rebel T1i vs the D3100
Compare the Rebel T1i vs the Alpha DSLR-A200

Nikon D3100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Size Larger
Viewfinder size Slightly smaller viewfinder
Compare the D3200 vs the D3100

Sony Alpha DSLR-A200 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony Alpha DSLR-A100

Sony Alpha DSLR-A100

Entry-level DSLR
Startup delay Less startup delay
Size Slightly smaller
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
Shutter lag Significantly more shutter lag
Compare the Alpha DSLR-A100 vs the Alpha DSLR-A200
Sony Alpha DSLR-A230

Sony Alpha DSLR-A230

Entry-level DSLR

$499 body only
Startup delay Significantly less startup delay
Storage slots Has more storage slots
Battery life Significantly shorter battery life
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly slower
Compare the Alpha DSLR-A230 vs the Alpha DSLR-A200
Sony Alpha DSLR-A300

Sony Alpha DSLR-A300

Entry-level DSLR
Live view Has live view
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Viewfinder size Smaller viewfinder
Size Larger
Compare the Alpha DSLR-A300 vs the Alpha DSLR-A200

appearance

Nikon D3100 Sony Alpha DSLR-A200
Nikon D3100 Sony Alpha DSLR-A200
Nikon D3100 Sony Alpha DSLR-A200

discussion

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