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Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5000

4.88 in
2.93 in
Nikon D3100 Digital Camera
Nikon D3100
5.0 in
4.09 in
Nikon D5000 Digital Camera
Nikon D5000
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
34
4.0 out of 5
20 user ratings
5 stars
50 %
4 stars
35 %
3 stars
5 %
2 stars
10 %
1 stars
0 %
Read editorial reviews
User rating
71
3.8 out of 5
71 user ratings
5 stars
35 %
4 stars
23 %
3 stars
26 %
2 stars
14 %
1 stars
0 %
41
3.9 out of 5
41 user ratings
5 stars
26 %
4 stars
43 %
3 stars
21 %
2 stars
7 %
1 stars
0 %

Video Comparisons (1)

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Full Comparison

Sensor

Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Nikon D5000Nikon D5000
Sensor typeCMOSCMOS
Image sensor formatDXDX
Sensor size0.91 in0.93 in
Sensor photo detectors15.0 Mpx13.0 Mpx
Effective pixels14.0 Mpx12.0 Mpx
Image ratio w:h3:23:2
Max resolution4608 x 3072 px4288 x 2848 px
Other resolutions
  • 3456x2304
  • 2304x1536
  • 3216x2136
  • 2144x1424
ProcessorExpeed 2Expeed

Image

Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Nikon D5000Nikon D5000
ISO
  • 100
  • 200
  • 400
  • 800
  • 1600
  • 3200
  • Auto
  • 200
  • 400
  • 800
  • 1600
  • 3200
ISO Autoyesyes
ISO minimum100200
ISO maximum128003200
Boosted ISO maximum128006400
Maximum image resolution4608 x 3072 px4288 x 2848 px
White balance presets1212
White balance modes
  • Auto
  • Manual
  • Auto
  • Cloudy
  • Flash
  • Fluorescent
  • Incandescent
  • Manual
  • Shade
  • Sunny
Custom white balanceyesyes
Supported image file formats
  • JPG
  • RAW
  • JPG
  • RAW
Photo effectsBlack&White
  • Black&White
  • Sepia
Image stabilizernono
Image stabilization typeNoNo
Uncompressed formatRAWRAW
AEB/HDR supportnoyes

Optics and focus

Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Nikon D5000Nikon D5000
Lens mountNikon-AFNikon F
Optical zoom3.0 x5.8 x
Magnification (Crop factor)1.5 x1.5 x
Maximum aperture3.53.5
AF assist (auto-focus assist light)LampLamp
Focus adjustmentAutoAuto/Manual
Contrast autofocusyesyes
Autofocus in recording modeyesno
Focal length multiplier1.5x1.5x
AutofocusSingle Auto Focus
  • Face detection
  • Servo Auto Focus
  • Single Auto Focus
Auto Focus (AF) lockyesyes
Manual focusyesyes
Auto Focus (AF) assist beamyesyes
Number of focus points1111
Max number of AF points (incl. assistant)1111
Image stabiliserLens based onlyLens based only
Filter diameter2.05 in2.05 in
Phase detection autofocusyesyes

Screen and viewfinder

Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Nikon D5000Nikon D5000
Screen size3.0 in2.7 in
Articulated LCDnoyes
Screen technologyLCDLCD
Screen dots230000230000
Touch screennono
Field of view95.0 %100.0 %
Live viewyesyes
ViewfinderOptical
Optical
Viewfinder coverage95.0 %95.0 %
Viewfinder magnification0.8 x0.78 x
Eye relief0.71 in0.7 in
Separate info displaynono

Photography features

Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Nikon D5000Nikon D5000
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
Histogramyesyes
WB BracketingNo
Yes
Subject / scene modesyesyes
Flash sync speed1/200s1/200s
Built-in flashyesyes
Flash range1217
Flash modes
  • Auto
  • Flash OFF
  • Redeye Reduction
  • Slow Sync
  • Redeye Reduction
  • Slow Sync
External flash connectionHot shoeHot shoe
Flash metering systemi-TTLi-TTL
External flashyesyes
Continuous drive3.0 fps4.0 fps
Scene modes
  • Children
  • Close-up
  • Portrait
  • Beach
  • Candlelight
  • Children
  • Close-up
  • Dawn
  • Dusk
  • Food
  • Night landscape
  • Night portrait
  • Party
  • Pet
  • Portrait
  • Snow
  • Sports
  • Sunset
  • Landscape
Self-timeryesyes
Metering modes
  • Multi
  • Center-weighted
  • Average
  • Multi
  • Center-weighted
  • Spot
Manual settingsyesyes
Speed (JPEG)3.0 fps4.0 fps
Speed (RAW)3.0 fps4.0 fps

Videography features

Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Nikon D5000Nikon D5000
Maximum resolution1920 x 1080 px1280 x 720 px
Video recordingyesyes
Recording resolutions1280.0 px
  • 640 x 424
  • 1280 x 720
HD typeFull HDHD
Supported video file formats
  • AVC
  • H.264
  • MOV
  • MPEG-4
AVI
Analog signal format system
  • NTSC
  • PAL
NTSC
Camera playback
  • Highlights
  • Movie
  • Single image
  • Slide show
  • Thumbnails
Single image
Max frame rate (highest resolution)24.0 fps24.0 fps
Motion JPEG frame rate30.0 fps24.0 fps

Audio features

Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Nikon D5000Nikon D5000
Built-in microphonenoyes
Microphone typeMonoMono
Audio systemMonoMono

Design

Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Nikon D5000Nikon D5000
Body typeSLRSLR
Body materialPlasticPlastic
Colour of product
  • Black
  • Red
Black
Anti-dust systemyesyes
Environmentally sealednono

Dimensions

Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Nikon D5000Nikon D5000
Weight16.05 oz19.75 oz
Width4.88 in5.0 in
Height2.93 in4.09 in
Depth3.78 in3.15 in

Storage

Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Nikon D5000Nikon D5000
Compatible memory cards
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
  • SD
  • SDHC
Memory slots11
Storage types
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
  • SD
  • SDHC
Camera file system
  • DCF 2.0
  • DPOF 1.1
  • Exif 2.21
  • DCF 2.0
  • DPOF 1.1
  • Exif 2.21

Power

Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Nikon D5000Nikon D5000
Power source type
  • AC
  • Battery
  • AC
  • Battery
  • USB
Battery life (CIPA)550510
Battery technology
Lithium-Ion
Lithium-Ion
Number of batteries supported11
AC adapter includedyesyes

Connectivity

Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Nikon D5000Nikon D5000
HDMIyesyes
HDMI ports quantity11
USB version2.02.0
WirelessEye-Fi ConnectedEye-Fi Connected
DC-in jackyesyes
Remote controlyesyes
PictBridgeyesyes
NFCnono
Wireless network (Wi-Fi)nono
Bluetoothnono
Firewirenono

Other features

Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Nikon D5000Nikon D5000
GPSyesno
Orientation sensoryesyes
Calendaryesyes
Energy Star certifiednono
Tripod mounting supportedyesyes
Image editing modes
  • Rotating
  • Trimming
Trimming

Pros & Cons

Pros
      Cons

          Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5000 - User Opinions

          • hong
            over 1 year ago
            Nikon D3100 comes with a 3″ LCD screen, while Nikon D5000 comes with a 2.7″ swivel screen. Nikon D5000 allows bracketing, while the D3100 does not (bad for those who shoot HDR). Nikon D3100 is classified as an entry-level DSLR, while Nikon D5000 is classified as an upper-entry-level DSLR.Sep 23, 2018
          • What's the difference between products? Share your opinion.

          Often compared with Nikon D3100

          Often compared with Nikon D5000