asjohnston3 Loc: Irving, TX

I'm getting ready to buy my 1st DSLR and have narrowed it down to the D5100 & the D3200. My question is about megapixels. One argument says that the 16 mp in the D5100 is optimum for the DX sensors used in both cameras and that the 24 mp in the D3200 will just create more 'noise' - especially at high ISO's. Another argument is that Nikon has done a pretty good job of cleaning up the pixel separation in the D3200 and 24 mp gives you more image to work with and more opportunities to crop. I would really appreciate feedback on the 'noise' issue. I'm stepping up from a Coolpix L810. Anything over ISO 800 is pointless with it and night photography is generally pretty bad so the 'noise' thing is pretty important to me. I need to figure this out before I heat up my card.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

Foe three years, I have used a D5000 dedicated to my macro set-up, and a D90 for my general photography. Both use the same 12.2Mp sensor. For my macro set-up, I am going to upgrade to the D5200 with 24Mp sensor, now that the new D5300 should bring down prices. I did considered the D3200 with 24Mp, but am looking forward to a more affordable D5200. The D5100 is 16Mp. I have never read about noise concerns with Nikon cameras, which used excellent Sony sensors up until this year.

Severe cropping is quite common in macro-photography, so pixel count & IQ are very important.

IR Jim Loc: St. Louis

In my opinion I would choose the D5100. Low light photography is important to me and the D5100 would perform a bit better. I don't do macro and I don't print huge posters so the 24mp is not a huge selling point to me. In fact, someone please correct me if I am wrong, but I think the increased pixel density on the D3200 would cause it to become diffraction limited much sooner than the D5100. This would result in softer images at higher F-stops.

I have a D3100 and it performed well for me doing night photography and even astrophotography. It's comparable to the D5100 performance.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

Do you have any legitimate references to back-up this claim?

Bigfoot73 Loc: Canada

D5100 is class higher than D3200, so if you are looking just for more MP and simpler options than D3200 is your choice, on the other hand if you are looking for camera with options for more creativity than definitely go with D5100.
I had this dilemma last year, and ended with D5100 which I love. I have worked with D3200 just to see the feeling, and it is after all very good camera BUT higher class is higher class.
A week ago ended buying D200 (10 MP) just because its' performance is way above the entry class. What I can do with D200 in a split second will take me 10-15 second going through the menus in D5100. Not to mention the lens compatibility and missing AF motor on the 3xxx and 5xxx class.
It is after all your choice. There is definitely no noise issue, especially with this generation of Nikon and average user. Think twice what do you need the camera for and than make the cut. .. Maybe you will end up with used D300 :-)))

if you have any specific question regarding my experience feel free to message me or post a question here.

Good luck and enjoy your new camera whatever it is.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

IR Jim Loc: St. Louis

I did not have a reference when I wrote that post. It just seemed logical that the smaller pixel size of the D3200 would also increase diffraction.

I looked around this morning and found this to support my claim:

http://www.btobey.com/nikon/d3200-review.php

http://briard.typepad.com/get_the_picture/2012/05/nikons-d3200-as-good-as-it-gets-for-700.html


Also I would like to add that the D3200 may be able reduce the effect of diffraction with way it processes the the information from the sensor. However those would just be corrections, diffraction is happening regardles of how the camera processes it.

juicesqueezer Loc: Okeechobee, Florida

Kinda says it all!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

If you decide on the D5100, look for a refurbished model. You can save $100 or more.

http://www.cameta.com/Nikon-D5100-Digital-SLR-Camera-Body-Factory-Refurbished-62313.cfm

DannyJS Loc: St. Helena Island

I'd go for the D5100 - or even a D5200; now that the D5300 is set to hit the stores prices on the D5200 should drop. The tie-breaker for me with the 5 series is the Vari angle LCD Screen; you'd never believe how useful this is when shooting from awkward angles. - Just set the camera to Live View, adjust your screen and you can shoot from almost any angle. (I'm the proud owner of a D5100 since August last year).

jvance Loc: Granbury, Texas

I have the D3200, and have not had any problems of any kind, great camera.

jim quist Loc: Missouri

If you are going to want a higher ISO get a full frame sensor. If you can get by with a tripod you can stay with a lower ISO. You get what you pay for, so add a 1.2 lens and you cant go wrong.

Bill Houghton Loc: New York area

The D5200 will do HDR built in the D3200 will not.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

Neither of your cited articles support your disparaging claim about the D3200 sensor.
Diffraction is a characteristic of small aperture, completely independent from sensor size, pixel count, or pixel density.
Read about Circular Aperture Diffraction here:
FAQ: Why are my Digital Images Sharper at f/8 than f/22?
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-59819-1.html

IR Jim Loc: St. Louis

I will reword what I said in order to clarify what I meant. I realize I did not convey it properly.

It just seemed logical that the smaller pixel size of the D3200 would also increase the susceptibility to diffraction.

As the physical pixel size decreases, the susceptibility to diffracted light increases.

I will reference below the same reference you have in your link.
http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/diffraction-photography.htm

The first tool on that site demonstrates the point I was trying to make. The D3200 is not listed but you could substitute the Sony SLT for the D3200 from the dropdown since the pixel sizes are nearly the same.

Here is a reference to the pixel sizes of the D3200 and D5100.

http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/dslr/d3200/spec.htm
Sensor size: 23.2 x 15.4 mm
Image size: 6,016 x 4000 pixels
Pixel size: 3.85µm

http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/dslr/d5100/spec.htm
Sensor size: 23.6 x 15.6 mm
Image size: 4,928 x 3,264 pixels
Pixel size: 4.78µm