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Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D500

4.88 in
2.93 in
Nikon D3100 Digital Camera
Nikon D3100
5.79 in
4.53 in
Nikon D500 Digital Camera
Nikon D500
Available colors
Editiorial reviews
33
4.0 out of 5
19 user ratings
5 stars
47 %
4 stars
36 %
3 stars
5 %
2 stars
10 %
1 stars
0 %
Read editorial reviews
79
4.3 out of 5
35 user ratings
5 stars
65 %
4 stars
28 %
3 stars
0 %
2 stars
5 %
1 stars
0 %
Read editorial reviews
User rating
72
3.8 out of 5
72 user ratings
5 stars
34 %
4 stars
23 %
3 stars
26 %
2 stars
15 %
1 stars
0 %
57
3.9 out of 5
57 user ratings
5 stars
22 %
4 stars
49 %
3 stars
21 %
2 stars
5 %
1 stars
1 %

Full Comparison

Sensor

Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Nikon D500Nikon D500
Sensor typeCMOSCMOS
Image sensor formatDXDX
Sensor size0.91 in0.93 in
Sensor photo detectors15.0 Mpx22.0 Mpx
Effective pixels14.0 Mpx21.0 Mpx
Image ratio w:h3:23:2
Max resolution4608 x 3072 px5568 x 3712 px
Other resolutions
  • 3456x2304
  • 2304x1536
  • 4176x2784
  • 2784x1856
ProcessorExpeed 2Expeed 5

Image

Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Nikon D500Nikon D500
ISO
  • 100
  • 200
  • 400
  • 800
  • 1600
  • 3200
  • Auto
  • 100
  • 51200
ISO minimum100100
ISO maximum1280051200
Boosted ISO maximum128001640000
Maximum image resolution4608 x 3072 px5568 x 3712 px
White balance presets1212
White balance modes
  • Auto
  • Manual
  • Auto
  • Manual
Custom white balanceyesyes
Supported image file formats
  • JPG
  • RAW
  • JPG
  • NEF
  • RAW
  • TIF
Photo effectsBlack&White
  • Black&White
  • Neutral
  • Vivid
Image stabilizernoyes
Image stabilization typeNoNo
Supported aspect ratios16:94:3
Uncompressed formatRAWRAW + TIFF
AEB/HDR supportnoyes

Optics and focus

Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Nikon D500Nikon D500
Lens mountNikon-AFNikon F
Optical zoom3.0 x5.0 x
Magnification (Crop factor)1.5 x1.5 x
Minimum aperture3.53.5
Maximum aperture3.52.8
AF assist (auto-focus assist light)LampLamp
Focus adjustmentAutoAuto/Manual
Contrast autofocusyesyes
Autofocus in recording modeyesyes
Focal length multiplier1.5x1.5x
AutofocusSingle Auto FocusCenter
Auto Focus (AF) lockyesyes
Manual focusyesyes
Auto Focus (AF) points selection
  • Auto
  • Manual
Manual
Auto Focus (AF) assist beamyesyes
Number of focus points11153
Max number of AF points (incl. assistant)11153
Image stabiliserLens based onlyLens based only
Filter diameter2.05 in2.83 in
Phase detection autofocusyesyes

Screen and viewfinder

Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Nikon D500Nikon D500
Screen size3.0 in3.2 in
Articulated LCDnoyes
Screen technologyLCDLCD
Screen dots2300002359000
Touch screennoyes
Field of view95.0 %100.0 %
Live viewyesyes
ViewfinderOpticalOptical
Viewfinder coverage95.0 %100.0 %
Viewfinder magnification0.8 x1.0 x
Dioptre correctionyesyes
Diopter adjustment (D-D)-1.7 - 0.5-2 - 1
Eye relief0.71 in0.63 in
Separate info displaynoyes
Flip-out screennono

