Nikon D3100 vs D3000
The Nikon D3100 is the upgrade to Nikon’s entry level line-up, which was previously being held by the D3000. With the D3100, a number of enhancements have been introduced and the main difference between the D3100 and the D3000 is the resolution. The D3100 has a 14 megapixel sensor compared to the 12 megapixel sensor of the D3000. These resolutions are not really necessary for most people since most people prefer to shoot at resolutions of under 10 megapixels. But in cases where you want to capture a lot of detail, a higher resolution camera gives you a definite edge in the outcome of the photo.
Another significant improvement in the D3100 is the introduction of live view, a feature very common in point and shoot cameras. With the D3000, without live view, photographers need to get into awkward positions in order to frame their subjects properly through the viewfinder. The D3100 is able to display the same in its LCD screen, allowing the photographer to shoot without looking at the viewfinder.
The D3100 is also capable of recording videos up to a resolution of 720p. Video recording is a relatively new feature in DSLRs because of the complexities that are introduced along with it. This is why the D3000 is not capable of shooting videos and is only limited to shooting stills. The D3100, and even other DSLRs with video recording, tend to overheat the sensor when shooting video for extended periods of time. Thus, video recording is limited to a few minutes at a time, to allow the sensor to cool down a bit.
Then lastly, the D3000 lacks automatic chromatic aberration correction; a feature present in the D3100. Chromatic aberration occurs when the lens does not focus all colors to the same exact spot. This results in fringes that appear along the edges of your photo. The D3100 can automatically correct this in-cam and, thus minimizing its appearance in your photo. Since the D3000 cannot correct this in-cam, you need to use a photo editing software like Photoshop in order to rectify your photos.
Summary:
- The D3100 has a higher resolution than the D3000
- The D3100 has live view while the D3000 does not
- The D3100 is capable of recording video while the D3000 cannot
- The D3100 has automatic chromatic aberration correction while the D3000 does not