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Nikon D3100 vs Olympus E-510

4.88 in
2.93 in
Nikon D3100 Digital Camera
Nikon D3100
5.35 in
3.6 in
Olympus E-510 Digital Camera
Olympus E-510
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
17
4.1 out of 5
6 user ratings
5 stars
66 %
4 stars
16 %
3 stars
16 %
2 stars
0 %
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 %
45
4.1 out of 5
45 user ratings
5 stars
31 %
4 stars
48 %
3 stars
20 %
2 stars
0 %
1 stars
0 %

Full Comparison

Sensor

Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Olympus E-510Olympus E-510
Sensor typeCMOSCMOS
Image sensor formatDXFour Thirds
Sensor size0.91 in0.68 in
Sensor photo detectors15.0 Mpx12.0 Mpx
Effective pixels14.0 Mpx10.0 Mpx
Image ratio w:h3:24:3
Max resolution4608 x 3072 px3648 x 2736 px
Other resolutions
  • 3456x2304
  • 2304x1536
  • 3200x2400
  • 2560x1920
  • 1600x1200
  • 1280x960
  • 1024x768
  • 640x480

Image

Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Olympus E-510Olympus E-510
ISO
  • 100
  • 200
  • 400
  • 800
  • 1600
  • 3200
  • Auto
1600
ISO Autoyesyes
ISO minimum100100
ISO maximum128001600
Maximum image resolution4608 x 3072 px3648 x 2736 px
White balance presets128
White balance modes
  • Auto
  • Manual
  • Auto
  • Custom
  • Daylight
  • Fluorescent
  • Manual
  • Shade
  • Tungsten
Custom white balanceyesyes
Supported image file formats
  • JPG
  • RAW
  • JPEG
  • RAW
  • TIFF
Photo effectsBlack&White
  • Black&White
  • Sepia
  • Vivid
Image stabilizernoyes
Image stabilization typeNoSensor-shift
Supported aspect ratios16:94:3
Uncompressed formatRAWRAW
AEB/HDR supportnoyes

Optics and focus

Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Olympus E-510Olympus E-510
Lens mountNikon-AFFour Thirds
Magnification (Crop factor)1.5 x2.0 x
AF assist (auto-focus assist light)LampFlash
Focus adjustmentAutoManual
Contrast autofocusyesno
Focal length multiplier1.5x2x
AutofocusSingle Auto Focus
  • Continuous
  • Single
Auto Focus (AF) lockyesyes
Manual focusyesyes
Auto Focus (AF) assist beamyesyes
Number of focus points113
Max number of AF points (incl. assistant)113
Image stabiliserLens based onlyBuilt-in
Phase detection autofocusyesyes

Screen and viewfinder

Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Olympus E-510Olympus E-510
Screen size3.0 in2.5 in
Articulated LCDnono
Screen technologyLCDLCD
Screen dots230000230000
Touch screennono
Live viewyesyes
ViewfinderOptical
Optical
Viewfinder coverage95.0 %95.0 %
Viewfinder magnification0.8 x0.92 x
Separate info displaynono

Photography features

Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Olympus E-510Olympus E-510
Camera shutter type
  • Electronic
  • Mechanical
Electronic
Minimum shutter speed30.0 s60.0 s
Maximum shutter speed1.0 s1.0 s
Shutter priorityyesyes
Aperture priorityyesyes
Exposure compensation plus55
Exposure compensation minus-5-5
Expousure compensation steps1/31/3
Continuous shootingyesyes
Self-timer delay10.0 s12.0 s
Histogramyesyes
Flash sync speed1/200s1/180s
Built-in flashyesyes
Flash range1212
Flash modes
  • Auto
  • Flash OFF
  • Redeye Reduction
  • Slow Sync
  • Auto
  • Fill-in Flash
  • Manual
  • Redeye Reduction
  • Slow Sync
External flash connectionHot shoeHot shoe
External flashyesyes
Continuous drive3.0 fps3.0 fps
Scene modes
  • Children
  • Close-up
  • Portrait
  • Beach
  • Candlelight
  • Children
  • Close-up
  • Documents
  • Fireworks
  • Night
  • Night landscape
  • Night portrait
  • Panorama
  • Portrait
  • Sports
  • Sunset
  • Landscape
Self-timeryesyes
Manual settingsyesyes
Speed (JPEG)3.0 fps3.0 fps
Speed (RAW)3.0 fps3.0 fps

Videography features

Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Olympus E-510Olympus E-510
Video recordingyesno
Camera playback
  • Highlights
  • Movie
  • Single image
  • Slide show
  • Thumbnails
Slide show

Design

Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Olympus E-510Olympus E-510
Body typeSLRMid-size SLR
Body materialPlasticPlastic
Colour of product
  • Black
  • Red
Black
Anti-dust systemyesyes
Environmentally sealednono

Dimensions

Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Olympus E-510Olympus E-510
Weight16.05 oz16.23 oz
Width4.88 in5.35 in
Height2.93 in3.6 in
Depth3.78 in2.2 in

Storage

Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Olympus E-510Olympus E-510
Compatible memory cards
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
  • CF
  • MicroDrive
  • xD
Storage types
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
  • Compact Flash Type I/II
  • xD Picture Card

Power

Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Olympus E-510Olympus E-510
Battery life (CIPA)550650
Battery technology
Lithium-Ion
Lithium-Ion

Connectivity

Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Olympus E-510Olympus E-510
HDMIyesno
USB version2.02.0
DC-in jackyesno
Remote controlyesyes
PictBridgeyesno
NFCnono
Wireless network (Wi-Fi)nono
Firewirenono

Other features

Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Olympus E-510Olympus E-510
GPSyesno
Orientation sensoryesyes
Calendaryesyes
Image editing modes
  • Rotating
  • Trimming
Resizing

Pros & Cons

Pros
      Cons

          Often compared with Nikon D3100

          Often compared with Olympus E-510