Nikon D3300 vs D3200 vs D3100: which camera should you choose? social vb4:13 AM

How do you choose between Nikon’s high-spec, affordable entry-level DSLRs? Find out in our Nikon D3300 vs D3200 vs D3100 comparison.

Nikon has used the CES show in Las Vegas to launch its latest DSLR, the Nikon D3300. This is an entry-level camera designed for beginners, but boasts some important developments and additions.
But Nikon’s existing D3000-series beginners models will also continue for now. So how does the new Nikon D3300 compare vs the D3200 and D3100? In our Nikon D3300 vs D3200 vs D3100 comparison we examine 15 key specifications to see how they differ and how significant these differences are likely to be.

Nikon D3300 vs D3200 vs D3100: 01 Sensor

 

Nikon’s D3000-series cameras all use a DX format (APS-C size) sensor, but the resolution varies from one model to the next. The Nikon D3100 has an older 14.2-megapixel sensor which performs well enough, but is outshone by the 24.2-megapixel sensors in the D3200 and D3300.
If your technique is good and you print your pictures large, you will see the difference in the definition. 24 megapixels, incidentally, is the joint-highest resolution of any non full frame DSLR – at any price.
The Nikon D3300 adds another twist, though – Nikon has dropped the OLPF (Optical Low Pass Filter) in this model, which should mean that it reproduces ultra-fine detail and textures a little better than the D3200.
Optical Low Pass Filters are used to prevent interference (moire) effects when you’re photographing fine patterns, but Nikon has found that this is no longer a serious issue with its high-megapixel DSLR sensors.

Nikon D3300 vs D3200 vs D3100: 02 Processor

All digital SLRs use an internal image processing engine, and Nikon’s is called ‘Expeed’. The D3100 is the oldest model here and uses an older Expeed 2 processor, the Nikon D3200 uses Expeed 3 and the D3300 features Expeed 4. The processor has an impact on both high ISO noise reduction and continuous shooting capability.

Nikon D3300 vs D3200 vs D3100: 03 Continuous shooting

 

The Nikon D3100 has a typical continuous shooting speed for a beginners camera of 3fps, but the D3200 offers 4fps – a useful gain.
But the Nikon D3300 is best of all, and able to shoot continuously at 5 frames per second. This is unusually fast for an entry-level camera and will make the Nikon D3300 better than the others for sports and action photography.

Nikon D3300 vs D3200 vs D3100: 04 ISO range

The newer Expeed processor in each model has an impact on the ISO range too. The D3100 is the worst here, offering a maximum ISO of 3,200.
This can be increased to ISO 12,800 in Hi 2 mode, but the quality goes downhill. The D3200 is slightly better, with a normal ISO range of 100-6,400, again expandable to 12,800, but the D3300 shows a clear improvement over both, with a range of 100-12,800, expandable to ISO 25,600. This is very good for a beginner-level camera.

Nikon D3300 vs D3200 vs D3100: 05 Kit lens

 

The Nikon D3300 itself has a number of useful improvements over its predecessor, but possibly the biggest news of all is that it introduces a new retracting 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR kit lens.
This has identical optical specifications to its predecessor, but is narrower and, when retracted, much shorter. This changes the overall size of the camera/lens combination considerably. Nikon’s D3000-series camera bodies have always been very small, but somewhat let down by their ungainly and bulky kit lens.
But the new D3300’s retractable kit lens puts this right, and closes the size gap to SLR-style mirrorless cameras like the Olympus OM-D E-M5 and Panasonic Lumix G6. The dimensions tell the story.
The old lens measures 73mm across x 79mm long and weighs 265g. Nikon’s new retractable lens measures 59.5mm x 66mm and weighs just 195g.

Nikon D3300 vs D3200 vs D3100: 06 Autofocus

Interestingly, Nikon has stuck to the same Multi-CAM 1000 11-point AF sensor for all three cameras, presumably to avoid overlapping with cameras further up the range. It’s a competent but basic AF module, with a single cross-type AF point in the centre.