Photography features

Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Nikon D500Nikon D500
Shooting modes
  • Auto
  • Manual
  • Movie
  • Manual
  • Program
  • Shutter priority
Camera shutter type
  • Electronic
  • Mechanical
Electronic
Minimum shutter speed30.0 s30.0 s
Maximum shutter speed1.0 s1.0 s
Shutter priorityyesyes
Aperture priorityyesyes
Manual exposure modeyesyes
Exposure compensation plus55
Exposure compensation minus-5-5
Expousure compensation steps1/3
  • 1/3
  • 1/2
Auto exposure lockyesyes
Continuous shootingyesyes
Self-timer delay10.0 s
  • 2
  • 5
  • 10
  • 20
WB BracketingNo
Yes
Subject / scene modesyesno
Flash sync speed1/200s1/250s
Built-in flashyesyes
Flash modes
  • Auto
  • Flash OFF
  • Redeye Reduction
  • Slow Sync
  • Auto
  • Flash OFF
  • Redeye Reduction
External flash connectionHot shoeHot shoe
Flash metering systemi-TTLi-TTL
External flashyesyes
Continuous drive3.0 fps10.0 fps
Scene modes
  • Children
  • Close-up
  • Portrait
  • Beach
  • Candlelight
  • Close-up
  • Night landscape
  • Night portrait
  • party
  • Portrait
  • Sunset
  • Landscape
Self-timeryesyes
Metering modes
  • Multi
  • Center-weighted
  • Average
  • Multi
  • Center-weighted
  • Highlight-weighted
  • Spot
Manual settingsyesyes
Speed (JPEG)3.0 fps10.0 fps
Speed (RAW)3.0 fps10.0 fps

Videography features

Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Nikon D500Nikon D500
Maximum resolution1920 x 1080 px3840 x 2160 px
Video recordingyesyes
Recording resolutions1280.0 px
  • 1280 x 720
  • 1920 x 1080
  • 3840 x 2160
HD typeFull HD4K Ultra HD
Supported video file formats
  • AVC
  • H.264
  • MOV
  • MPEG-4
MOV
Analog signal format system
  • NTSC
  • PAL
NTSC
Camera playback
  • Highlights
  • Movie
  • Single image
  • Slide show
  • Thumbnails
  • Highlights
  • Movie
  • Single image
  • Slide show
Max resolution (highest frame rate)1280 x 7201920 x 1080
Max frame rate (highest resolution)24.0 fps30.0 fps
Max frame rate (regardless of res.)30.0 fps60.0 fps
Motion JPEG frame rate30.0 fps10.0 fps

Audio features

Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Nikon D500Nikon D500
Built-in microphonenoyes
Microphone typeMonoStereo
Audio systemMonoStereo
Supported audio file formatsPCMPCM

Design

Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Nikon D500Nikon D500
Body typeSLRSLR
Body materialPlasticPlastic
Colour of product
  • Black
  • Red
Black
Anti-dust systemyesyes
Environmentally sealednoyes

Dimensions

Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Nikon D500Nikon D500
Weight16.05 oz26.81 oz
Width4.88 in5.79 in
Height2.93 in4.53 in
Depth3.78 in3.19 in

Storage

Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Nikon D500Nikon D500
Compatible memory cards
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
  • MMC
  • SD
Dual memory card slotsyesyes
Memory slots12
Storage types
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
  • XQD
Camera file system
  • DCF 2.0
  • DPOF 1.1
  • Exif 2.21
  • DCF 2.0
  • Exif 2.3
  • RAW

Power

Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Nikon D500Nikon D500
Power source type
  • AC
  • Battery
Battery
Battery life (CIPA)5501240
Battery technology
Lithium-Ion
Lithium-Ion
Number of batteries supported11
AC adapter includedyesY

Connectivity

Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Nikon D500Nikon D500
HDMIyesyes
HDMI ports quantity11
HDMI connector typeMiniMini
USB portyesyes
USB version2.03.1
Microphone portyesyes
WirelessEye-Fi ConnectedBuilt-In
DC-in jackyesyes
Remote controlyesyes
PictBridgeyesyes
NFCnoyes
Wireless network (Wi-Fi)noyes
Bluetoothnoyes
Firewirenono

Other features

Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Nikon D500Nikon D500
GPSyesno
Orientation sensoryesno
Energy Star certifiednono
Languages support
  • CHI
  • CHI
  • CZE
  • DAN
  • DEU
  • DUT
  • ENG
  • ESP
  • FIN
  • FRE
  • ITA
  • JPN
  • KOR
  • NOR
  • POL
  • POR
  • RUS
  • SWE
  • TUR
  • ARA
  • BEN
  • BUL
  • CHI
  • CHI
  • CZE
  • DAN
  • DEU
  • DUT
  • ENG
  • ESP
  • FIN
  • FRE
  • GRE
  • HUN
  • ITA
  • JPN
  • KOR
  • NOR
  • POL
  • POR
  • RUM
  • RUS
  • SER
  • SWE
  • THA
  • TUR
  • UKR
Tripod mounting supportedyesyes
Tripod thread1.0 in1.0 in
Image editing modes
  • Rotating
  • Trimming
Trimming

Pros & Cons

Pros
      Cons

          Often compared with Nikon D3100

          Often compared with Nikon D500