Nikon D3100 vs Sony A550

Its time to look more closely at the Nikon D3100 versus Sony A550, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras by competitors Nikon and Sony. The sensor resolution of the D3100 (14MP) and the A550 (14MP) is very close and they feature the same exact sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The D3100 was announced 13 months after the A550 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before we go straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief summary of how the D3100 scores against the A550 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Nikon D3100 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A550. The whole galleries are provided at Nikon D3100 Gallery and Sony A550 Gallery.

For those who are going to travel with your camera often, you are going to need to factor its weight and measurements. The Nikon D3100 enjoys outside 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 Sony A550 has proportions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") having a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Check out the Nikon D3100 versus Sony A550 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are employing at that moment. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the D3100 vs the A550.

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the D3100 and A550 is 68 and 63 respectively.

Usually, its difficult to visualize the contrast in sensor dimensions merely by looking through specifications. The image underneath will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the D3100 and A550.

To sum up, both of those cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing and the same exact MP therefore you should expect comparable quality of photographs but you really should take the release date of the cameras into account. The younger D3100 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.