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Nikon D3200 vs Nikon D3100 Comparison

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Nikon D3200

24 MP | APS-C (23.2 x 15.4 mm) CMOS Sensor

Nikon D3200
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Nikon D3100

14 MP | APS-C (23.1 x 15.4 mm) CMOS Sensor

Nikon D3100
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Nikon D3200 vs Nikon D3100 Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing D3200 and D3100, two Entry-Level DSLR cameras by Nikon. Both cameras have APS-C sensors but Nikon D3200 has a 24.0 MP and Nikon D3100 has a 14.0 MP resolution. Nikon D3200 was introduced to market in July 2012 and Nikon D3100 was launched in December 2010. There is 19 months difference between D3200 and D3100 so we don't expect to see a huge technology difference between these two cameras but it would still give an advantage to younger D3200, especially in sensor tech.

D3200 and D3100 are members of Nikon's D3000 series of cameras. Below you can find the latest models from this series.

Nikon D3000 Series History
Model Release Date Sensor Max FPS Dimensions Weight
Nikon D3500
  
2018 24.0MP - APS-C 5.0 fps 124 x 97 x 70mm 365g
Nikon D3400
  
2016 24.0MP - APS-C 5.0 fps 124 x 98 x 76mm 395g
Nikon D3300
  
2014 24.0MP - APS-C 5.0 fps 124 x 98 x 76mm 430g
Nikon D3200
2012 24.0MP - APS-C 4.0 fps 125 x 96 x 77mm 505g
Nikon D3100
2010 14.0MP - APS-C 3.0 fps 124 x 96 x 75mm 505g

Here is a brief look at the main features of Nikon D3200 and Nikon D3100 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Nikon D3200 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2012-07-25
  • 24MP - APS-C CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 6400 ( expands to 12800)
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 3" Fixed Type Screen
  • Optical (pentamirror) viewfinder
  • 4 fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 505g. 125 x 96 x 77 mm
  • Replaced Nikon D3100 Compare

Nikon D3100 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2010-12-21
  • 14MP - APS-C CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 3200 ( expands to 12800)
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 3" Fixed Type Screen
  • Optical (pentamirror) viewfinder
  • 3 fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 505g. 124 x 96 x 75 mm
  • Replaced Nikon D3000 Compare

Nikon D3200 was replaced by Nikon D3300. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Nikon D3300 vs Nikon D3200
Nikon D3300 vs Nikon D3100

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon D3200 and Nikon D3100 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Nikon D3200 over Nikon D3100
Max Sensor Resolution
24 MP vs 14 MP 71% more pixels
Max ISO
6.400 vs 3.200 100% higher Max ISO
LCD Screen Resolution
921k dots vs 230k dots 300% higher resolution screen
Continuous Shooting
4.0fps vs 3.0fps 1 fps faster
Microphone Port
Yes vs No High quality audio recording option
Color Depth
24.1 vs 22.5 higher color depth
Dynamic Range
13.2 vs 11.3 higher dynamic range
Low Light ISO
1131 vs 919 better High ISO performance
UHS Card Support
UHS-I vs none Read/Write in Ultra High Speeds


Reasons to choose Nikon D3100 over Nikon D3200
Battery Life
550 shots vs 540 shots 10 more frames with a single charge
Sensor Pixel Area
25.12µm2 vs 14.85µm2 69% larger pixel area
Flash Sync Port
Yes vs No Connect off-camera flash

Common Strengths of Nikon D3200 and Nikon D3100
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs Yes Better for flash photography
Viewfinder
Yes (Optical) vs Yes (Optical) Better framing and control
RAW Support
Yes vs Yes Better image quality
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
Common Weaknesses of Nikon D3200 and Nikon D3100
In-body Image Stabilization
No vs No No Built-in stabilization
Fixed Screen
Fixed Type vs No No flexible viewing angles
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
AE Bracketing
No vs No Not good for multi-exposure HDR
Optical Viewfinder Type
Pentamirror vs Pentamirror not as bright as Pentaprism Viewfinders
AF Micro Adjustment (Fine Tune)
No vs No no option to fine tune Auto focus
Nikon D3200 vs Nikon D3100: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Nikon D3200 and Nikon D3100 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Nikon D3200 has external dimensions of 125 x 96 x 77 mm (4.92 x 3.78 x 3.03″) and weighs 505 g (1.11 lb / 17.81 oz) (including batteries). Nikon D3100 has external dimensions of 124 x 96 x 75 mm (4.88 x 3.78 x 2.95″) and weighs 505 g (1.11 lb / 17.81 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon D3200 and Nikon D3100. Nikon D3200 has the same height with Nikon D3100. On the other hand, with a width of 125mm, it is 1 wider and also with a thickness of 77mm, it is 2mm thicker than Nikon D3100.

