- Conclusion Get the lowdown
- Features How they compare
- Performance Real world benchmarks
- Differences Technical showdown
- Reviews Word on the street
- Competition Others to consider
- Discussion Answers and opinions
Compare with...
- Sony NEX-5N
- Nikon D5100
- Sony SLT-A37
- Canon Rebel T3i
- Canon EOS 1100D
Rated 73% by by DPReview (Jul, 2012)Color rendition, tonality sharpness and detail are as good as identical.
Rated 72% by by DPReview (Dec, 2010)With the standard AF-S Nikkor 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 VR kit zoom, the focus speed is perfectly acceptable, but not spectacular (you really need to use a better lens for the true benefits of the D3100's sophisticated AF system to become apparent).
Conclusion Which is better for you?
Features Key features of the Nikon D3200 compared to the D3100
MP24.1
APS-C
Rated 73% by by DPReview (Jul, 2012)Converting high ISO raw files and applying a customized noise reduction mix can get you better results than the out-of-camera JPEGs, as we have demonstrated in the image quality sections of this review.
14.2 MP
APS-C
Rated 90% by by Photography Blog (Nov, 2010)The Nikon D3100 lets you dial in shutter speeds of up to 30 seconds and has a Bulb mode as well for exposure times of practically any length, which is very good news if you are seriously interested in night photography.
megapixels
| 0 MP | 24.1 MP   | 30 MP |
D3200 by mad-G.I. (Mar, 2013)Even older camera's, in the single digit mega pixel range, take equally good photos, when you print to normal size frames, so don't get excited about the megapixels, because in the end, they just eat up hard drive space, with no real gain.
D3100 by RBQ7LX (Sep, 2011)I like the 14 megapixels because I crop alot of my images and that is where more megapixels matter to me.
sensor size
D3200 by TrustedReviews (Jun, 2012)While that ticks most of the boxes of what can be expected from an entry-level DSLR, the headline-grabbing feature of the D3200 is undoubtedly its 24.2MP APS-C CMOS sensor.
D3100 by Hector (May, 2012)I could indeed see, with time, that a lot of pictures could be stunning, and after looking a while I saw that Full Frame dSLR can give me that.
viewfinder size
D3200 by DPReview (Jul, 2012)In some ways it is a fairly 'old-fashioned' DSLR, but it is a solid performer in almost all areas and a good entry-level choice for those who prefer to frame their images through an optical viewfinder.
D3100 by Jess (Nov, 2010)Live view is also cool to have- but you'll find yourself wanting to use the viewfinder because it's faster and more accurate.
body size
125 x 96 x 77 mm
124 x 97 x 74 mm
D3200 by Photography Blog (Jun, 2012)The 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 VR kit lens that Nikon supplied feels fairly well-balanced - if a tad front-heavy - on the Nikon D3200 and it fits into place with a reassuring mechanical click.
D3100 by nana2lrja (May, 2012)The D3100 camera picture quality is excellent, it is light weight, has a larger screen to view photos and is very easy to use.
focus points
| 0 | 11 | 20 |
D3200 by c|net (Jun, 2012)But I also hate the tiny focus points which only illuminate (and briefly) when you half-press the shutter.
D3100 by eha1990 (Oct, 2010)The N75 has a separate button just for adjusting the focus points on it.
Performance Real world tests of Nikon D3200 vs D3100
DxOMark image quality
D3200 by CKE (Jul, 2012)Image Quality - Absolutely top-notch - the Nikon D3200 takes super crisp photos with excellent color representation.
D3100 by Amazon_JimWe are very pleased with the picture quality, including the creation of portrait size shots.
DxOMark low light performance
D3200 by Gablud (Oct, 2012)I have been using this camera for over 2 weeks now and I am more than satisfied with the quality of the images even in low light condition.
D3100 by TrustedReviews (May, 2011)Again some visible pixel fringing because of pointing the lens skyward and the contrast between light and dark, but that's not what draws the eye.
shutter lag
| 0 ms | 276 ms | 300 ms |
D3200 by Dolly (Feb, 2013)One thing that has frustrated me in the past with other cameras has been the slow response time between pushing the shutter button to the picture actually being taken.
