Upgrade Guide
Nikon Coolpix P950→Nikon D3100
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the Coolpix P950. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the D3100
-
StabilisationIBIS added — significant for handheld and video
-
Battery life~550 shots (CIPA) vs ~290 shots (CIPA)
Unchanged or similar
-
ResolutionSimilar (14MP)
Suitability by genre
Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.
| Genre | Coolpix P950 | D3100 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +1.1 | ||
| Street | +1.6 | ||
| Travel | +1.3 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +1.0 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — | ||
| Filmmaking | — | ||
| Documentary | +0.1 | ||
| Sports & Action | -0.2 | ||
| Landscape | +0.7 | ||
| Wildlife | -0.2 | ||
| Casual | +1.0 | ||
| Food | -0.4 | ||
| Macro | +0.5 | ||
| Architecture | +0.1 | ||
| Astrophotography | +1.9 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | Coolpix P950 | D3100 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £434 used | £35 used | |
| Released | 2020 | 2010 | ↓ |
| Sensor | 16MP 1/2.3-inch CMOS | 14.2MP APS-C CMOS | |
| Resolution | 16MP | 14MP | ↓ |
| Video | 4K UHD/30p, 1080p/60 | Full HD 1080p/24, 720p/30 | |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF with face detection and target tracking | 11-point phase-detect (1 cross-type) via viewfinder; contrast AF with face priority in live view | |
| Stabilisation | Lens-shift VR (optical, in the lens) | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | |
| Burst Rate | 7fps | 3fps | ↓ |
| Battery Life | ~290 shots (CIPA) | ~550 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 1005g (with battery) | 505g (with battery) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Not weather sealed | |
| Viewfinder | OLED EVF, 0.39", 2.36M dots | Optical pentamirror, 95% coverage, 0.8x | |
| Screen | 3.2" vari-angle LCD, 921k dots | 3.0" fixed LCD, 230k dots | |
| Mount | Fixed 83x Nikkor 24-2000mm equivalent f/2.8-6.5 | Nikon F-mount (DX) | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD slot | Single SD slot |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See Coolpix P950 and D3100 next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
Run the upgrade checker →
Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the D3100 against your specific genres — not just specs.
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