Nikon D3000 vs Nikon D3100
Both D3000 and D3100 are entry level Digital Single Lens Reflective (more commonly known as DSLR) cameras. Both these models have their own cons and pros. Here, we’re going to discuss their cons and pros and basic specifications.
Nikon D3000
Nikon D3000 is the predecessor of the legendary Nikon product D60. Nikon D60 is considered to be one of the best selling DSLR units. The D3000 has a 10.2 Megapixel CCD sensor with a sensor size of 23.6 x 15.8 mm. It also features a 3.0 inch LCD monitor; 11 point auto focus with 3D tracking, an ISO range of 100-1600 (expanded to 3200 with boost) and many more other features than its ancestor the D60. Its dimensions are 126 x 97 x 64 mm. It also has D-lighting and a Built-in pop-up flash with Nikon’s original i-TTL flash control which enables you to take photographs in harder lighting conditions. In addition, D3000 has three exposure metering modes, 3D Color Matrix Metering II, Center-weighted, and Spot Metering. A single charge of the Li-ion battery could take up to 550 photos.
Nikon D3100
D3100 is an advanced version of D3000. It has a 14.2 Megapixel CMOS sensor with a sensor size of 23.1 x 15.4 mm. It has live view on the LCD monitor. The 1080p full HD movie mode is a super advantage. It also features 11 point autofocus with 3D tracking, an ISO range of 100-3200 (12800 with boost) and a 3 inch LCD. It also has D-lighting and a Built-in pop-up flash with Nikon’s original i-TTL flash control.
Difference between Nikon D3000 and Nikon D3100
Most of the features in D3000 and D3100 are basically similar at the first glance, but these two units are very far apart. D3000 features a CCD sensor, whereas D3100 features a far superior CMOS sensor. D3100 also has a wider ISO range than D3000.
The main drawbacks of D3000 over D3100 are these: D3100 has live view, which means, you can see what you are shooting through the LCD monitor, but D3000 lacks this feature. The other thing is D3100 has 1080p HD video recording. Many day to day users will find the lack of video recording a huge drawback, but most of the professional and amateur photographers wouldn’t mind that. A real eye opener for a photographer would be the “automatic chromatic aberration correction” in D3100. Both products feature an array of in-camera retouching with D3100 having more options than D3000. Both has the ability to record in RAW and JPEG, but D3100 is having an Expeed2 image processing engine that processes images faster than D3000. Both these products, have an automatic sensor cleaning mechanism. D3100 boasts of a new shutter mechanism, which reduces the gap between two photos
All in all, both the products deliver you, for what you have paid. D3100 is an excellent entry level camera if you are willing to spend a few extra bucks, but for a student in photography, who wants to study the lighting, and play around with the camera, both are good options.