• APS-C 355.7mm2
  • 14.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • APS-C 366.6mm2
  • 24.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 32,000

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Differences

Nikon D3100 advantages over Sony A6400

  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Good
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 5.01 vs 3.92 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Fast startup
    ~0.40 vs 1.8 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 550 vs 410 shots
    Capture more photos

Sony A6400 advantages over Nikon D3100

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Shoot 4K video
    4K (UHD) vs 1080p
    Make sure you have a fast computer
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Yes vs No
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Yes vs No
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Yes vs No
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • External Mic Jack
    Jack vs No jack
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Newer
    6 years vs 14 years old
    Newer cameras often support more advanced features
  • Lighter weight
    519g vs 777g
    Lighter weight
  • More dots on screen
    922k vs 230k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • Less shutter lag
    0.12 vs 0.28 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • More viewfinder magnification
    0.70x vs 0.53x
    Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
  • More pixels
    24.2 vs 14.2 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Shoots 60p video
    Yes vs No
    A faster framerate can give you more editing options
  • Wider angle kit lens
    24 mm vs 27 mm
    Capture more of the scene with the included lens
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    11.0 fps vs 2.9 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos
  • Higher extended ISO
    102400 vs 12800 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Both provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Hot shoe
    Both provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Neither provide
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • Top deck display
    Neither provide
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • Dual card slots
    Neither provide
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video

User reviews

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Body Only (Black)
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Review Excerpt

The Competition

Compared to Sony DSLR-A380

Nikon D3100
Sony DSLR-A380
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Less expensive
  • $849
  • APS-C
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Tiltable Screen

Compare Nikon D3100 vs Sony DSLR-A380

Sony A6400
Sony DSLR-A380
  • $823
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Shoot 4K video
  • $849
  • APS-C
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Bigger pixels

Compare Sony A6400 vs Sony DSLR-A380

Compared to Sony A33

Nikon D3100
Sony A33
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Fast startup
  • $540
  • APS-C
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • In-camera panoramas

Compare Nikon D3100 vs Sony A33

Sony A6400
Sony A33
  • $823
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Shoot 4K video
  • $540
  • APS-C
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Bigger pixels

Compare Sony A6400 vs Sony A33

Compared to Pentax K-r

Nikon D3100
Pentax K-r
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Higher effective ISO
  • $850
  • APS-C
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Fast startup

Compare Nikon D3100 vs Pentax K-r

Sony A6400
Pentax K-r
  • $823
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Shoot 4K video
  • $850
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Sony A6400 vs Pentax K-r

Compared to Fujifilm X-T100

Nikon D3100
Fujifilm X-T100
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Bigger pixels
  • $599
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Focus peaking

Compare Nikon D3100 vs Fujifilm X-T100

Sony A6400
Fujifilm X-T100
  • $823
  • APS-C
  • Slower slow-motion
  • Fast startup
  • $599
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Sony A6400 vs Fujifilm X-T100

Compared to Sony A6100

Nikon D3100
Sony A6100
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Bigger pixels
  • $648
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Shoot 4K video

Compare Nikon D3100 vs Sony A6100

Sony A6400
Sony A6100
  • $823
  • APS-C
  • Higher extended ISO
  • $648
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive

Compare Sony A6400 vs Sony A6100

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