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Nikon D3100 vs Sony A300

Portability
68
Imaging
54
Features
59
Overall
56
Nikon D3100 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A300 front
Portability
64
Imaging
50
Features
45
Overall
48

Nikon D3100 vs Sony A300 Key Specs

Nikon D3100
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Raise to 12800)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 505g - 124 x 96 x 75mm
  • Introduced December 2010
  • Previous Model is Nikon D3000
  • New Model is Nikon D3200
Sony A300
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 632g - 131 x 99 x 75mm
  • Revealed January 2008
  • Replacement is Sony A330
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Nikon D3100 vs Sony A300 Overview

Let's look a little more in depth at the Nikon D3100 and Sony A300, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras by brands Nikon and Sony. There exists a huge gap among the sensor resolutions of the D3100 (14MP) and A300 (10MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor measurements (APS-C).

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The D3100 was unveiled 2 years later than the A300 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before getting through a full comparison, below is a quick view of how the D3100 matches up versus the A300 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D3100 over the Sony A300

 D3100 A300 
RevealedDecember 2010January 2008More recent by 36 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Sony A300 over the Nikon D3100

 A300 D3100 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Nikon D3100 and Sony A300

 D3100 A300 
Manual focus Very precise focus
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Nikon D3100 vs Sony A300 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to lug around your camera, you need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Nikon D3100 has got external measurements of 124mm x 96mm x 75mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 3.0") and a weight of 505 grams (1.11 lbs) while the Sony A300 has proportions of 131mm x 99mm x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Compare the Nikon D3100 and Sony A300 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are utilising at the time. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the D3100 vs the A300.

Nikon D3100 vs Sony A300 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the D3100 and A300 is 68 and 64 respectively.

Nikon D3100 vs Sony A300 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D3100 vs Sony A300 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very hard to envision the contrast in sensor measurements purely by checking out technical specs. The visual underneath will offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the D3100 and A300.

As you have seen, each of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same MP. You should anticipate the Nikon D3100 to show greater detail having an extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos far more aggressively. The younger D3100 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Nikon D3100 vs Sony A300 sensor size comparison

Nikon D3100 vs Sony A300 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D3100 vs Sony A300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D3100 Portrait photography info
Sony A300 Portrait photography info
72
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
60
manual focus
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
MP count low (10MP)
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Street Comparison

Nikon D3100 Street photography advice
Sony A300 Street photography advice
58
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
74
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D3100 Sports photography details
Sony A300 Sports photography details
60
decent megapixels (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
supports phase detect autofocus
max frames per second low (3.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
55
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect autofocus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames per second)
MP count low (10MP)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon D3100
Travel photography with Sony A300
58
decent megapixels (14MP)
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
does not feature selfie friendly screen
45
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse mode
MP count low (10MP)
does not have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D3100 Landscape photography highlights
Sony A300 Landscape photography highlights
65
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
decent megapixels (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
57
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
small screen (2.7 inch)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D3100 Vlogging info
Sony A300 Vlogging info
27
has face detection autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have external mic jack
9
no video
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Nikon D3100 vs Sony A300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D3100 and Sony A300
 Nikon D3100Sony Alpha DSLR-A300
General Information
Company Nikon Sony
Model Nikon D3100 Sony Alpha DSLR-A300
Category Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2010-12-21 2008-01-30
Body design Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed 2 -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.1 x 15.4mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 355.7mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 -
Peak resolution 4608 x 3072 3872 x 2592
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Highest enhanced ISO 12800 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 11 9
Cross focus points 1 -
Lens
Lens mount Nikon F Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 309 143
Crop factor 1.6 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT LCD monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x 0.49x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
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 options Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain, wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/200 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30, 25, 24 fps), 640 x 424 (24 fps) -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video data format MPEG-4 -
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 gr (1.11 lb) 632 gr (1.39 lb)
Dimensions 124 x 96 x 75mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 3.0") 131 x 99 x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 67 64
DXO Color Depth score 22.5 22.5
DXO Dynamic range score 11.3 11.4
DXO Low light score 919 538
Other
Battery life 550 pictures -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model EN-EL14 -
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC Compact Flash
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $565 $0