Updated (April, 2012): Compare the Nikon D3200 vs Sony NEX C3

Nikon D3100

65

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
Supports 24p
24p movies
For that film look
Movie continuous focus
Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Badge
Autofocuses shooting video
Contrast detection
Lens availability
Slightly more lenses available
169 lenses
Badge
Phase detection autofocus
fast and accurate
Sony Alpha NEX-3

47

Runner-up

Sony Alpha NEX-3

"Most impressive is that it focuses fast enough to track a subject running full speed at the camera"
imaging-resource.com | talking about the NEX-3's video-quality
"The Sony NEX-3 and NEX-5 are unique cameras that will be remembered for their design as well as their excellent image quality/"
imaging-resource.com | talking about the NEX-3's image-quality

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha NEX-3

Screen resolution
High resolution screen
920k dots
Size
Really small
Compact 117x62x33 mm
Light sensitivity
High ISO
12,800 ISO
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Panorama
In-camera panoramas
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D3100

Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 24fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video but at a lower frame rate
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
Catch candid moments easily
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
Get that real film feel
Lens availability Much more lenses available 169 lenses vs 8 lenses
Help
More than 21x more lenses available
Battery life Longer battery life 550 shots vs 330 shots
Help
Around 70% more shots per battery charge
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Pentamirror vs None
Help
A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Startup delay Less startup delay 400 ms vs 1000 ms
Help
2.5x less delay when turning on
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 279 ms vs 441 ms
Help
Around 40% less delay when taking photos
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 22.1 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.4 more bits of color
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 919 ISO vs 830 ISO
Help
The D3100 has a slight edge (0.1 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $499.99 vs $689.00
Help
The best price we've seen is $189 cheaper (around 30% less)
Nikon D3100 Learn more about
the Nikon D3100

Advantages of the Sony NEX-3

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
4x higher resolution screen
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Size Significantly smaller 117x62x33 mm vs 124x96x73 mm
Help
3.7x smaller
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
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The NEX-3's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12 EV vs 11.3 EV
Help
0.7 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
Thickness Significantly thinner 1.3" vs 2.9"
Help
2.2x thinner
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 7 fps vs 3 fps
Help
Around 2.5x faster continuous shooting
Focus points More focus points 25 vs 11
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Weight Lighter 297 g vs 505 g
Help
More than 40% lighter
Sony Alpha NEX-3 Learn more about
the Sony NEX-3
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon D3100 Nikon D3100
65 vs 47
Explain scores
Sony Alpha NEX-3 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3100. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a entry-level DSLR with a mirrorless interchangeable-lens.

advice

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0
votes
by drrazariz last month
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Am a beginner. Want to get a camera for my wedding and honeymoon pictures. Preferably camera tha...

0
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by Amy-Elser this month
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I am essentially a beginner.  I'd like to  try to video my kids events and pull pictures from th...

1
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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...

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
D3100:APS-C 23.1x15.4mm
NEX-3:APS-C 23.4x15.6mm
True resolution Capture very high resolution images Help
D3100:14.2 MP
NEX-3:14 MP
Interchangeable lenses Both support interchangeable lenses, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
Many lenses to choose from
Movie continuous focus Focus continuously recording movies Help
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
Color depth Good color depth Help
D3100:22.5 bits
NEX-3:22.1 bits
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Sensor cleaning Self cleaning sensors Help
Avoids dust in your photos
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/4000 of a second
Longest exposure Long exposures Help
30 seconds
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
D3100:1
NEX-3:0

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$333 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens

Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

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

True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Canon EOS Rebel T1i

Canon Rebel T1i

Entry-level DSLR

$475 - $629 body only

$549 - $580 with 18-55mm lens

Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 with 18-55mm lens

Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$547 with 10-30mm lens

High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Sensor size Has a slightly smaller sensor

Nikon D3100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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
Thickness Slightly thicker
Lowest price Slightly more expensive
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus
Nikon D3000

Nikon D3000

Entry-level DSLR

$449 with 18-55mm lens

Size Slightly smaller
Thickness Thinner
Movie format Does not take movies
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus

Sony Alpha NEX-3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony NEX C3

Sony NEX C3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$548 with 16mm lens

Overall image quality Better image quality
True resolution Higher true resolution
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$598 - $600 body only

$698 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Supports 24p Supports 24p
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$433 body only

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Olympus PEN E-PL1

Olympus PEN E-PL1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$260 - $279 with 14-42mm lens

Image stabilization Image stabilization
Built-in flash Built-in flash
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Screen size Significantly smaller screen

appearance

Nikon D3100 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Nikon D3100 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Nikon D3100 Sony Alpha NEX-3

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