Nikon’s latest DSLR is the first “low-end” model to shoot 1080p HD Video and full-time AF while recording movies, redefining what is a “low-end” DSLR. How does it compare to the D3000 and D5000?
If you’re a point-and-shooter thinking about stepping up to a DSLR but not sure which way to go, here’s what you need to know about the latest offering from Nikon: The D3100 ($699.99 with 18-55mm kit lens, available now for pre-order) is an excellent starter camera. It offers an innovative Guide Mode (right), which holds your hand and walks you through several exposure possibilities to get the kind of control you want over the final image without knowing the intimidating technical jargon or having to learn complex controls and settings. You can then grow into the camera’s more manual options if you want to. The D3100 is the cheapest camera to offer full 1080p HD Video movie recording, and achieves full-time AF (including subject tracking) during movie recording—a first.
Specification comparison: D3100 vs. D3000, D5000
Now if you’re interested in geeking out and learning what the differences are among the D3100, its predecessor, the D3000 ($496.95 with kit lens and $50 rebate), and its older and slightly higher-end sibling, the D5000 ($749.95) with kit lens), read on.
Here are the key upgrades from the D3000 to D3100:
• 10MP CCD APS-sized sensor replaced with a 14.2 megapixel CMOS sensor
• First low-end Nikon DSLR with Live View
• First low-end Nikon DSLR with full 1080p HD video
• D3100 Offers automatic chromatic aberration correction, the D3000 doesn’t.
• D3100’s ISO range is100-3200. The D3000’s is 100-1600. The D3100 has an ISO Boost that takes you up to 12800 with diminished resolution.
• D3100 has a socket for Nikon’s GP1 GPS unit
When comparing certain key features with the D5000, things get even more interesting:
• The D5000 offers 720p video at 24 frames per second, while the D3000 offers a higher resolution option, 1080p at 24 fps or 720p at up to 30fps.
• Like the D5000, the D3100 has four live view AF modes—face priority, wide area, normal area, and subject tracking.
• Like the D3000 and D5000, the D3100’s LCD monitor is a relatively low resolution 230K dots. The D5000’s is a bit smaller (2.7 inches vs. 3 inches) but is articulated where the others are not.
• The D3100, like the D5000, supports Nikon’s Advanced Wireless Lighting system for wireless flash control with Nikon SB-900, SB-800 or SU-800 units.
• The D3100’s 3fps and buffer capacity is less than the D5000’s 4fps and 63 consecutive JPEGs without interruptions.
So, which model is best for you?
In general, the D3100 offers a few more in-camera retouching modes but other than the above-mentioned features (especially Video and resolution), it is shares many features with both the D3000 and the D5000. At around $700, it becomes the lowest cost-cost Nikon DSLR to offer full HD video. The home-grown sensor is claimed to offer outstanding image quality which may rival the D5000’s; we’ll have to wait to see what DxOMark discovers.
The bottom line? If video doesn’t matter to you and you aren’t planning on pushing the image quality envelope but just need a good general all-around DSLR as an entry into the Nikon system, the D3000 is still a great value, and now that the D3100 is on the market, I suspect the D3000 won’t be around for long. In the other direction, if you are advanced enough that you don’t need the Guide Mode and you’re not interested in full HD video, you get slightly faster frame rates, an articulated monitor, and the best tested image quality of any APS sensor DSLR so far with the D5000, for about $50 more than the D3100.