Nikon D3200 vs Nikon D3100 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Nikon D3200 and Nikon D3100 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Nikon D3200 and Nikon D3100.

Nikon D3200 vs Nikon D3100 Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Nikon D3200 and Nikon D3100 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon D3200 and Nikon D3100.
Nikon D3200 vs Nikon D3100 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Nikon D3200 and Nikon D3100 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Nikon D3200 and Nikon D3100 have exactly the same weight of 505g.

Also keep in mind that body weight is not the only deciding factor when comparing two interchangeable camera bodies, you have to also take into account the lenses that you will be using with these bodies. Since both Nikon D3200 and Nikon D3100 have the same Nikon F lens mount and APS-C sized sensors, lenses will not be a differentiator on total size of the system.

Weight Comparison

DSLR Cameras

D3200
D3100
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

DSLR Cameras

D3200
D3100
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Nikon D3200 nor Nikon D3100 provides any type of weather sealing in their body, so you have to give extra care especially when you are shooting outdoors. If weather sealing is a must-have feature for you, check these sections:
Top DSLR Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Nikon D3200 and Nikon D3100's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 3".

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.
Nikon D3200 vs Nikon D3100: Sensor Comparison

Nikon D3200 has a 24.0MP APS-C (23.2 x 15.4 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Expeed 3 processor. On the other hand, Nikon D3100 has a 14.0MP APS-C (23.1 x 15.4 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Expeed 2 processor.

Nikon D3200's sensor provides 10MP more than Nikon D3100's sensor, which gives a significant advantage in real life. You can print your images larger or crop more freely. On the other hand, please keep in mind that Max sensor resolution is not the only determinant of resolving power. Factors such as the optical elements, low pass filter, pixel size and sensor technology also affects the final resolution of the captured image.

Below you can see the D3200 and D3100 sensor size comparison.

Nikon D3200 vs Nikon D3100 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon D3200 and Nikon D3100 Cameras


Nikon D3200 and Nikon D3100 have almost the same sensor size so none of them has any significant advantage over other in providing control over depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

DxOMark Sensor Scores

Both Nikon D3200 and Nikon D3100 sensors have been tested by DxoMark. DxoMark scores camera sensors for color depth (DXO Portrait), dynamic range (DXO Landscape) and low-light sensitivity (DXO Sports), and also gives them an overall score. Of the two cameras that we are comparing, D3200 has scored 81, 14 points higher than D3100.

Model Overall Color Depth Dynamic Range Low-light ISO
Nikon D3200 81 24.1 bits 13.2 Evs 1131 ISO
Nikon D3100 67 22.5 bits 11.3 Evs 919 ISO
Nikon D3200 vs Nikon D3100 Comparison of Available Lenses
Which camera has more lenses?

Number of available lenses is a big decision factor while choosing your interchangeable lens camera. Nikon D3200 and Nikon D3100 have the same Nikon F lens mount and currently there are 309 native lenses available for these cameras.

Another important factor is the availability of image stabilization. None of these bodies have sensor based image stabilization so you have to buy lenses with Optical stabilization feature. Currently there are 106 lenses with Image stabilization for Nikon F mount.

Lens Type # of Nikon D3200 Lenses # of Nikon D3100 Lenses
Standard Zoom 33 33
Standard Prime 21 21
Wideangle Zoom 33 33
Wideangle Prime 48 48
Telephoto Zoom 53 53
Telephoto Prime 45 45
SuperZoom 30 30
Wideangle Fisheye Prime 8 8
Macro Prime 26 26
Perspective Control Prime 11 11
Telephoto Mirror Prime 1 1
TOTAL 309 309

Here are some of the most popular Nikon F Mount Lenses on Camera Decision:

