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

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
Live view
Has live view
Preview your photos
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1

54

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

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
Sensor size Much 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
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
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
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
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
Viewfinder Has an optical viewfinder Pentamirror vs Digital
Help
Optical viewfinders save battery life and are more detailed
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
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $355.00 vs $499.99
Help
The best price we've seen is $145 cheaper (around 30% less)
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
65 vs 54
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.

advice

Need help deciding?

Ask the community!

I am considering either the Nikon D3100 or the Sony DSC-HX1,
For example: Taking photos in low light or great family photos or ability to take great photos underwater

Select aspects that are most important to you: (max 3)

Popular tags:

Are you a camera expert? Share your knowledge!

1
votes
by Danielle-Scott last month
Nikon D3100 vs Sony DSC-HX100v

The low light performance is the main factor in choosing a camera. The zoom also is a plus, but ...

One person recommends the Nikon D3100:

" If the low light performance is priority, then definitely d3100 (with 18-105mm VR lens if u can ..."

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...

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
Longest exposure Long exposures Help
30 seconds
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
Size Large Help
D3100:124x96x73 mm
DSC-HX1:115x83x92 mm
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
230k dots

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

Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Autofocus Lacks autofocus
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
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Autofocus Lacks autofocus
Nikon D3000

Nikon D3000

Entry-level DSLR

$449 with 18-55mm lens

Live view Doesn't let you preview your photos on the screen
Sensor type Has a CCD-family sensor
Nikon D5000

Nikon D5000

Entry-level DSLR

$880 with 18-55mm lens

Dynamic range Has significantly wider dynamic range
Screen size Has a significantly smaller screen
Movie format Records lower quality movies
Nikon Coolpix P510

Nikon Coolpix P510

Super zoom

$397 - $400

Zoom Has way more more zoom
Wide angle Has a significantly wider wide angle lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Longest exposure Significantly shorter exposures
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 with 18-55mm lens

Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
Size Is significantly smaller
Viewfinder Doesn't have a viewfinder
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash

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
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

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

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus
Startup delay More startup delay
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

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony Cybershot DSC-HX100v

Sony Cybershot DSC-HX100v

Super zoom

$409

Zoom Significantly more zoom
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Size Slightly larger
Weight Slightly heavier
Nikon Coolpix P100

Nikon Coolpix P100

Super zoom

Zoom More zoom
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Image stabilization Worse image stabilization
Size Slightly larger
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V

Super zoom

$399

Zoom Significantly more zoom
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Size Slightly larger
Weight Slightly heavier
Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Super zoom

$420

Zoom Much more zoom
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Nikon Coolpix P500

Nikon Coolpix P500

Super zoom

$300

Zoom Much more zoom
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Aperture Significantly narrower aperture
Image stabilization Worse image stabilization

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!!!