Updated (March, 2012): Compare the Nikon D3200 vs Sony Cybershot DSC-HX100v

Nikon D3100
Winner
Nikon D3100

64

vs
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1

48
 
 
 
 

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3100

Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Badge
 Autofocuses shooting video
Contrast detection
Live view
 Has live view
Preview your photos
 

Reasons to buy the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1

Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Lens
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
10 fps
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
 
Differences | Recommendations | Similarities | Competitors | Appearance | Discussion

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D3100
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
Startup delay Much less startup delay 400 ms vs 2300 ms
Help
 5.7x less delay when turning on
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor APS-C 23.1x15.4mm vs 1/2.7" 5.6x4.2mm
Help
 More than 15x larger sensor
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 14.2 MP vs 8.1 MP
Help
 Capture more than 70% more detail in your photos
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
 Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
Supports RAW Shoots RAW Yes vs No
Help
 Digitally develop your own photos with precise image control
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 24fps vs 1440 x 1080 @ 30fps
Help
 Shoots high resolution Full HD (1080p) video but at a lower frame rate
Battery life Longer battery life 550 shots vs 390 shots
Help
 More than 40% more shots per battery charge
External flash Supports an external flash Yes vs No
Help
 An external flash often produces better looking flash images
Thickness Thinner 2.9" vs 3.6"
Help
 Around 20% thinner
Viewfinder Has an optical viewfinder Pentamirror vs Digital
Help
 Optical viewfinders save battery life and are more detailed
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
Weight Slightly lighter 505 g vs 544 g
Help
 Around 10% lighter
Nikon D3100 Learn more about
the Nikon D3100

Advantages of the Sony DSC-HX1
Image stabilization Image stabilization Lens 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
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 10 fps vs 3 fps
Help
 Around 3.5x faster continuous shooting
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 230 ms vs 279 ms
Help
 Around 20% less delay when taking photos
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 Learn more about
the Sony DSC-HX1
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon D3100 Nikon D3100
64 vs 48
Explain scores
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
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 super zoom.

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
D3100:Pentamirror
DSC-HX1:Digital
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/4000 of a second
Thickness Quite thick Help
D3100:2.9"
DSC-HX1:3.6"
Weight Heavy Help
D3100:505 g
DSC-HX1:544 g
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Size Large Help
D3100:124x96x73 mm
DSC-HX1:115x83x92 mm
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
230k dots

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$328 body only

$449 with 18-55mm lens
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Autofocus Lacks autofocus
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D3100
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$585 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
Compare the D5100 vs the D3100
Compare the D5100 vs the Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$600 - $899 body only

$739 - $1,099 with 18-105mm lens
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
Dynamic range Has significantly wider dynamic range
Weight Is slightly heavier
Autofocus Lacks autofocus
Compare the D90 vs the D3100
Compare the D90 vs the Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
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
Autofocus Lacks autofocus
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D3100
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
Nikon D3000

Nikon D3000

Entry-level DSLR

$436 - $456 with 18-55mm lens
Live view Doesn't let you preview your photos on the screen
Sensor type Has a CCD-family sensor
Compare the D3000 vs the D3100
Compare the D3000 vs the Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
Nikon D5000

Nikon D5000

Entry-level DSLR

$642 with 18-55mm lens
Dynamic range Has significantly wider dynamic range
Screen size Has a significantly smaller screen
Compare the D5000 vs the D3100
Compare the D5000 vs the Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
Canon EOS Rebel T1i

Canon Rebel T1i

Entry-level DSLR

$723 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Autofocus Lacks autofocus
Color depth Has slightly less color depth
Compare the Rebel T1i vs the D3100
Compare the Rebel T1i vs the Cyber-shot DSC-HX1

Nikon D3100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Lowest price Slightly more expensive
Compare the D3200 vs the D3100
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$595 - $599 with 18-55mm lens
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus
Startup delay Significantly more startup delay
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D3100

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony Cybershot DSC-HX100v

Sony Cybershot DSC-HX100v

Super zoom

$642 - $683
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Zoom More zoom
Size Slightly larger
Weight Slightly heavier
Compare the Cybershot DSC-HX100v vs the Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V

Super zoom

$348 - $478
Zoom Significantly more zoom
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Size Slightly larger
Weight Slightly heavier
Compare the Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V vs the Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
Nikon Coolpix P100

Nikon Coolpix P100

Super zoom
Zoom More zoom
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen
Image stabilization Worse image stabilization
Size Slightly larger
Compare the Coolpix P100 vs the Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
Nikon Coolpix L820

Nikon Coolpix L820

Super zoom

$277
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Aperture Narrower aperture
Compare the Coolpix L820 vs the Cyber-shot DSC-HX1

appearance

Nikon D3100 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
Nikon D3100 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
Nikon D3100 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1

discussion

Showing 2 comments

Charles (10:58 AM, May 28, 2011)
For someone that doesnt know anything about camera and is about to buy it's first, this comparison is totally valid.
 
Sanjeev Nandal (9:06 PM, February 03, 2011)
Why would you even compare the two?
DSC HX-1 costs $330
Nikon D3100 costs $699

Foolish comparison!!!