Popular Nikon F Mount Lenses for D3200 and D3100
Model Coverage Weight Focusing Street Price
Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm f4-5.6G Lens Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm f4-5.6G
35mm FF 425gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f1.4G Lens Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f1.4G
35mm FF 290gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon AF Nikkor 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR Lens Nikon AF Nikkor 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR
35mm FF 1340gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Tamron SP 150-600mm F5-6.3 Di VC USD Lens Tamron SP 150-600mm F5-6.3 Di VC USD
35mm FF 1951gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f1.8G Lens Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f1.8G
35mm FF 185gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G VR Lens Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G VR
35mm FF 745gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f1.8G Lens Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f1.8G
APS-C / DX 210gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 55-300mm f4.5-5.6G ED VR Lens Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 55-300mm f4.5-5.6G ED VR
APS-C / DX 530gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
What types of Photography are Nikon D3200 and Nikon D3100 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon D3200 and Nikon D3100 for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Nikon D3200 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Nikon D3100 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE
Large APS-C (23.2 x 15.4 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
Read the details
Large APS-C (23.1 x 15.4 mm) sensor
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Average Resolution Sensor: 14.0MP
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Nikon D3200 for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Nikon D3100 for Street Photography

AVERAGE
Large APS-C (23.2 x 15.4 mm) sensor
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
No Image Stabilization
Large Body
Read the details
Large APS-C (23.1 x 15.4 mm) sensor
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
No Image Stabilization
Large Body
Read the details

Nikon D3200 for Sports Photography

GOOD

Nikon D3100 for Sports Photography

GOOD
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
1 Cross Type Focus sensors
11 Focus Points
Good Battery Life: 540 shots
Good Low Light ISO
Average Continuous Shooting: 4.0fps
No Image Stabilization
Environmental Sealings
Read the details
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
1 Cross Type Focus sensors
11 Focus Points
Good Battery Life: 550 shots
No Image Stabilization
Slow Continuous Shooting: 3.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Nikon D3200 for Daily Photography

GOOD

Nikon D3100 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE
Large APS-C (23.2 x 15.4 mm) sensor
Large Body
505g
Body Thickness 77mm
Read the details
Large APS-C (23.1 x 15.4 mm) sensor
Large Body
505g
Body Thickness 75mm
Read the details

Nikon D3200 for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE

Nikon D3100 for Landscape Photography

POOR
Large APS-C (23.2 x 15.4 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
Live-view
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details
Large APS-C (23.1 x 15.4 mm) sensor
Live-view
Average Resolution Sensor: 14.0MP
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Nikon D3200 vs Nikon D3100: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Nikon D3200 and Nikon D3100, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 63 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Nikon D3200 and Nikon D3100 scores compare:

Nikon D3200
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #35 out of 79 in Compact SLR cameras
Ranked #257 out of 1226 in all Cameras
Nikon D3100
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #50 out of 79 in Compact SLR cameras
Ranked #364 out of 1226 in all Cameras

Nikon D3200 has a higher Overall Score than the Nikon D3100 and would be our choice if we have to decide between these two cameras.

Nikon D3200
Nikon D3200
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Nikon D3100
Nikon D3100
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Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D3200 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon D3200 Nikon D3100
Brand Nikon Nikon
Announced 2012-07-25 2010-12-21
Body Type Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor
Type CMOS CMOS
Size APS-C APS-C
Dimensions 23.2 x 15.4 mm 23.1 x 15.4 mm
Area 357.28mm2 355.74mm2
Megapixels 24 megapixels 14 megapixels
Max Resolution 6016 x 4000 4608 x 3072
Max Native Light sensitivity 6,400 ISO 3,200 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity 12800 ISO 12800 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 100 ISO 100 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 11 11
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount Nikon F Nikon F
Number of Available Lenses 309 309
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 3" 3"
Resolution 921k dots 230k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder Coverage 95% 95%
Viewfinder Magnification 0.53x 0.53x
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/4000s 1/4000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization No No
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Max Flash Sync 1/200s 1/200s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 4.0 fps 3.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080
Video Formats MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Optional Eye-Fi Connected
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 505g 505g
Dimensions 125 x 96 x 77mm 124 x 96 x 75mm
Battery Life 540 shots 550 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS Optional Optional
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score 81 67
DxO Color Depth 24.1 22.5
DxO Dynamic Range 13.2 11.3
DxO Low Light ISO 1131 919
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