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Nikon D3100 vs Sony A500

Portability
68
Imaging
54
Features
59
Overall
56
Nikon D3100 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Nikon D3100 vs Sony A500 Key Specs

Nikon D3100
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Bump to 12800)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 505g - 124 x 96 x 75mm
  • Announced December 2010
  • Replaced the Nikon D3000
  • Successor is Nikon D3200
Sony A500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 630g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Introduced August 2009
  • Replacement is Sony A560
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Nikon D3100 vs Sony A500 Overview

Here, we are evaluating the Nikon D3100 and Sony A500, both Entry-Level DSLR digital cameras by manufacturers Nikon and Sony. The sensor resolution of the D3100 (14MP) and the A500 (12MP) is very well matched and both cameras offer the identical sensor sizes (APS-C).

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The D3100 was announced 17 months later than the A500 making them a generation apart from each other. Both of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact SLR).

Before going straight to a full comparison, here is a short summary of how the D3100 matches up against the A500 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D3100 over the Sony A500

 D3100 A500 
IntroducedDecember 2010August 2009More recent by 17 months

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Nikon D3100

 A500 D3100 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Nikon D3100 and Sony A500

 D3100 A500 
Manual focus More exact focus
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions
Display resolution230k230kThe same display resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Nikon D3100 vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to lug around your camera often, you should take into account its weight and size. The Nikon D3100 provides exterior measurements of 124mm x 96mm x 75mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 3.0") along with a weight of 505 grams (1.11 lbs) and the Sony A500 has specifications of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") having a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Examine the Nikon D3100 and Sony A500 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are working with at the time. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the D3100 versus the A500.

Nikon D3100 vs Sony A500 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the D3100 and A500 is 68 and 63 respectively.

Nikon D3100 vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D3100 vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's difficult to envision the gap between sensor measurements only by checking specs. The photograph here will give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the D3100 and A500.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras come with the identical sensor size but not the same MP. You should expect to see the Nikon D3100 to give more detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The younger D3100 is going to have a benefit in sensor technology.

Nikon D3100 vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Nikon D3100 vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D3100 vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D3100 Portrait photography info
Sony A500 Portrait photography info
72
manual focus
decent MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes face detection focus
exports RAW files
63
focusing manually
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
low resolution (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Nikon D3100 Street photography advice
Sony A500 Street photography advice
58
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
74
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D3100 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A500 as a Sports photography camera
60
decent MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
has phase detect auto focus
max fps very slow (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
51
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
not so great battery life (520 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D3100 Travel photography advice
Sony A500 Travel photography advice
58
decent MP (14MP)
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse mode
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
43
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse function
not so great battery life (520 CIPA)
low resolution (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D3100 Landscape photography details
Sony A500 Landscape photography details
65
manual focus
change lenses (Nikon F mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
decent MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no image stabilization
does not have Timelapse mode
60
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
low resolution (12MP)
not so great battery life (520 shots)
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D3100 Vlogging factors
Sony A500 Vlogging factors
27
includes face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
does not have external microphone port
9
lack of video recording
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Nikon D3100 vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D3100 and Sony A500
 Nikon D3100Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Make Nikon Sony
Model Nikon D3100 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2010-12-21 2009-08-27
Body design Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Expeed 2 Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.1 x 15.4mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 355.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3072 4272 x 2848
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO 12800 -
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
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 mounting type Nikon F Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 309 143
Crop factor 1.6 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech TFT LCD monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x 0.53x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/200s 1/160s
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 1920x1080 None
Video file format MPEG-4 -
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 pounds) 630 gr (1.39 pounds)
Physical dimensions 124 x 96 x 75mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 3.0") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 67 64
DXO Color Depth score 22.5 21.8
DXO Dynamic range score 11.3 11.6
DXO Low light score 919 772
Other
Battery life 550 photographs 520 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL14 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $565 $638