Clicky

Nikon D3100 vs Sony A550

Portability
68
Imaging
54
Features
59
Overall
56
Nikon D3100 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58

Nikon D3100 vs Sony A550 Key Specs

Nikon D3100
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Expand to 12800)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 505g - 124 x 96 x 75mm
  • Revealed December 2010
  • Succeeded the Nikon D3000
  • Replacement is Nikon D3200
Sony A550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 632g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Revealed December 2009
  • Previous Model is Sony A100
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Nikon D3100 vs Sony A550 Overview

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).

Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

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.

Cutting-edge AI developed by Apple deciphers subtle nuances in pixels
	
	

Reasons to pick Nikon D3100 over the Sony A550

 D3100 A550 
RevealedDecember 2010December 2009Newer by 13 months

Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Nikon D3100

 A550 D3100 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution922k230kCrisper display (+692k dot)

Common features in the Nikon D3100 and Sony A550

 D3100 A550 
Manual focus More exact focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch display Neither features Touch display

Nikon D3100 vs Sony A550 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Nikon D3100 vs Sony A550 size comparison

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

Nikon D3100 vs Sony A550 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D3100 vs Sony A550 Sensor Comparison

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.

Nikon D3100 vs Sony A550 sensor size comparison

Nikon D3100 vs Sony A550 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D3100 vs Sony A550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D3100 Portrait photography advice
Sony A550 Portrait photography advice
72
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
72
manual focus
decent megapixels (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Nikon D3100 Street photography features
Sony A550 Street photography features
58
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
74
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Sports Comparison

Nikon D3100 Sports photography features
Sony A550 Sports photography features
60
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
has phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
bad battery pack (480 shots)
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Travel Comparison

Nikon D3100 Travel photography features
Sony A550 Travel photography features
58
decent megapixels (14MP)
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse function
does not posses selfie friendly screen
52
decent megapixels (14MP)
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse recording
bad battery pack (480 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
Body cameras now worn by bakery staff to deter stealing

Landscape Comparison

Nikon D3100 Landscape photography info
Sony A550 Landscape photography info
65
you can focus manually
change lenses (Nikon F mount)
decent sized screen (3")
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
lack of Timelapse function
66
manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
decent sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
bad battery pack (480 per charge)
lack of Timelapse recording
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D3100 Vlogging factors
Sony A550 Vlogging factors
27
comes with face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
lack of external microphone support
9
lack of video recording
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Nikon D3100 vs Sony A550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D3100 and Sony A550
 Nikon D3100Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
General Information
Make Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon D3100 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
Category Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2010-12-21 2009-12-09
Physical type Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed 2 Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.1 x 15.4mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 355.7mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3072 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Highest enhanced ISO 12800 -
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 11 9
Cross type focus points 1 -
Lens
Lens support Nikon F Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 309 143
Focal length multiplier 1.6 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech TFT LCD monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x 0.53x
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/200s 1/160s
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 format MPEG-4 -
Microphone support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 505 grams (1.11 lb) 632 grams (1.39 lb)
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 rating 67 66
DXO Color Depth rating 22.5 21.9
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.3 11.8
DXO Low light rating 919 807
Other
Battery life 550 photographs 480 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL14 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Launch price $565 $749