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Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D3500

Portability
68
Imaging
54
Features
59
Overall
56
Nikon D3100 front
 
Nikon D3500 front
Portability
72
Imaging
69
Features
70
Overall
69

Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D3500 Key Specs

Nikon D3100
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Push to 12800)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 505g - 124 x 96 x 75mm
  • Launched December 2010
  • Previous Model is Nikon D3000
  • Later Model is Nikon D3200
Nikon D3500
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 365g - 124 x 97 x 70mm
  • Released August 2018
  • Older Model is Nikon D3400
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Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D3500 Overview

Its time to take a closer look at the Nikon D3100 and Nikon D3500, both Entry-Level DSLR digital cameras and they are both designed by Nikon. There exists a sizeable gap between the resolutions of the D3100 (14MP) and D3500 (24MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The D3100 was released 8 years earlier than the D3500 and that is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before going straight into a complete comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the D3100 grades against the D3500 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D3100 over the Nikon D3500

 D3100 D3500 

Reasons to pick Nikon D3500 over the Nikon D3100

 D3500 D3100 
ReleasedAugust 2018December 2010Fresher by 93 months
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Nikon D3100 and Nikon D3500

 D3100 D3500 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D3500 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry your camera frequently, you will want to take into account its weight and proportions. The Nikon D3100 provides physical dimensions of 124mm x 96mm x 75mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 3.0") along with a weight of 505 grams (1.11 lbs) whilst the Nikon D3500 has measurements of 124mm x 97mm x 70mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.8") and a weight of 365 grams (0.80 lbs).

Check out the Nikon D3100 and Nikon D3500 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at the time. The following is the front view measurements comparison of the D3100 compared to the D3500.

Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D3500 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the D3100 and D3500 is 68 and 72 respectively.

Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D3500 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D3500 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its tough to visualize the difference between sensor sizing merely by reading through a spec sheet. The photograph below will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the D3100 and D3500.

Clearly, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit different megapixels. You should count on the Nikon D3500 to give you greater detail as a result of its extra 10 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop photographs far more aggressively. The older D3100 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D3500 sensor size comparison

Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D3500 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D3500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D3100 Portrait photography factors
Nikon D3500 Portrait photography factors
72
focusing manually
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
81
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon D3100 Street photography features
Nikon D3500 Street photography features
58
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
69
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
lighter than others in class (365g)
good ISO range (25,600)
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D3100 Sports photography factors
Nikon D3500 Sports photography factors
60
good megapixels (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking focus
comes with phase detect autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
70
decent megapixels (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
great battery (1,550 shots)
has phase detect autofocus
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D3100 Travel photography advice
Nikon D3500 Travel photography advice
58
good megapixels (14MP)
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse recording
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
71
great battery (1,550 shots)
lighter than others in class (365g)
supports bluetooth
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon D3100
Landscape photography with Nikon D3500
65
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen size is good (3")
good megapixels (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
does not have image stabilization
missing Time Lapse recording
75
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
doesnt have low pass filter
good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
great battery (1,550 CIPA)
does not have image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D3100 Vlogging advice
Nikon D3500 Vlogging advice
27
supports face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
missing mic port
31
has face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others in class (365g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
does not have external mic jack
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Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D3500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D3100 and Nikon D3500
 Nikon D3100Nikon D3500
General Information
Brand Nikon Nikon
Model Nikon D3100 Nikon D3500
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2010-12-21 2018-08-29
Body design Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Expeed 2 Expeed 4
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.1 x 15.4mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 355.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Highest resolution 4608 x 3072 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 3200 25600
Highest boosted ISO 12800 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 11 11
Cross focus points 1 -
Lens
Lens mount Nikon F Nikon F
Amount of lenses 309 309
Crop factor 1.6 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology TFT LCD monitor TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x 0.56x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 7.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain Auto, Auto slow sync, Auto slow sync with red-eye reduction, Auto with red-eye reduction, Fill-flash, Off, Rear-curtain sync, Rear-curtain with slow sync, Red-eye reduction, Red-eye reduction with slow sync, Slow sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/200 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30, 25, 24 fps), 640 x 424 (24 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps), 640 x 424 (30, 25 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 505 grams (1.11 lbs) 365 grams (0.80 lbs)
Dimensions 124 x 96 x 75mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 3.0") 124 x 97 x 70mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 67 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 919 not tested
Other
Battery life 550 photos 1550 photos
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL14 EN-EL14a
Self timer Yes Yes (2, 5, 10, 20 secs (1-9 exposures))
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $565 $397