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Nikon D3100 vs Sony RX100 VII

Portability
68
Imaging
54
Features
59
Overall
56
Nikon D3100 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII front
Portability
88
Imaging
55
Features
78
Overall
64

Nikon D3100 vs Sony RX100 VII Key Specs

Nikon D3100
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Bump to 12800)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 505g - 124 x 96 x 75mm
  • Launched December 2010
  • Old Model is Nikon D3000
  • Later Model is Nikon D3200
Sony RX100 VII
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-200mm (F2.8-4.5) lens
  • 302g - 102 x 58 x 43mm
  • Released July 2019
  • Earlier Model is Sony RX100 VI
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Nikon D3100 vs Sony RX100 VII Overview

Lets look more in depth at the Nikon D3100 vs Sony RX100 VII, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Large Sensor Compact by competitors Nikon and Sony. There is a noticeable difference among the resolutions of the D3100 (14MP) and RX100 VII (20MP) and the D3100 (APS-C) and RX100 VII (1") boast totally different sensor sizes.

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The D3100 was introduced 9 years prior to the RX100 VII and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Nikon D3100 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony RX100 VII being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a thorough comparison, here is a simple overview of how the D3100 scores vs the RX100 VII with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D3100 over the Sony RX100 VII

 D3100 RX100 VII 

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 VII over the Nikon D3100

 RX100 VII D3100 
ReleasedJuly 2019December 2010More recent by 104 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Nikon D3100 and Sony RX100 VII

 D3100 RX100 VII 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions

Nikon D3100 vs Sony RX100 VII Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to lug around your camera, you have to factor in its weight and size. The Nikon D3100 has outside measurements of 124mm x 96mm x 75mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 505 grams (1.11 lbs) whilst the Sony RX100 VII has specifications of 102mm x 58mm x 43mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.7") with a weight of 302 grams (0.67 lbs).

Analyze the Nikon D3100 vs Sony RX100 VII in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are working with at that time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the D3100 compared to the RX100 VII.

Nikon D3100 vs Sony RX100 VII size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the D3100 and RX100 VII is 68 and 88 respectively.

Nikon D3100 vs Sony RX100 VII top view buttons comparison

Nikon D3100 vs Sony RX100 VII Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be hard to visualise the difference in sensor measurements merely by viewing specifications. The graphic underneath will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the D3100 and RX100 VII.

To sum up, both of these cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The D3100 having a larger sensor will make getting shallow depth of field simpler and the Sony RX100 VII will render greater detail using its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos more aggressively. The older D3100 will be behind in sensor technology.

Nikon D3100 vs Sony RX100 VII sensor size comparison

Nikon D3100 vs Sony RX100 VII Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D3100 vs Sony RX100 VII Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon D3100
Portrait photography with Sony RX100 VII
72
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
67
you can focus manually
high flash sync (1/2,000 seconds)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
includes face detect focus
exports RAW files
cannot use external flash
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Street Comparison

Nikon D3100 Street photography information
Sony RX100 VII Street photography information
58
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
no moving screen
no image stabilization
85
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Optical)
good sensor size (1")
exports RAW files
comes with touch to focus
lighter than competitors (302 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D3100 as a Sports photography camera
Sony RX100 VII as a Sports photography camera
60
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
supports phase detect AF
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
71
silent shutter (1/32,000s)
high fps (20.0 frames/s)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
includes tracking focus
comes with phase detect auto focus
low battery power (260 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D3100 Travel photography features
Sony RX100 VII Travel photography features
58
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse recording
does not offer selfie friendly screen
77
lighter than competitors (302g)
connects via bluetooth
comes with touch to focus
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
reasonably wide (24mm)
low battery power (260 per charge)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D3100 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony RX100 VII as a Landscape photography camera
65
manual focus
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen size is good (3")
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
no image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse recording
65
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
good sensor size (1")
exports RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
low battery power (260 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D3100 Vlogging information
Sony RX100 VII Vlogging information
27
offers face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
lack of mic support
81
reasonably wide (24mm)
selfie friendly screen
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focus
video res high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
does have microphone jack
lighter than competitors (302 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Nikon D3100 vs Sony RX100 VII Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D3100 and Sony RX100 VII
 Nikon D3100Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII
General Information
Company Nikon Sony
Model Nikon D3100 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII
Category Entry-Level DSLR Large Sensor Compact
Launched 2010-12-21 2019-07-25
Body design Compact SLR Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Expeed 2 Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1"
Sensor measurements 23.1 x 15.4mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 355.7mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3072 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Maximum boosted ISO 12800 -
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW files
Minimum boosted ISO - 64
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 11 -
Cross focus points 1 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Nikon F fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-200mm (8.3x)
Largest aperture - f/2.8-4.5
Macro focus range - 8cm
Available lenses 309 -
Focal length multiplier 1.6 2.7
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech TFT LCD monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,360 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x 0.59x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Highest silent shutter speed - 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 20.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 5.90 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain -
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/200 seconds 1/2000 seconds
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) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) NP-BX1 lithium-ion battery & USB charger
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 505g (1.11 pounds) 302g (0.67 pounds)
Physical dimensions 124 x 96 x 75mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 3.0") 102 x 58 x 43mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 67 63
DXO Color Depth score 22.5 21.8
DXO Dynamic range score 11.3 12.4
DXO Low light score 919 418
Other
Battery life 550 photos 260 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL14 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes Yes
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Launch price $565 $1,298