Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D3200
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| NikonD3100 | NikonD3200 | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | September 2010 | May 2012 |
| Image and sensor | ||
| Camera type | DSLR | DSLR |
| Sensor format | APS-C | APS-C |
| Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
| Sensor dimensions | 23.1 × 15.4 mm | 23.2 × 15.4 mm |
| Effective resolution | 14.2 MP | 24.2 MP |
| Largest image | 4608 × 3072 | 6016 × 4000 |
| RAW recording | Yes | Yes |
| Standard ISO range | 100–3200 | 100–6400 |
| Sensor detail | 14.2 million effective and 14.8 million total pixels; Nikon DX format with approximately 1.5× lens focal-length equivalent; sensor-cleaning system and Image Dust Off reference data | Japan specifies 24.16 million effective and 24.72 million total pixels, rounded to 24.2 and 24.7 million; Nikon DX format with approximately 1.5× lens focal-length equivalent; sensor cleaning, Airflow Control System and Image Dust Off reference data |
| Image formats | NEF RAW, JPEG and simultaneous RAW plus JPEG; Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait and Landscape Picture Controls; in-camera RAW processing and retouching | 12-bit compressed NEF RAW, JPEG and simultaneous RAW plus JPEG; Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait and Landscape Picture Controls; in-camera RAW processing and retouching |
| ISO detail | ISO 100–3200 in one-stop steps; expanded ISO 6400 and 12800 equivalents; Auto ISO | ISO 100–6400 in one-stop steps; expanded ISO 12800 equivalent; Auto ISO. Movie sensitivity ISO 200–6400, expandable to 12800 |
| Image processor | EXPEED 2 | EXPEED 3 |
| Lens and shooting | ||
| Lens mount | Nikon F mount | Nikon F mount |
| Stabilisation | Optical lens stabilisation | Optical lens stabilisation |
| Maximum continuous burst | 3 fps | 4 fps |
| Lens detail | Autofocus with AF-S and AF-I NIKKOR lenses; no body autofocus motor for screw-drive lenses. Other compatible AF lenses require manual focus. Non-CPU lenses work in manual exposure without metering; IX and F3AF lenses unsupported; electronic rangefinder requires maximum aperture f/5.6 or faster | Autofocus with AF-S and AF-I NIKKOR lenses; no body autofocus motor for screw-drive lenses. Other compatible AF lenses require manual focus. Non-CPU lenses work in manual exposure without metering; IX and F3AF lenses unsupported; electronic rangefinder requires maximum aperture f/5.6 or faster |
| Autofocus | Multi-CAM 1000; 11 phase-detection points including one cross-type; -1 to +19 EV at ISO 100, 20°C; AF-S/AF-C/AF-A, single-point, dynamic, auto-area and 11-point 3D tracking; AF-assist lamp. Live view uses contrast-detection AF-S/AF-F with face-priority, wide, normal and subject-tracking areas | Multi-CAM 1000; 11 phase-detection points including one cross-type; -1 to +19 EV at ISO 100, 20°C; AF-S/AF-C/AF-A, single-point, dynamic, auto-area and 11-point 3D tracking; AF-assist lamp. Live view uses contrast-detection AF-S/AF-F with face-priority, wide, normal and subject-tracking areas |
| Shutter | 1/4000 to 30 seconds in one-third stops and Bulb; flash sync 1/200 second | 1/4000 to 30 seconds in one-third stops and Bulb; Time requires optional ML-L3 remote; flash sync 1/200 second |
| Burst detail | Approximately 3 fps under Nikon's manual-focus, S/M, 1/250-second-or-faster test conditions; Japanese specification lists up to 13 RAW, nine RAW plus Fine JPEG or 100 Fine JPEG frames with its specified 4 GB SanDisk Extreme SDHC card | Approximately 4 fps under Nikon's manual-focus, S/M, 1/250-second-or-faster test conditions; Japanese specification lists up to 18 RAW, ten RAW plus Fine JPEG or 80 Large/Fine JPEG frames with its specified 8 GB SanDisk Extreme Pro UHS-I SDHC card |
| Stabilisation detail | Optical VR depends on the lens; no sensor-shift stabilisation | Optical VR depends on the lens; no sensor-shift stabilisation |
| Flash | Built-in pop-up flash; guide number approximately 12 m at ISO 100, 20°C, or 13 at manual full output; hot shoe; optional AS-15 adapter for PC sync | Built-in pop-up flash; guide number approximately 12 m at ISO 100, 20°C, or 13 at manual full output; hot shoe; optional AS-15 adapter for PC sync |
| Exposure controls | P/S/A/M, Auto, flash-off Auto and scene modes; beginner Guide mode with illustrative assist images. 420-pixel RGB metering with Colour Matrix Metering II, centre-weighted and spot modes; ±5 EV compensation; Active D-Lighting on/off | P/S/A/M, Auto, flash-off Auto and scene modes; beginner Guide mode with illustrative assist images. 420-pixel RGB metering with Colour Matrix Metering II, centre-weighted and spot modes; ±5 EV compensation; Active D-Lighting on/off |
| Video | ||
| Highest video resolution | 1920 × 1080 at 24 fps | 1920 × 1080 at 30 fps |