D3100 by TrustedReviews (May, 2011)For shooting stills though the D3100's response times are impressively swift.
continuous shooting
battery life
540 photos
550 photos
D3200 by Deborah-Roslan--pyrola (Dec, 2012)Good battery life,light weight are the pros, camera clock is somewhat inaccurate and the memory card was a little hot to remove after I shot a 300+ images at a wedding are the cons.
D3100 by D.-Gary-Lerude (Aug, 2011)I love this camera: it's easy to use, the exposure in high or low light situations is excellent, the colors are vibrant,and battery life is very good.
Differences What are the advantages of each
Advantages compared to the D3100
| Much higher resolution screen | 921 k dots | vs | 230 k dots |
|---|---|---|---|
| More than 4x higher resolution screen | |||
| Significantly better overall image quality | 81.0 | vs | 67.0 |
| More than 20% better image quality | |||
| Much higher resolution | 24.1 MP | vs | 14.2 MP |
| Around 70% higher resolution; Capture more detail, good for large prints | |||
| Has an external mic jack | 3.5mm | vs | None |
| Most cameras have an external mic jack | |||
| Significantly larger dynamic range | 13.2 ev | vs | 11.3 ev |
| More than 15% larger dynamic range | |||
| Marginally more recently announced | Apr, 2012 | vs | Aug, 2010 |
| Announced date over 1 years later | |||
| Significantly more color depth | 24.1 bits | vs | 22.5 bits |
| More than 5% more color depth | |||
| Less noise at high ISO | 1,131 ISO | vs | 919 ISO |
| Around 25% higher low light performance | |||
| Faster rapid fire | 4 fps | vs | 3 fps |
| Around 35% faster continuous shooting; Take photos in rapid succession to capture motion | |||
| Higher definition video | HD video | vs | HD video |
| Great video; great for displaying on a large flat panel TV | |||
Advantages compared to the D3200
| More highly reviewed by consumers | 83.67% | vs | 80.95% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Around 5% more highly reviewed by consumers | |||
| Thinner | 74 mm | vs | 77 mm |
| Around 5% thinner | |||
Reviews Word on the street
Nikon D3200 | Nikon D3100 | ||
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 | Rated by 324 users at amazon.com Rated 100% by by killahca-h (May, 2012) Rated 100% by by Gene-B (Jun, 2012) | Rated by 769 users at amazon.com Rated 100% by by Esh (Aug, 2012) Rated 100% by by H.-Erickson-Sander--Heather (Apr, 2011) | |
sensor
Nikon D3200 | Rated 90% by by Photography Blog (Jun, 2012)Find out if this is the best DSLR camera for beginners by reading our detailed Nikon D3200 review, complete with sample JPEG and raw photos, test shots, videos and more... The Nikon D3200 is an entry-level digital SLR camera boasting a newly designed 24.2 megapixel DX format APS-C sensor and the same EXPEED 3 processor as the flagship D4 DSLR.
Nikon D3200 | Rated 70% by by c|net (Jun, 2012)It's faster, has a better LCD and better video than the D3100, but the higher-resolution sensor doesn't deliver better photo quality.
Nikon D3200 | Rated 73% by by DPReview (Jul, 2012)With a good lens attached, and shooting in Raw mode, the D3200's image quality potential is considerable.
resolution
Nikon D3200 | Rated 90% by by Photography Blog (Jun, 2012)Compared to the 18-month-old D3100, Nikon has managed to simultaneously increase the pixel count by a massive 10 megapixels and yet still maintain similar quality at higher sensitivity settings, which is no mean feat.
Nikon D3200 | Rated 100% by by killahca-h (May, 2012)I have the pleasure of getting the black model and all my other slr's are black so why break the mold as they say...First the camera looks very similar to the Nikon d3100 with a improvements to the sensors of course at 24.3 megapixel.
Nikon D3200 | Rated 100% by by L.-Milligan (Jul, 2012)Noise is LESS than with the D3100 and it "only" has 14 megapixels.
image quality
Nikon D3200 | Rated 80% by by jnx7--jnx7 (May, 2012)One other thing I noticed with my D3200 is that the VR on the kit lens can introduce blurring of images.
Nikon D3200 | Rated 100% by by B.-Ehlers (Jul, 2012)I love the colors the d3200 puts out and the in camera filters and effects.
