Reasons to choose D3000
Released in 2009, D3000 has about 373 mm² of sensor area, 10.2 MP effective resolution, and a 536 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.
Side-by-side comparison
Nikon D3000
vs Nikon D5200
VS
Sensor area
373 mm²
D3000367 mm²
D5200- Area ratio
- 1.02:1
- Absolute difference
- 6 mm²
- Relative difference
- 1.7%
The D3000 has the larger sensor area. More area usually means greater light-gathering potential, though real image quality still depends on sensor architecture and generation.
These cameras were released 3 years apart. Consider sensor generation when comparing pixel metrics.
Key specification differences
D3000MetricD5200
10.2 MPEffective pixels24.1 MP
23.6 × 15.8Sensor23.5 × 15.6
6.05 µmPixel pitch3.9 µm
36.56 µm²Pixel area15.21 µm²
2.74 MP/cm²Pixel density6.57 MP/cm²
1.52Crop factor1.53
—Maximum video1,920 × 1,080
536 gWeight555 g
SDHC, Secure DigitalStorageSD/SDHC/SDXC
Lithium-Ion EN-EL9a rechargeable battery Li-ion batteryBatteryLithium-Ion EN-EL14 rechargeable battery Li-ion battery
Amber marks the value that is generally preferable in this comparison context. It is not an overall camera score.
How to choose between these cameras
The D3000 has the larger sensor area. The D3000 has the lighter body. The D5200 has the higher effective resolution. The D5200 is the newer release. Also consider the lens system and subjects you shoot.
Reasons to choose D5200
Released in 2012, D5200 has about 367 mm² of sensor area, 24.1 MP effective resolution, and a 555 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.