Updated (April, 2012): Compare the Nikon D3200 vs Sony Alpha DSLR-A550

Nikon D3100

54

"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
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550

53

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha DSLR-A550

Screen resolution
High resolution screen
921k dots
Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Light sensitivity
High ISO
12,800 ISO
Continuous shooting
Rapid fire
7 fps
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures

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
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
Catch candid moments easily
Color depth Better color depth 22.5 bits vs 21.9 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.6 more bits of color
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 919 ISO vs 807 ISO
Help
The D3100 has a slight edge (0.2 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 92 lenses
Help
More than 80% more lenses available
Size Much smaller 124x96x73 mm vs 137x104x84 mm
Help
Around 30% smaller
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
Automatically focuses shooting video
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
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 67.0 vs 66.0
Help
Almost the same
Thickness Significantly thinner 2.9" vs 3.3"
Help
More than 10% thinner
Weight Lighter 505 g vs 632 g
Help
More than 20% lighter
Nikon D3100 Learn more about
the Nikon D3100

Advantages of the Sony DSLR-A550

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 921k dots vs 230k dots
Help
More than 4x higher resolution screen
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.8 EV vs 11.3 EV
Help
0.5 f-stops more dynamic range
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The DSLR-A550's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
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
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 7 fps vs 3 fps
Help
Around 2.5x faster continuous shooting
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
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 23.4x15.6mm vs APS-C 23.1x15.4mm
Help
Almost the same
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Learn more about
the Sony DSLR-A550
vs

recommendations

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

Nikon D3100 Nikon D3100
54 vs 53
Explain scores
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
Green arrow Too close to call! Snapsort considers these cameras too competitive to make a clear recommendation.

advice

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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...

0
votes
by Cathy-Bodie last month
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90

Not beginner, but not novice, want also to use for family gatherings and holidays, night shots, sc...

0
votes
by Terence-Robertson this month
Fujifilm HS20 vs Nikon D3100

i am a beginer with £400 budget just want best alrounder for my money

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
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
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
DSLR-A550:14 MP
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Viewfinder size Below average viewfinder size Help
D3100:0.51x
DSLR-A550:0.52x

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
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Sensor size Has a marginally smaller sensor
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
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 slightly wider dynamic range
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon D5000

Nikon D5000

Entry-level DSLR

$880 with 18-55mm lens

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm 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
Pentax K-r

Pentax K-r

Entry-level DSLR

$631 - $649 with 18-55mm lens

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Weight Is slightly heavier
True resolution Takes slightly lower resolution photos

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
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Viewfinder size Slightly smaller viewfinder
Size Slightly larger
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

Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony Alpha DSLR-A580

Sony Alpha DSLR-A580

Entry-level DSLR

$949 with 55-200mm lens

Overall image quality Much better image quality
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Sony SLT-A55

Sony SLT-A55

Entry-level DSLR

$598 body only

$729 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Shoots movies
Autofocus Faster autofocus
Viewfinder Has a digital viewfinder
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots

appearance

Nikon D3100 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
Nikon D3100 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
Nikon D3100 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550

discussion

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