Nikon D3300 vs D3200 vs D3100: 07 Shooting modes

In keeping with their beginner status, all three cameras come with Nikon’s Guide Mode, which walks you through the camera settings needed for particular kinds of photography.
Interestingly, though, the Nikon D3300 adds an Effects setting to the mode dial. Previously only seen on the D5000-series cameras, these offer 13 different special effects including a ‘Pop’ super-saturated colour mode, a Toy Camera mode and for the first time on a Nikon DSLR a new Panorama mode – though while Nikon claims this produces ‘high-resolution’ images, they aren’t at the full resolution of the sensor itself.
It’s interesting that the Nikon D3300 appears to be encroaching on the territory of the D5000-series Nikon DSLRs, which are the next step up in the range.

Nikon D3300 vs D3200 vs D3100: 08 Movies

On the surface, these cameras appear pretty much the same – all of them offer a full HD 1920 x 1080 pixel movie mode. In fact, though, they’re not the same.

The Nikon D3100’s processing power is stretched to the limit, and can only manage 24fps video at this resolution, while the Nikon D3200 offered faster 30p (progressive) and 25p frame rates. The Nikon D3300 takes it further still, though, adding 60p and 50p frame rates.
What this means in practice is that in addition to regular movies, you can now shoot half-speed full-HD movies to create high-res slow-motion footage.

Nikon D3300 vs D3200 vs D3100: 09 LCD display

All three of these cameras come with a 3-inch LCD display, but the one fitted to the Nikon D3100 is a low-resolution (by today’s standards) 230,000-dot screen.
The big step came with the D3200, which has a 921K-dot LCD display, and this is much sharper and crisper than the D3100’s. The screen on the Nikon D3300 is the same as the D3200’s before it.
It’s a really good display, in fact, but fixed in place – it doesn’t flip out and rotate like the screens on Nikon’s D5000-series cameras. This isn’t really a surprise, since the articulating screen is one of the selling points of the D5000-series cameras, and Nikon wouldn’t want the D3300 to steal their thunder.

Nikon D3300 vs D3200 vs D3100: 10 Memory

All three have a single SD/SDHC/SDXC memory card slot, but Nikon quotes UHS-1 card compatibility for the Nikon D3200 and D3300, which could prove an advantage for those shooting full HD movies – though for regular stills photography, UHS-1 compatibility is not really important.

Nikon D3300 vs D3200 vs D3100: 11 Wi-Fi

 

Nikon has only just starting building Wi-Fi capability into its cameras (the new Nikon D5300), but Wi-Fi capability has been available for a while in the form of the WU-1a adaptor. It’s small, inexpensive (£50/$60) and plugs into the camera’s accessory port.
It enables you to control the camera with your smartphone or tablet, transfer pictures and upload them to social networking and other sites from your smart device. It’s a really effective system, and cheap too. The Nikon D3200 and D3300 are both WU-1a compatible, but the D3100 is not.

Nikon D3300 vs D3200 vs D3100: 12 Battery

When Nikon launched the D5300, it introduced a ‘tuned’ version of its EN-EL14 battery – the EN-EL14a. It’s the same size and works in the same cameras (the D3000- and D5000-series models).
This new version offers a longer life between charges and is now used in the D3300 too, which can get 700 shots on a single charge, compared to the D3200’s 540 shots.
The D3100 can get 550 shots before it needs a recharge. Battery technology is might not be very exciting, but in this instance it does represent a very useful step forward.

Nikon D3300 vs D3200 vs D3100: 13 Dimensions

The D3200’s body is fractionally larger than the D3100’s by a millimetre or so in width and depth, while the Nikon D3300 body has shrunk slightly compared to the D3200’s, but the differences are so small as to be insignificant. All three are very compact and will feel more or less the same in the hand.
The real difference is the new retractable 18-55mm lens supplied with the Nikon D3300. This dramatically reduces the overall size of the camera/lens combination, and this will make the Nikon D3300 feel quite different – in a good way!