Nikon D3200 | Rated 100% by by Carole-J.-Cox--DrivingMs.Haflinger (Jan, 2013)Unless, you are a professional or shooting in a lot of low light or need an uber fast camera, the D3200 will more than satisfy.
video
Nikon D3200 | Rated 73% by by DPReview (Jul, 2012)Pixel-count aside, the changes from the predecessor D3100 are subtle but, with 1080p30 video, a 920k dot LCD and the option to add an affordable Wi-Fi transmitter, there are clear benefits over the D3100's specification.
Nikon D3200 | Rated 90% by by Photography Blog (Jun, 2012)The Nikon D3200 features a 1080p Full HD “D-movie” mode.
Nikon D3200 | Rated 80% by by Igor-A.--Igor (May, 2012)The d3200 allows you to shoot with flash using 1/200 exposure or higher (slower), it's definitely not enough for my high speed baby.
screen
Nikon D3200 | Rated 100% by by chewey (Nov, 2012)After careful note-taking for a couple hundred photos, I've found that setting the D3200 to -1EV has yielded results pretty close to manually compensating the exposure via the viewfinder in most cases, including the case of the subject against strong bright background.
Nikon D3200 | Rated 73% by by DPReview (Jul, 2012)The D3200’s optical viewfinder is not the largest we have ever seen but it’s nice to work with and and advantage over the large number of mirrorless cameras the Nikon is competing with in its price bracket, especially when shooting in dim conditions or in very bright light.
Nikon D3200 | Rated 100% by by chewey (Nov, 2012)Light Metering: The D3200 Matrix metering has a tendency to overexpose a little in bright conditions; luckily it also offers exposure compensation up to a generous +/-5EV.
Competition What else you should consider
 | 1 | Sony NEX-5N Fastest rapid fire mode |
 | 2 | Nikon D5100 5-way tie: Highest ISO |
 | 3 | Sony SLT-A37 Image stabilization |
 | 4 | Canon Rebel T3i 2-way tie: Highest resolution screen |
 | 5 | Canon EOS 1100D Fastest to start up |
 | 6 | Nikon D5200 Best image quality as rated by DXOMark |
 | 7 | Nikon D90 Largest sensor |
 | 8 | Canon Rebel T4i 2-way tie: Highest resolution screen |
Popular Questions
July 26, 2012
Help me in my first cam
I am a student who has keen interest in photography. I am planning to make my first cam as a DSLR.
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Answers December 2, 2012
Night photos, vacations-interior photos (ex. hotel room)
I would like a relatively simply camera to use, that is fast, takes good quality pictures and videos, does well in low light, and takes nice, professional looking shots with good focus.
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Answers December 13, 2012
Fasion photography?
I'm searching for better resolution, and my photos to look more profesional. I already have the nikon D3100, but I certainly don't know if buying the D3200 is the best option, or if it is best...
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December 22, 2012
Value for money
Is it better value going for a bundle deal on the D3100 that includes the standard + 55-200mm lens or going for the D3200 and only the standard 18-55mm?
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Photography Class Upcoming
I want to buy a new camera for my upcoming photography class and I have a great interest! Which would be best for me?
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Silver jewellery photography
I need an inexpensive dslr for silver jewellery photography
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Answers Community What does Sortable's community think
8
vs
8
Nikon D3200
It's a tie! Cast the deciding vote!
Nikon D3200
nick 
Expert I
I am bit more than a beginner as have been shooting from quite some time i suggest buy the latest stuff - d3100 is now old..................go for d3200 View nick's recommendation
- 0 comments
- August 24, 2012
- Reply to: My first SLR camera
nick
Expert I
I would recommend d3200 as it is the latest thing on the market with new technology - the most noticeable thing is the 920k dot screen which can give v clean image review View nick's recommendation
- 0 comments
- July 29, 2012
- Reply to: Help me in my first cam
D3100
Glenn-Geelhoed 
Beginner I
How is your resolution bad with a D3100? More mega pixels won't get you a better picture, better lenses will. I use my D50 and D3100 more than my D90. Smaller is better and I never shoot above to... View Glenn-Geelhoed's recommendation
- 0 comments
- January 14, 2013
- Reply to: Fasion photography?
Philip-Davis 
Expert III
Go with the D3100 because you'll likely be able to find it for a cheaper price. Both these cameras will be great for a beginner. I understand they both have guides to help people new to DSLRs. View Philip-Davis's recommendation
- 0 comments
- July 26, 2012
- Reply to: Help me in my first cam
