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Nikon D3100 vs Sony A33

Portability
68
Imaging
54
Features
59
Overall
56
Nikon D3100 front
 
Sony SLT-A33 front
Portability
67
Imaging
54
Features
80
Overall
64

Nikon D3100 vs Sony A33 Key Specs

Nikon D3100
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Increase to 12800)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 505g - 124 x 96 x 75mm
  • Introduced December 2010
  • Earlier Model is Nikon D3000
  • Successor is Nikon D3200
Sony A33
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Released August 2010
  • Renewed by Sony A35
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Nikon D3100 vs Sony A33 Overview

Below is a thorough overview of the Nikon D3100 vs Sony A33, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras by manufacturers Nikon and Sony. The sensor resolution of the D3100 (14MP) and the A33 (14MP) is relatively comparable and they enjoy the exact same sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The D3100 was announced 4 months later than the A33 so they are both of a similar generation. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before we go through a in-depth comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the D3100 grades versus the A33 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D3100 over the Sony A33

 D3100 A33 

Reasons to pick Sony A33 over the Nikon D3100

 A33 D3100 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Nikon D3100 and Sony A33

 D3100 A33 
ReleasedDecember 2010August 2010Same generation
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Nikon D3100 vs Sony A33 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera, you're going to have to take into account its weight and volume. The Nikon D3100 has outside dimensions of 124mm x 96mm x 75mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 3.0") with a weight of 505 grams (1.11 lbs) whilst the Sony A33 has sizing of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Check out the Nikon D3100 vs Sony A33 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are utilising during that time. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the D3100 compared to the A33.

Nikon D3100 vs Sony A33 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the D3100 and A33 is 68 and 67 respectively.

Nikon D3100 vs Sony A33 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D3100 vs Sony A33 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be hard to envision the contrast in sensor measurements only by going through specs. The photograph here may give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the D3100 and A33.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements and the exact same resolution so you should expect comparable quality of photographs but you should always factor the production date of the cameras into account.

Nikon D3100 vs Sony A33 sensor size comparison

Nikon D3100 vs Sony A33 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D3100 vs Sony A33 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon D3100
Portrait photography with Sony A33
72
manual focus
decent MP (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection focus
saves RAW files
72
has manual focus
resolution is good (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers face detect focus
supports RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Nikon D3100 Street photography highlights
Sony A33 Street photography highlights
58
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
76
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D3100 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A33 as a Sports photography camera
60
decent MP (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
sensor has phase detect auto focus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
bad battery pack (340 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D3100 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A33 as a Travel photography camera
58
decent MP (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
61
resolution is good (14MP)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
no Timelapse recording
bad battery pack (340 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D3100 Landscape photography highlights
Sony A33 Landscape photography highlights
65
manual focus
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
does not have image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse recording
67
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
bad battery pack (340 shots)
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D3100 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A33 as a Vlogging camera
27
offers face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
lack of external mic port
77
screen is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have microphone socket
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Nikon D3100 vs Sony A33 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D3100 and Sony A33
 Nikon D3100Sony SLT-A33
General Information
Company Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon D3100 Sony SLT-A33
Type Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2010-12-21 2010-08-24
Physical type 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 area 355.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3072 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Max enhanced ISO 12800 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 15
Cross type focus points 1 3
Lens
Lens mount type Nikon F Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 309 143
Crop factor 1.6 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech TFT LCD monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150k dots
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x 0.73x
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
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
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/200s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30, 25, 24 fps), 640 x 424 (24 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 505 gr (1.11 lbs) 500 gr (1.10 lbs)
Dimensions 124 x 96 x 75mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 3.0") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 67 70
DXO Color Depth rating 22.5 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.3 12.6
DXO Low light rating 919 591
Other
Battery life 550 pictures 340 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL14 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $565 $230