Nikon D3300 vs D3200 vs D3100: 14 Weight

The D3100 and D3200 bodies weigh the same, but Nikon has introduced a new ‘monocoque’ construction technique, first in the Nikon D5300 and now in the Nikon D3300. This results in a useful weight saving, and the D3300 is 45g lighter than its predecessors.
This isn’t much on its own, but when you factor in the new retracting lens, which brings its own weight saving of 70g, the difference increases to 115g – so you really will notice it.

Nikon D3300 vs D3200 vs D3100: 15 Price

As always with a brand new camera, the Nikon D3300 price tag is much higher than its predecessor’s, particularly since the older camera will always be discounted by this stage.
There is a large price differential between the D3300 and the D3200 now, just as there was between the D3200 and the Nikon D3100 when the Nikon D3200 was launched. This gap will close, but perhaps not for a few months.

Nikon D3300 vs D3200 vs D3100: Our conclusion

At first sight, the D3300 looks like a very small upgrade over the D3200, but as is often the case with Nikon launches, there are lots of small changes which add up.
The resolution is the same, but the removal of the Optical Low Pass Filter promises slightly improved fine detail rendition, the Expeed 4 processor brings a one-stop improvement in the ISO range and a 1fps boost in continuous shooting speed, and the new camera has an Effects mode previously found only on the more expensive D5000-series Nikons.
Perhaps most important of all, though, is the retracting kit lens. The D3300 is a little lighter than the D3200 and D3100, but the new lens slashes the overall package’s weight and size. The D3300 will feel like a very different camera compared to the other two.

Until the prices fall, though, it’s not the best value. That award has to go to the D3200, which offers a resolution unbeaten by any other APS-C format DSLR but also boasts a budget price tag.
The Nikon D3100 is cheaper still, but uses older sensor technology and can’t match the D3200’s speed and ISO range, and the saving hardly seems worth it.

Source: www.digitalcameraworld.com

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Review: Comparison Canon 5D MarkIII VS Canon 6D social vb3:12 AM

Now that Canon has two semi-professional full-frame cameras, the EOS 5D Mark III and EOS 6D, naturally photographers wonder which is the best model for them. As a former Technical Editor of EOS Magazine (the best magazine Canon owners could possible buy) I would like to share my insights.
But first, if you’re in the market for a full-frame EOS camera, let’s not forget the top of the range EOS 1D-X. This is a high-end, professional camera with a price tag to match. It’s big and heavy and built for the demands of a professional photographer’s life. Most photographers don’t need this much camera, but it’s interesting to look at because its size and price put Canon’s other full-frame cameras into perspective. Here’s a photo:

Big, right? The body alone weighs 1340 grams (nearly three pounds) and will set you back nearly $6800 USD+tax if you buy it from B&H Photo Video. The weight and price alone mean this camera isn’t suitable for most non-professional photographers, leaving Canon’s other full-frame models, the EOS 5D Mark III and EOS 6D, as the available choices.
Let’s compare - Canon 5D MarkIII vs the Canon 6D.

Key differences

Let’s start by looking at what could be the deciding factor for some people – price. The EOS 5D Mark III costs around $3299. The EOS 6D is $1500 less expensive at $1799 (body only prices). That’s a huge difference, so why would anyone choose the 5D Mark III over the 6D? Let’s take a look.

Size and weight

• The 5D Mark III weighs around 950g/2.1 lb.
• The EOS 6D is Canon’s smallest and lightest full-frame digital SLR. It weighs 755g/1.6lb (body only, but including memory card and battery). It is also slightly smaller.

I own an EOS 5D Mark II and I can tell you that it gets heavy when I carry it around all day. If you’re planning to carry a camera on a strap over your shoulder for hours at a time, then it makes sense to buy the lighter model, and use light lenses (such as the EF 50mm f1.4 lens in the photo below).

On the other hand, if you are a landscape photographer, keep the camera mainly in the studio, or just take it with you on location and use it for a couple of hours then pack it away again, the weight probably makes no difference.
Bottom line: If size and weight are critical, then go for the EOS 6D. But not before considering autofocus performance!

