Nikon D3100 vs Olympus E-5

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Nikon D3100 vs Olympus E-5

APS-C 355.7mm²
14.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 3200

Go in depth with our full Nikon D3100 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the D3100.

4/3 224.9mm²
12.3 megapixels
ISO 100 - 6400

Go in depth with our full Olympus E-5 Review.

Succeeded by the Nikon D3200
Compare D3100 vs D3200
Compare Nikon D3200 vs Olympus E-5

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Differences

Nikon D3100 advantages over Olympus E-5

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
Larger sensor
APS-C vs 4/3
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Less expensive
$700 vs $1700 (MSRP)
Save money for lenses or accessories
Bigger pixels
~ 5.01 vs 4.29 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
D3100 test data on DxO Mark E-5 test data on DxO Mark

919 vs 519 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
Shoots 24p video
Yes vs No
Gives your movies a big-screen feel
Shoots 1080p video
Yes vs No
You'll want this if you shoot video
More pixels
14.2 vs 12.3 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Higher extended ISO
12800 vs 6400 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Olympus E-5 advantages over Nikon D3100

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

870 vs 550 shots
Capture more photos
Top deck display
Yes vs No
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
More cross-type AF points
11 vs 1
Cross-type AF points improve autofocus performance
Pentaprism viewfinder
Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Much better viewfinder picture fidelity
More dots on screen
921k vs 230k dots
Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
More viewfinder magnification
0.58x vs 0.53x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
Dual card slots
Yes vs No
Gives you more storage flexibility
Longer exposure
60 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Faster JPEG shooting
5.0 fps vs 2.9 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/8000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

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

Focus peaking
Neither provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Touchscreen
Neither provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in Wi-Fi
Neither provide
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Neither provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
External Mic Jack
Neither provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

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Buy the Nikon D3100

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Buy the Olympus E-5

Review Excerpt

Read our Nikon D3100 Full Review

We haven’t finished our review of the Olympus E-5, but we have extensive sample photos and a hands-on report.
See our Olympus E-5 First Shots

The Competition

Compared to Canon 50D

Nikon D3100

Canon 50D

$700
APS-C

Less expensive
Higher effective ISO

$1000
APS-C

Fast startup
More telephoto lens reach

Compare Nikon D3100 vs Canon 50D

Olympus E-5

Canon 50D

$1700
4/3

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Tiltable Screen

$1000
APS-C

Lens selection
Larger sensor

Compare Olympus E-5 vs Canon 50D

Compared to Olympus E30

Nikon D3100

Olympus E30

$700
APS-C

Lens selection
Larger sensor

$1299
4/3

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Tiltable Screen

Compare Nikon D3100 vs Olympus E30

Olympus E-5

Olympus E30

$1700
4/3

Longer stills battery life
HDMI out

$1299
4/3

Less expensive
Lighter weight

Compare Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E30

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

Olympus E-5

Sony DSLR-A380

$1700
4/3

Longer stills battery life
Top deck display

$849
APS-C

Less expensive
Larger sensor

Compare Olympus E-5 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

Olympus E-5

Sony A33

$1700
4/3

Longer stills battery life
Top deck display

$540
APS-C

Less expensive
Larger sensor

Compare Olympus E-5 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

Olympus E-5

Pentax K-r

$1700
4/3

Tiltable Screen
Longer stills battery life

$850
APS-C

Lens selection
Larger sensor

Compare Olympus E-5 vs Pentax K-r

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