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Nikon D300 vs Nikon D3100

Portability
55
Imaging
50
Features
59
Overall
53
Nikon D300 front
 
Nikon D3100 front
Portability
68
Imaging
53
Features
59
Overall
55

Nikon D300 vs Nikon D3100 Key Specs

Nikon D300
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Push to 6400)
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 925g - 147 x 114 x 74mm
  • Released March 2008
  • Old Model is Nikon D200
  • Later Model is Nikon D300S
Nikon D3100
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Boost to 12800)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 505g - 124 x 96 x 75mm
  • Revealed December 2010
  • Superseded the Nikon D3000
  • Renewed by Nikon D3200
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Nikon D300 vs Nikon D3100 Overview

Here is a extensive overview of the Nikon D300 vs Nikon D3100, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR and both are sold by Nikon. The resolution of the D300 (12MP) and the D3100 (14MP) is very similar and they feature the exact same sensor dimensions (APS-C).

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The D300 was announced 3 years earlier than the D3100 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Nikon D300 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Nikon D3100 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going through a thorough comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the D300 grades versus the D3100 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D300 over the Nikon D3100

 D300 D3100 
Display resolution922k230kSharper display (+692k dot)

Reasons to pick Nikon D3100 over the Nikon D300

 D3100 D300 
RevealedDecember 2010March 2008Fresher by 33 months

Common features in the Nikon D300 and Nikon D3100

 D300 D3100 
Manual focus More exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither features Touch friendly display

Nikon D300 vs Nikon D3100 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry your camera, you will have to consider its weight and volume. The Nikon D300 enjoys outside measurements of 147mm x 114mm x 74mm (5.8" x 4.5" x 2.9") having a weight of 925 grams (2.04 lbs) and the Nikon D3100 has sizing of 124mm x 96mm x 75mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 3.0") with a weight of 505 grams (1.11 lbs).

Analyze the Nikon D300 vs Nikon D3100 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are utilizing during that time. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the D300 vs the D3100.

Nikon D300 vs Nikon D3100 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the D300 and D3100 is 55 and 68 respectively.

Nikon D300 vs Nikon D3100 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D300 vs Nikon D3100 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very difficult to imagine the contrast between sensor sizing merely by reading a spec sheet. The photograph underneath should give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the D300 and D3100.

Clearly, both of the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but different MP. You should expect to see the Nikon D3100 to deliver greater detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images much more aggressively. The older D300 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Nikon D300 vs Nikon D3100 sensor size comparison

Nikon D300 vs Nikon D3100 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D300 vs Nikon D3100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D300 Portrait photography highlights
Nikon D3100 Portrait photography highlights
60
focusing manually
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
71
manual focus
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides face detection focusing
exports RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon D300
Street photography with Nikon D3100
55
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
environment sealing
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
58
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D300 Sports photography info
Nikon D3100 Sports photography info
56
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
environment sealing
great battery (1,000 CIPA)
supports phase detect AF
max frames per second low (6.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
59
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
has phase detect AF
max fps very slow (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon D300
Travel photography with Nikon D3100
56
great battery (1,000 per charge)
environment sealing
has built in flash
low MP (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
57
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse recording
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D300 Landscape photography advice
Nikon D3100 Landscape photography advice
64
focusing manually
change lenses (Nikon F mount)
nice screen size (3")
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
environment sealing
great battery (1,000 per charge)
does not have image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
65
manual focus
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
decent megapixels (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D300 Vlogging highlights
Nikon D3100 Vlogging highlights
9
can't shoot video
26
provides face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
lack of external mic support
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Nikon D300 vs Nikon D3100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D300 and Nikon D3100
 Nikon D300Nikon D3100
General Information
Make Nikon Nikon
Model Nikon D300 Nikon D3100
Category Advanced DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2008-03-12 2010-12-21
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Expeed Expeed 2
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.6 x 15.8mm 23.1 x 15.4mm
Sensor area 372.9mm² 355.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Maximum resolution 4288 x 2848 4608 x 3072
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Maximum boosted ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 51 11
Cross focus points - 1
Lens
Lens mounting type Nikon F Nikon F
Amount of lenses 309 309
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.6
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 922k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology Super Density TFT color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.63x 0.53x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 6.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250 secs 1/200 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30, 25, 24 fps), 640 x 424 (24 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 925 grams (2.04 lb) 505 grams (1.11 lb)
Dimensions 147 x 114 x 74mm (5.8" x 4.5" x 2.9") 124 x 96 x 75mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 67 67
DXO Color Depth score 22.1 22.5
DXO Dynamic range score 12.0 11.3
DXO Low light score 679 919
Other
Battery life 1000 pictures 550 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL3e EN-EL14
Self timer Yes (2 to 20 sec) Yes
Time lapse recording
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $1,100 $565