Updated (March, 2012): Compare the Nikon D3200 vs Sony Alpha DSLR-A580

vs
Nikon D3100

54

Nikon D3100
Runner-up
     
 

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha DSLR-A580

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
1,121 ISO
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
80.0
Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
Color depth
 Great color depth
23.8 bits
 

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3100

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 24fps
Live view
 Has live view
Preview your photos
Supports 24p
 24p movies
For that film look
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
 
Differences | Recommendations | Cast your vote | Similarities | Competitors | Appearance | Discussion

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D3100

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Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Size Much smaller 124x96x73 mm vs 137x104x84 mm
Help
 Around 30% smaller
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 205 lenses vs 123 lenses
Help
 Around 70% more lenses available
Startup delay Less startup delay 400 ms vs 800 ms
Help
 2x less delay when turning on
Thickness Much thinner 2.9" vs 3.3"
Help
 More than 10% thinner
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 279 ms vs 295 ms
Help
 Around 10% less delay when taking photos
Weight Lighter 505 g vs 599 g
Help
 Around 20% lighter
Nikon D3100 Learn more about
the Nikon D3100

Advantages of the Sony DSLR-A580

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Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 80.0 vs 67.0
Help
 Around 20% better image quality
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 921k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 More than 4x higher resolution screen
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13.3 EV vs 11.3 EV
Help
 2 f-stops more dynamic range
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,121 ISO vs 919 ISO
Help
 The DSLR-A580 has a slight edge (0.3 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Battery life Much longer battery life 1050 shots vs 550 shots
Help
 More than 90% more shots per battery charge
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
Color depth Better color depth 23.8 bits vs 22.5 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.3 more bits of color
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
 Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
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
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 7 fps vs 3 fps
Help
 Around 2.5x faster continuous shooting
Movie format Lower frame rate movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 1080p @ 24fps
Help
 Both shoot Full HD (1080p) video, but D3100 does so at a lower frame rate
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 23.5x15.6mm vs APS-C 23.1x15.4mm
Help
 Almost the same
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The DSLR-A580's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
 More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
True resolution Higher true resolution 16 MP vs 14.2 MP
Help
 Capture more than 10% more detail in your photos
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 12,800 ISO
Help
 The DSLR-A580's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 3 vs 1
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Focus points More focus points 15 vs 11
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.52x vs 0.51x
Help
 Almost the same
Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 Learn more about
the Sony DSLR-A580
vs

recommendations

Which camera do we recommend? Relative to the best recent entry-level DSLRs, and ignoring price

Snapsort Recommends
Nikon D3100 Nikon D3100 54
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    Style
      Color
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        vs
        74 Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 Sony Alpha DSLR-A580

        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%
        Shutter lag Significant shutter lag Help
        D3100:279 ms
        DSLR-A580:295 ms
        True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
        D3100:14.2 MP
        DSLR-A580:16 MP
        Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
        D3100:1
        DSLR-A580:3
        Viewfinder size Below average viewfinder size Help
        D3100:0.51x
        DSLR-A580:0.52x
        Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
        Need to shelter it from weather
        Movie format Full HD (1080p) video Help
        D3100:1080p @ 24fps
        DSLR-A580:1080p @ 30fps

        dxomark

        DXOMark

        competitors

        Shared Competitors

        Advantages

        Disadvantages
        Nikon D3200

        Nikon D3200

        Entry-level DSLR

        $497 with 18-55mm lens
        True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
        Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
        Thickness Is thicker
        Compare the D3200 vs the D3100
        Compare the D3200 vs the Alpha DSLR-A580
        Nikon D5100

        Nikon D5100

        Entry-level DSLR

        $437 - $520 body only

        $528 - $696 with 18-55mm lens
        Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
        Thickness Is thicker
        Compare the D5100 vs the D3100
        Compare the D5100 vs the Alpha DSLR-A580
        Canon Rebel T3i

        Canon Rebel T3i

        Entry-level DSLR

        $499 - $749 body only

        $550 - $600 with 18-55mm lens
        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-A580
        Nikon D90

        Nikon D90

        Entry-level DSLR

        $600 - $629 body only

        $816 - $830 with 18-105mm lens
        Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder
        Viewfinder Has higher quality type of viewfinder
        Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
        Thickness Is thicker
        Compare the D90 vs the D3100
        Compare the D90 vs the Alpha DSLR-A580
        Nikon D3300

        Nikon D3300

        Entry-level DSLR

        $647 with 18-55mm lens
        Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
        Movie format Records higher quality movies
        Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
        Compare the D3300 vs the D3100
        Compare the D3300 vs the Alpha DSLR-A580
        Nikon D5200

        Nikon D5200

        Entry-level DSLR

        $647 body only

        $650 - $747 with 18-55mm lens
        Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
        Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
        Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
        Thickness Is thicker
        Compare the D5200 vs the D3100
        Compare the D5200 vs the Alpha DSLR-A580
        Sony Alpha ILC-3000

        Sony Alpha ILC-3000

        Mirrorless interchangeable-lens
        Movie format Records higher quality movies
        True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
        Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
        Viewfinder Has a lower quality type of viewfinder
        Compare the Alpha ILC-3000 vs the D3100
        Compare the Alpha ILC-3000 vs the Alpha DSLR-A580

        Nikon D3100 Competitors

        Advantages

        Disadvantages
        Canon Rebel T3

        Canon Rebel T3

        Entry-level DSLR

        $276 - $298 body only

        $385 - $450 with 18-55mm lens
        Battery life Longer battery life
        Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
        Movie format Lower resolution movies
        Screen size Much smaller screen
        Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D3100
        Canon EOS Rebel T2i

        Canon Rebel T2i

        Entry-level DSLR

        $575 body only

        $650 - $779 with 18-55mm lens
        Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
        External mic jack Has an external mic jack
        Low light performance More noise at high ISO
        Autofocus Lacks video autofocus
        Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D3100

        Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 Competitors

        Advantages

        Disadvantages
        Sony SLT-A77

        Sony SLT A77

        Pro DSLR

        $798 body only

        $1,098 with 18-135mm lens
        Movie format Higher frame rate movies
        Viewfinder size Much larger viewfinder
        Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
        Startup delay Much more startup delay
        Compare the SLT A77 vs the Alpha DSLR-A580

        appearance

        Nikon D3100 Sony Alpha DSLR-A580
        Nikon D3100 Sony Alpha DSLR-A580
        Nikon D3100 Sony Alpha DSLR-A580

        discussion

        Nikon D3100
        D3100
        Nikon

        Report a correction
        Sony Alpha DSLR-A580
        Alpha DSLR-A580
        Sony

        Report a correction

        Showing 1 comments

        Avatar for ifrit_17 ifrit_17 (3:24 PM, August 10, 2011)
        i bought a nikon L100, to be honest at first sigh i was dissappointed, cause this camera Lacks of manual settings which is the most important thing for photography, but with time i learn how to manage this camera and then i found it wasn´t that bad, anyways i know why the quality of this camera (nikon L100) lacks its cause the sensor size is really Small. but is a good camera for particular usage but not for those who want to learn about photography.