Nikon D3100 vs Sony a5000

The following is a detailed overview of the Nikon D3100 vs Sony a5000, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Nikon and Sony. There is a large difference between the resolutions of the D3100 (14MP) and a5000 (20MP) but both cameras boast the identical sensor size (APS-C).

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The D3100 was introduced 4 years prior to the a5000 which is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Nikon D3100 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony a5000 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving right into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the D3100 grades vs the a5000 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Nikon D3100 & Sony Alpha a5000. The whole galleries are viewable at Nikon D3100 Gallery & Sony a5000 Gallery.

When you are looking to travel with your camera regularly, you are going to need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Nikon D3100 has got physical 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 a5000 has dimensions of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") and a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Check out the Nikon D3100 vs Sony a5000 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Following is a front view proportions comparison of the D3100 against the a5000.

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the D3100 and a5000 is 68 and 89 respectively.

Often, it's tough to imagine the gap between sensor dimensions only by reading a spec sheet. The pic below might provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the D3100 and a5000.

As you can see, each of these cameras come with the identical sensor size but different MP. You can expect to see the Sony a5000 to offer more detail using its extra 6MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The more aged D3100 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.