Autofocus

Autofocus performance is the major difference between the two cameras. It is a big factor if you are into photographing sports, action, portraits or any moving subject.

• The EOS 5D Mark III has a 61 point AF array with up to 41 cross-type AF sensors (depending on the maximum aperture of the lens mounted on the camera). Along with the EOS 1D-X, it has Canon’s most advanced autofocus system.
• The EOS 6D has an eleven point autofocus (AF) array with one cross-type AF sensor in the centre.

Cross-type AF points are more sensitive, and therefore focus more accurately, than other AF sensors. This is especially important if you work at wide apertures (i.e. between f1.0 and f2.8) as depth-of-field is so narrow at these settings.
As an example, let’s look at how it works with portrait photography. Imagine that you’re taking a portrait of someone with an 85mm lens set to f1.8. Accurate focus is critical as depth-of-field is very narrow at this setting – you may have less than an inch of sharpness to play with. The normal way to focus in this situation is to use the AF point closest to the model’s eye. The photo below shows how this works by overlaying a diagram of the EOS 6D’s AF array over a portrait. The single cross-type AF point in the centre is shown in green, and the AF point the photographer would have to use is in red:

You can see the problem right away. As the only cross-type AF point is in the centre, you can’t use it to focus unless the model’s eye is also in the centre of the frame. You have to use one of the less sensitive, and therefore less accurate, AF points at the edge of the array.
With the EOS 5D Mark III the story changes. With up 41 cross-type AF points available (shown in red), it is far more likely you will find one to cover the model’s eye. The end result is that you will get more in-focus photos.

Bottom line: If autofocus performance is critical, then (budget allowing) go for the EOS 5D Mark III.

Wi-fi and GPS

This is another major difference between the two cameras. However this time, and somewhat counter-intuitively, it is the EOS 6D that has the features and the 5D Mark III that does not.

• The EOS 6D’s built-in GPS lets you geotag your photos with the camera’s location as you take them. You can then use that to see where they were taken on a map, help organize or search your images in Lightroom, or as extra information if you sell your photos to a stock library. If you want to do the same with an EOS 5D Mark III, you have to buy a GPS unit separately.
• The EOS 6D’s built-in wireless lets you upload your photos via a local wi-fi connection to a computer as you take them (useful in a studio or even on location if you have a laptop with you), upload photos to Facebook, or remotely control your camera using a Smartphone app. Again, you have to buy a separate wireless unit, which comes built-in to a portrait grip, to do the same with an EOS 5D Mark III.

Bottom line: If you need GPS or Wi-fi, then buying the EOS 6D will save you a lot of money.

EOS 5D Mark III with EF 24-70mm f4 lens

Dual card slots

• The EOS 6D has a single card slot for an SD type memory card (it also accepts SDHC and SDXC cards)
• The EOS 5D Mark III has two card slots. One takes CF cards, and the other SD (plus SDHC/SDXC cards)

One benefit of dual card slots is speed. CF cards are faster, which helps give higher burst speeds and assists with recording movies.
Another is security. You can set the EOS 5D Mark III to save photos to both the CF card and SD card slots at the same time, giving you a back-up in case one fails. Bear in mind it will slow the camera down as it takes longer to write a file to two cards, but it may give you peace of mind on important shoots. I imagine wedding photographers will greatly appreciate this feature.
Having said that, if you look after your memory cards, and buy a reputable brand, they are highly unlikely to fail. Most memory card failures are the result of corruption caused by user error, such as removing a card from a reader while the computer is writing to it.
Bottom line: If dual card slots matter to you, then you need the EOS 5D Mark III.

Minor differences

There are lots of minor differences between the two cameras, so I’ve provided some links to in-depth reviews so that you can get more information before making a purchasing decision. You’ll also see some photos taken with both models. In the meantime, if you own or have used either of these cameras, why not tell us what you think in the comments. Why did you choose one or the other, and do you think you made the best choice?

Source: www.digital-photography-school.com

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