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Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5500

Portability
68
Imaging
54
Features
59
Overall
56
Nikon D3100 front
 
Nikon D5500 front
Portability
71
Imaging
66
Features
85
Overall
73

Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5500 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
  • Announced December 2010
  • Previous Model is Nikon D3000
  • Later Model is Nikon D3200
Nikon D5500
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 420g - 124 x 97 x 70mm
  • Announced January 2015
  • Earlier Model is Nikon D5300
  • Newer Model is Nikon D5600
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Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5500 Overview

In this write-up, we are matching up the Nikon D3100 and Nikon D5500, both Entry-Level DSLR digital cameras and they are both sold by Nikon. There exists a considerable gap between the image resolutions of the D3100 (14MP) and D5500 (24MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor measurements (APS-C).

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The D3100 was launched 5 years prior to the D5500 and that is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before going in to a thorough comparison, below is a quick summation of how the D3100 matches up against the D5500 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D3100 over the Nikon D5500

 D3100 D5500 

Reasons to pick Nikon D5500 over the Nikon D3100

 D5500 D3100 
AnnouncedJanuary 2015December 2010More recent by 49 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display sizing3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1037k230kSharper display (+807k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Nikon D3100 and Nikon D5500

 D3100 D5500 
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing

Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5500 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to lug around your camera, you have to factor its weight and volume. The Nikon D3100 offers exterior 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) while the Nikon D5500 has sizing of 124mm x 97mm x 70mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 420 grams (0.93 lbs).

Take a look at the Nikon D3100 and Nikon D5500 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at the time. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the D3100 vs the D5500.

Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5500 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the D3100 and D5500 is 68 and 71 respectively.

Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5500 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5500 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its difficult to visualise the contrast between sensor measurements only by going over a spec sheet. The visual here will help offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the D3100 and D5500.

Clearly, the 2 cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same resolution. You can anticipate the Nikon D5500 to offer greater detail utilizing its extra 10 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos far more aggressively. The older D3100 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5500 sensor size comparison

Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5500 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D3100 Portrait photography factors
Nikon D5500 Portrait photography factors
72
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
79
manual focus
megapixel count decent (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with face detect focus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon D3100 Street photography details
Nikon D5500 Street photography details
58
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
75
screen articulates fully
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
comes with touch focus
lighter than competition (420g)
very good ISO range (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon D3100
Sports photography with Nikon D5500
60
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
has phase detect autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
68
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
better than average battery pack (820 CIPA)
comes with phase detect auto focus
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D3100 as a Travel photography camera
Nikon D5500 as a Travel photography camera
58
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
does not have a selfie friendly screen
81
better than average battery pack (820 per charge)
lighter than competition (420g)
comes with touch focus
megapixel count decent (24MP)
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon D3100
Landscape photography with Nikon D5500
65
manual focus
change lenses (Nikon F mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
lack of image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse function
78
manual focus
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
decent sized screen (3.2 inch)
megapixel count decent (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
no anti-alias filter
very good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
better than average battery pack (820 CIPA)
no image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D3100 Vlogging information
Nikon D5500 Vlogging information
27
supports face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
lack of external mic support
75
display is selfie friendly
built-in touchscreen
comes with face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have mic port
lighter than competition (420g)
no image stabilization
Photography Glossary

Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D3100 and Nikon D5500
 Nikon D3100Nikon D5500
General Information
Brand Name Nikon Nikon
Model Nikon D3100 Nikon D5500
Category Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2010-12-21 2015-01-06
Body design Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor 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 Possible resolution 4608 x 3072 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 3200 25600
Maximum enhanced ISO 12800 -
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 11 39
Cross focus points 1 9
Lens
Lens mount Nikon F Nikon F
Available lenses 309 309
Crop factor 1.6 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3" 3.2"
Resolution of screen 230k dot 1,037k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology TFT LCD monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x 0.55x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/200 seconds 1/200 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported 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, 30, 25 fps), 640 x 424 (30, 25 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 505g (1.11 lb) 420g (0.93 lb)
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 Overall score 67 84
DXO Color Depth score 22.5 24.1
DXO Dynamic range score 11.3 14.0
DXO Low light score 919 1438
Other
Battery life 550 photographs 820 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL14 EN-EL14,EN-EL14a
Self timer Yes Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Launch price $565 $700