Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90

Below is a in depth assessment of the Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Advanced DSLR and both are manufactured by Nikon. The sensor resolution of the D3100 (14MP) and the D90 (12MP) is fairly close and they feature the exact same sensor sizes (APS-C).

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The D3100 was introduced 2 years later than the D90 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Nikon D3100 being a Compact SLR camera and the Nikon D90 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise summary of how the D3100 scores against the D90 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Nikon D3100 & Nikon D90. The whole galleries are viewable at Nikon D3100 Gallery & Nikon D90 Gallery.

When you are planning to lug around your camera frequently, you will want to consider its weight and size. The Nikon D3100 features exterior measurements of 124mm x 96mm x 75mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 3.0") having a weight of 505 grams (1.11 lbs) whilst the Nikon D90 has specifications of 132mm x 103mm x 77mm (5.2" x 4.1" x 3.0") and a weight of 703 grams (1.55 lbs).

Compare the Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. Below is the front view scale comparison of the D3100 vs the D90.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the D3100 and D90 is 68 and 60 respectively.

Often, it's tough to envision the difference in sensor measurements simply by researching specs. The graphic here will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the D3100 and D90.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but not the same megapixels. You can anticipate the Nikon D3100 to result in greater detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The younger D3100 will have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.