| Video detail | H.264 MOV at Full HD 24p, 720p 30p/25p/24p or 640 × 424 at 24p; actual NTSC rates 29.97/23.976. Maximum clip ten minutes. Nikon USA's short movie feature list incorrectly describes 640 × 424 as 30 fps; its detailed table and Japan specify 24p. Continuous contrast-detection autofocus available | H.264 MOV at Full HD 30p/25p/24p, 720p 60p/50p or 640 × 424 at 30p/25p; actual NTSC rates 59.94/29.97/23.976. Maximum clip approximately 20 minutes; continuous contrast-detection autofocus available. Photography Blog's 24p-only Full HD description and Photo Review's 640 × 480 table differ from Nikon's technical sheet |
| Audio | Built-in mono microphone with linear PCM recording; no external microphone input | Built-in mono microphone, external stereo microphone supported through 3.5 mm input; adjustable sensitivity and linear PCM recording. Photography Blog's description of a built-in stereo microphone differs from Nikon's mono specification |
| Screen and viewfinder | ||
| Viewfinder | Optical | Optical |
| Screen size | 3″ | 3″ |
| Screen dots | 230,000 | 921,000 |
| Display detail | Fixed 3-inch TFT, approximately 230000 dots, adjustable brightness; dots count subpixels | Fixed 3-inch TFT, approximately 921000 dots globally, rounded to 920000 in Japan; 160° viewing angle and approximately 100% coverage; dots count subpixels |
| Viewfinder detail | Pentamirror; approximately 95% frame coverage, 0.8× magnification with 50mm f/1.4 at infinity and 18 mm eyepoint | Pentamirror; approximately 95% frame coverage, 0.8× magnification with 50mm f/1.4 at infinity and 18 mm eyepoint |
| Connections and design | ||
| Battery life (maker's claim) | 550 photographs | 540 photographs |
| Body weight | 455 g | 455 g |
| Release detail | Nikon Japan records sale on 16 September 2010 for the body, single-lens and double-zoom kits | Nikon Japan records sale on 24 May 2012; the US announcement planned late-April kit availability, without confirming an actual retail day. Main date is the confirmed Japanese retail date. Nikon's global announcement explicitly calls D3200 the successor to D3100 |
| Recording media | One SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot; compatible Eye-Fi cards supported | One SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot, with UHS-I support for SDHC/SDXC; MMC unsupported |
| Ports | Hi-Speed USB, mini-HDMI Type C, NTSC/PAL analogue video output and accessory terminal for optional MC-DC2 remote or GP-1 GPS | Hi-Speed USB, mini-HDMI Type C, NTSC/PAL analogue video output, 3.5 mm stereo microphone input and accessory terminal for optional MC-DC2 remote or GP-1 GPS; optional ML-L3 infrared remote |
| Wireless connections | No integrated Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or GPS; optional GP-1 GPS and compatible Eye-Fi card accessories | No integrated Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or GPS; optional WU-1a wireless mobile adapter transfers images and supports remote shooting; optional GP-1 GPS |
| Battery life detail | EN-EL14; approximately 550 CIPA photographs. Nikon USA's later page also lists EN-EL14a compatibility | EN-EL14; approximately 540 CIPA single-frame photographs or 1800 continuous photographs under Nikon's different test. Original manual CIPA test uses 23°C, AF-S DX 18–55mm VR and alternate-shot flash, without live view |
| Charging | External MH-24 charger; optional EH-5a adapter with EP-5A power connector | External MH-24 charger; optional EH-5b adapter with EP-5A power connector |
| Dimensions | Approximately 124 × 96 × 74.5 mm from Nikon Japan; Nikon USA's converted inch figures differ slightly | Approximately 125 × 96 × 76.5 mm |
| Weight detail | Approximately 455 g body only or 505 g with battery and SD card, excluding body cap | Approximately 455 g body only or 505 g with battery and SD card, excluding body cap |
| Colours | – | Black or red |
| In the box | EN-EL14 battery, MH-24 charger, DK-5 eyepiece cap, DK-20 eyecup, AN-DC3 strap, BF-1B body cap, BS-1 shoe cover, ViewNX 2 CD-ROM and two ferrite cores for separately supplied USB/audio-video cables | EN-EL14 battery, MH-24 charger, UC-E17 USB cable, EG-CP14 audio-video cable, AN-DC3 strap, BF-1B body cap, BS-1 shoe cover, DK-5 eyepiece cap, DK-20 eyecup and ViewNX 2 CD-ROM |
More comparisons
- Nikon D3100 vs Nikon Z50II
- Nikon D3200 vs Nikon Z50II
- Nikon D3200 vs Nikon D6
- Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D6
- Nikon D3200 vs Nikon D780
- Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D780
- Nikon D3200 vs Nikon D3500
- Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D3500
- Nikon D3200 vs Nikon D850
- Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D850
- Nikon D3200 vs Nikon D7500
- Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D7500
- Nikon D3200 vs Nikon D5600
- Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5600
- Nikon D3200 vs Nikon D3400
- Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D3400

