Nikon D3200 Vs Nikon D5100 Which One To Buy

By Author: Keith Mason
Total Articles: 3
Comment this article

When Nikon D3200 was first announced, we were contemplating whether it will be another megapixel packed sensor camera like the D800. So the 24.2 megapixels sensor of the Nikon D3200 was really something to be expected.

When Nikon D3200 was first announced, we were contemplating whether it will be another megapixel packed sensor camera like the D800. So the 24.2 megapixels sensor of the Nikon D3200 was really something to be expected. Mind you, this IS an APS-C sized DX format sensor so it's really plenty. However, how does it compare with its older brother, the Nikon D5100?

The Specs
Looking at the similarities in specs, it's almost as if they were just trying to give you the Nikon D5100 in the D3200 but without the swivel LCD. Sure the sensor and viewfinder are different, the ISO sensitivity is slightly better on the Nikon D5100 in the extended range by being a step higher. Are there really sufficient differences for them to coexist? After all, it doesn't mean you suddenly know which is better for going from a compact digital camera to an affordable and increasingly user-friendly DSLR for general shooting.... ...
... Regardless, Nikon has seemed to be eager to play the megapixels card both at the top as well as at the bottom to capture the buyers' attention.

To Swivel or Not to Swivel
The biggest difference has to be the swivel LCD of the Nikon D5100 against the fixed screen of the D3200. Both are at 3.0-inch and deliver the same display resolution at approximately 921,000 dots. Most beginners shooting with DSLRs are advised to get familiar with using the viewfinder and enjoy the benefits of an optical viewfinder that could not get with compact digitals. However, given that many are using its video functions or taking family photos from all locations and angles, the swivel LCD has been much more popular.
What’s more, if you expect to get a bit rough with the camera during shooting, a non-swivel version is more robust and the Nikon D3200 with matching specs to the Nikon D5100 would be a very good choice.
Which Shoots Better?
Well… how exactly do they compare when shooting? I would say Nikon D3200. With the Nikon D3200 giving about 8 megapixels more resolution, you can get more quality simply by cropping into the “sweet” central part of the lens to get better quality. In many ways, DX cameras shooting with FX lenses already have that benefit so with the D3200, will still allow you to crop out the “poorer” bits out on the side when the occasion warrants. What’s more, as beginner, framing and compositions are likely to be the skills that take the longest to hone. With a larger-sized image, you can crop creatively for different feels and still maintain a decent size image.
Wait… aren’t high pixel density mean more noise and hence poorer image quality??? Nikon has done well to keep the noise pretty well under the hood.

Which to Choose?
For a beginner or an experienced amateur looking for a "light" DSLR, the Nikon D3200 is a very good camera. Of course, the swivel screen for video shooting will push you more towards the Nikon D5100 (or upcoming successor). As for price, Nikon D3200 would be the smarter choice.

Get the Nikon D3200 if you are working on improving your shooting, want easy DSLR quality shots or a red DSLR from Nikon
Get the Nikon D5100 if you are planning to do lots of DSLR videography

Writer’s Profile:
Gordon Summers is an engineer working in the renewal energy industry. With a strong passion for nature and beauty in general, he enjoys photographing landscapes and portraits especially when hiking or travelling to the countryside. He first embraced photography at the age of seven and while he has a wealth of experience shooting both film and digital, he currently only shoots digital and writing review articles for DigitalRev.
Resource: http://www.digitalrev.com/