Compared to...
Here we compare the D3000 to the other cameras that potential customers might also be considering. The most obvious competitor to the D3000 comes in the form of Canon's venerable EOS 1000D. It is questionable whether the EOS 1000D will be on the market much into 2010, but - despite being one of the older models on the market - it is still very competitive on specification. The most significant difference between the Nikon D3000 and both the EOS 1000D and something like the Olympus E-450 or new Pentax K-x is that it lacks a live view function. Whether or not this is a serious omission depends entirely on the priorities of a particular photographer, but it won't go unnoticed in a sector of the market where this kind of feature plays such an important part in the purchasing decision.
| Camera | Kit price |
Live view |
LCD | Anti Shake |
Sensor (effective pixels) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nikon D3000 | $449 | No | 2.7" / 230k pixels | Lens option | 10.2 MP CCD (1.5x crop) |
| Canon EOS 1000D | $459 | Yes | 2.5" / 230k pixels | Lens option | 10.1 MP CMOS (1.6x crop) |
| Sony Alpha 230 | $429 | No | 2.7" / 230k pixels | In-body | 10.2 MP CCD (1.5x crop) |
The Nikon D3000 shares virtually the same body shell, and essentially the same ergonomics, as the D40, which was released in 2006. The D40 was Nikon's best selling DSLR until the D60 was released in 2008, and Nikon will be hoping that the D3000 is equally popular. Like the D60, D40x and D40, the D3000 is designed to appeal to photographers at all levels, but specifically to those that are buying their first DSLR. Here, we've compared the specifications of the D3000 against two of its key competitors in the current market - the Live View-equipped Canon EOS 1000D and the latest entry-level Sony offering, the Alpha 230.
Nikon D3000 advantages
- 11-point AF system (same as D5000 and D90)
- In-camera raw processing with preview
- Highly intuitive interface, user-friendly ergonomics
D3000 disadvantages
- No Live View mode
- No AF with older Nikon (or third-party equivalent) lenses without inbuilt motors
- No exposure bracketing or depth-of-field preview
 Nikon D3000 |
 Canon EOS 1000D |
 Sony Alpha 230 |
|
| Price (single lens kit) |
US: $449 [check price] | $459 [check price] |
$429 [check price] |
| Sensor | • 23.6 x 15.8 mm CCD • 10.2 million effective pixels |
• 22.2 x 14.8 mm CMOS • 10.1 million pixels |
• 23.7 x 15.6 mm CCD • 10.2 million pixels |
| Dust reduction | • Low pass filter vibration • Airflow Control System • Dust reference image |
• Anti-dust materials • Low pass filter vibration • Dust reference image |
• Anti-dust materials • Low pass filter vibration |
| Native image size | 4288 x 2848 (3:2 ratio) |
3888 x 2592 (3:2 ratio) |
3872 x 2592 (3:2 ratio) |
| Lens support | • Nikon F-mount (including DX) |
Canon EF (including EF-S) | • Sony Alpha/Minolta A-type |
| FOV crop | 1.5x | 1.6x | 1.5x |
| Body shake reduction | No | No | Yes |
| Live view | No | Yes, Contrast detect or Phase detect AF | No |
| File formats | • RAW (compressed) • JPEG (3 levels) |
• RAW (comp. lossless) • JPEG (2 levels) |
• RAW (comp. lossless) • JPEG (2 levels) |
| RAW+JPEG | RAW + JPEG (basic) | RAW + JPEG Fine | RAW + JPEG Fine |
| Auto focus | • 11 area TTL • Cross-type at center • Range: -1 to +19 EV |
