Updated (March, 2012): Compare the Nikon D3200 vs Sony Alpha DSLR-A390

Nikon D3100
Winner
Nikon D3100

56

vs
Sony Alpha DSLR-A390

42
 
 
 
 

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-A390

Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Live view
 Has live view
Preview your photos
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Sensor size
 Large sensor
APS-C 23.5x15.7mm
 
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 607 ISO
Help
 The D3100 has a slight edge (0.6 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
 More than 10% larger screen
Lens availability Much more lenses available 169 lenses vs 92 lenses
Help
 More than 80% more lenses available
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 Much smaller 124x96x73 mm vs 128x97x86 mm
Help
 Around 20% smaller
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
Thickness Much thinner 2.9" vs 3.4"
Help
 More than 10% thinner
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.51x vs 0.48x
Help
 More than 10% larger viewfinder
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 67.0 vs 66.0
Help
 Almost the same
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 550 shots vs 500 shots
Help
 10% more shots per battery charge
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 3 fps vs 2.5 fps
Help
 20% faster continuous shooting
Focus points Slightly more focus points 11 vs 9
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Weight Lighter 505 g vs 549 g
Help
 Around 10% lighter
Nikon D3100 Learn more about
the Nikon D3100

Advantages of the Sony DSLR-A390
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
 Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 198 ms vs 279 ms
Help
 Around 30% less delay when taking photos
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.5 EV vs 11.3 EV
Help
 0.2 f-stops more dynamic range
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
 More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 23.5x15.7mm 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
Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 Learn more about
the Sony DSLR-A390
vs

recommendations

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

Nikon D3100 Nikon D3100
56 vs 42
Explain scores
Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3100.

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.
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-A390: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
D3100:3 fps
DSLR-A390:2.5 fps
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
230k dots
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
D3100:14.2 MP
DSLR-A390:14 MP
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
1
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-A390:None
Viewfinder size Below average viewfinder size Help
D3100:0.51x
DSLR-A390:0.48x
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
D3100:11.3 EV
DSLR-A390:11.5 EV
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
D3100:67.0
DSLR-A390:66.0

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$328 body only

$449 with 18-55mm lens
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 Alpha DSLR-A390
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 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 D3200 vs the D3100
Compare the D3200 vs the Alpha DSLR-A390
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$585 - $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-A390
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-A390
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$600 - $899 body only

$739 - $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-A390
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$540 body only

$609 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-A390
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
True resolution Takes slightly lower resolution photos
Compare the D3000 vs the D3100
Compare the D3000 vs the Alpha DSLR-A390

Nikon D3100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony Alpha DSLR-A350

Sony Alpha DSLR-A350

Entry-level DSLR
Battery life Longer battery life
Size Smaller
Autofocus Slower autofocus
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Compare the Alpha DSLR-A350 vs the Alpha DSLR-A390
Sony Alpha DSLR-A380

Sony Alpha DSLR-A380

Entry-level DSLR
Dynamic range More dynamic range
Size Much smaller
Autofocus Slower autofocus
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Compare the Alpha DSLR-A380 vs the Alpha DSLR-A390
Sony Alpha DSLR-A300

Sony Alpha DSLR-A300

Entry-level DSLR
Size Smaller
Thickness Much thinner
Autofocus Slower autofocus
Low light performance Slightly more noise at high ISO
Compare the Alpha DSLR-A300 vs the Alpha DSLR-A390

appearance

Nikon D3100 Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
Nikon D3100 Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
Nikon D3100 Sony Alpha DSLR-A390

discussion

Showing 2 comments

Saifulizuanmd (9:32 AM, December 21, 2011)
and a390 doesnt have battery grip
 
7mgoulding7 (6:50 PM, August 20, 2011)
The 390 has a flipout screen. It says it does not in the common weakness.