Clicky

Nikon D3100 vs Sony A57

Portability
68
Imaging
54
Features
59
Overall
56
Nikon D3100 front
 
Sony SLT-A57 front
Portability
64
Imaging
57
Features
85
Overall
68

Nikon D3100 vs Sony A57 Key Specs

Nikon D3100
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Boost to 12800)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 505g - 124 x 96 x 75mm
  • Released December 2010
  • Earlier Model is Nikon D3000
  • Refreshed by Nikon D3200
Sony A57
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 16000 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 618g - 132 x 98 x 81mm
  • Introduced September 2012
  • Previous Model is Sony A55
  • Refreshed by Sony A58
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Nikon D3100 vs Sony A57 Overview

The following is a thorough overview of the Nikon D3100 vs Sony A57, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras by rivals Nikon and Sony. The sensor resolution of the D3100 (14MP) and the A57 (16MP) is very close and both cameras posses the identical sensor measurements (APS-C).

Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

The D3100 was released 21 months earlier than the A57 making them a generation away from each other. The two cameras feature the same body design (Compact SLR).

Before going into a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the D3100 matches up versus the A57 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Nikon D3100 over the Sony A57

 D3100 A57 

Reasons to pick Sony A57 over the Nikon D3100

 A57 D3100 
IntroducedSeptember 2012December 2010Newer by 21 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution921k230kCrisper display (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Nikon D3100 and Sony A57

 D3100 A57 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Display size3"3"Same display measurements
Touch display Neither contains Touch display

Nikon D3100 vs Sony A57 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to travel with your camera regularly, you have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Nikon D3100 has got outer dimensions 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 A57 has proportions of 132mm x 98mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2") having a weight of 618 grams (1.36 lbs).

Examine the Nikon D3100 vs Sony A57 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen at the time. Underneath is a front view proportions comparison of the D3100 and the A57.

Nikon D3100 vs Sony A57 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the D3100 and A57 is 68 and 64 respectively.

Nikon D3100 vs Sony A57 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D3100 vs Sony A57 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is hard to envision the difference in sensor dimensions purely by researching specifications. The image below may provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the D3100 and A57.

To sum up, both of these cameras feature the identical sensor size but not the same megapixels. You can expect to see the Sony A57 to render more detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics way more aggressively. The more aged D3100 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Nikon D3100 vs Sony A57 sensor size comparison

Nikon D3100 vs Sony A57 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D3100 vs Sony A57 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D3100 Portrait photography advice
Sony A57 Portrait photography advice
72
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides face detect focus
saves RAW files
74
you can focus manually
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers face detect focus
exports RAW formats
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Street Comparison

Nikon D3100 as a Street photography camera
Sony A57 as a Street photography camera
58
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no moving screen
no image stabilization
75
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Sports Comparison

Nikon D3100 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A57 as a Sports photography camera
60
megapixel count decent (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
has phase detect auto focus
low fps (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
78
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
has phase detect auto focus
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Travel Comparison

Nikon D3100 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A57 as a Travel photography camera
58
megapixel count decent (14MP)
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse recording
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
67
decent MP (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
doesn't have Time Lapse function
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon D3100
Landscape photography with Sony A57
65
has manual focus
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen size is decent (3")
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse recording
72
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is decent (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
doesn't have Time Lapse function
Body cameras now worn by bakery staff to deter stealing

Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D3100 Vlogging advice
Sony A57 Vlogging advice
27
provides face detect focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
lack of mic socket
77
selfie friendly screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has mic support
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Nikon D3100 vs Sony A57 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D3100 and Sony A57
 Nikon D3100Sony SLT-A57
General Information
Manufacturer Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon D3100 Sony SLT-A57
Category Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2010-12-21 2012-09-13
Physical type Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Expeed 2 -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.1 x 15.4mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 355.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3072 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 3200 16000
Highest boosted ISO 12800 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 11 15
Cross type focus points 1 3
Lens
Lens mount type Nikon F Sony/Minolta Alpha
Total lenses 309 143
Focal length multiplier 1.6 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology TFT LCD monitor Xtra Fine TFT drive with TruBlack technology
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 12.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash settings 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
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/200 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30, 25, 24 fps), 640 x 424 (24 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 505 gr (1.11 lb) 618 gr (1.36 lb)
Physical dimensions 124 x 96 x 75mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 3.0") 132 x 98 x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 67 75
DXO Color Depth rating 22.5 23.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.3 13.0
DXO Low light rating 919 785
Other
Battery life 550 shots 550 shots
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL14 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $565 $1,000