• 7 area TTL • Cross-type at center (F5.6) • Range: -0.5 to +18 EV • Contrast detect AF (approx 950 selectable areas) |
• 9 area TTL • Cross-type at center (F5.6) • Range: 0 to +18 EV |
| AF illuminator | Built-in lamp | Flash strobe, must be raised | Flash strobe, must be raised |
| Color space | • sRGB • Adobe RGB |
• sRGB • Adobe RGB |
• sRGB • Adobe RGB |
| Metering sensor | • 420 pixel RGB sensor • 0 - 20 EV working range |
• 35 zone sensor • 1 - 20 EV working range |
• 40 zone sensor • 1 - 20 EV working range |
| Metering | • 3D Color Matrix Metering II |
• Evaluative • Partial • Center-weighted average |
• Multi segment • Center-weighted average • Spot |
| Exp. comp. | +/- 5.0 EV | +/- 2.0 EV | +/- 2.0 EV |
| EV steps | 1/3 or 1/2 EV | 1/3 or 1/2 EV | 1/3 EV |
| Sensitivity | • ISO 100 - 3200 |
• ISO 100 - 1600 | • ISO 100 - 3200 |
| Auto ISO | User definable maximum ISO and minimum shutter speed | Auto (100 - 800) | Auto (100 - 400) P,A,S Mode Varies in other modes |
| High- ISO NR | No (always on) | Yes (on or off) | Yes (on or off) |
| Shutter speed | • 30 - 1/4000 sec / Bulb • 1/200 sec Flash sync |
• 30 - 1/4000 sec / Bulb • 1/200 sec Flash sync |
• 30 - 1/4000 sec / Bulb • 1/160 sec Flash sync |
| Continuous shooting |
• 3 fps |
• 3 fps • Unlimited JPEG/Fine frames • 1.5 fps, 5 RAW frames |
• 2.5 fps • Unlimited JPEG/Fine frames • 7 RAW frames |
| White balance | • Auto • Twelve presets • Manual preset • Fine tunable |
• Auto • Six presets • Manual preset • Kelvin temperature • Fine tunable |
• Auto • Six presets • Manual preset • Kelvin temperature • Fine tunable |
| Flash | Electronic release pop-up | Electronic release pop-up | Mechanical release pop-up |
| Viewfinder | • Pentamirror • Eyepoint 18 mm • Frame coverage 95% • Magnification approx 0.78x • B-type Bright View Clear Matte Mark V |
• Pentamirror • Eyepoint 19 mm • Frame coverage 95% • Magnification approx 0.81x • Precision matte screen |
• Pentamirror • Eyepoint 18 mm • Frame coverage 95% • Magnification approx 0.83x • Spherical acute matte |
| LCD monitor | •3 " TFT LCD |
• 2.5 " TFT LCD • 230,000 pixels |
• 2.7 " TFT LCD • 230,400 pixels |
| Mirror-lockup | No | No | No |
| Other features | • In-camera retouching • Active D-Lighting • RAW Development • Guide mode • Stop motion movies |
• Multi-shot self-timer • Image verification data • Auto Lighting Optimizer • Remote Live view shooting (via USB) • Eye sensor • DOF preview |
• Wireless flash control • Dynamic Range Optimizer • Eye sensor |
| Storage | SD/SDHC card | SD/SDHC card | SD/SDHC /Memory Stick DUO |
| Battery | EN-EL9a (7.2 V, 1080 mAh) | LP-E5 (7.4 V, 1050 mAh) | NP-FH50 (7.2V 900 mAh) |
| Battery status | Battery life (3 stage) | Battery life (3 stage) | Battery life (percentage) |
| USB | USB 2.0 Hi-Speed |
USB 2.0 Hi-Speed |
USB 2.0 Hi-Speed |
| Vertical grip | No | BG-E5 (option) | No |
| Software | • Nikon Transfer • View NX |
• Canon DPP • Canon PhotoStitich • Canon ZoomBrowser EX • EOS Utility (Remote Capt.) |
• Picture motion browser • Image Data Converter SR • Image Data Lightbox SR |
| Dimensions | 126 x 97 x 64 mm |
129 x 98 x 62 mm (5.1 x 3.9 x 2.4 in) |
132 x 99 x 75 mm (5.2 x 3.9 x 2.8 in) |
| Weight (no batt) | 485 g (1.1 lb) | 475 g (1.0 lb) | 452 g (1.15 lb) |
