What is the difference between a Nikon 1 and the Nikon D3200 camera?

I a complete beginner in DSLR cameras - never even used one. But I want to learn. I'm wanting to buy my first DSLR camera - but can't figure out which one to buy. I like the Nikon 1 camera series because of it's design and some of the 'quirky' photography features. But the Nikon D3200 seems like a better entry level DSLR. I want to know if I will be able to do everything with the Nikon 1 camera that I could do with the D3200. If I bought the Nikon 1 what would I NOT be able to do with it. Is the Nikon 1 a DSLR. I don't want to start learning more and find I need to buy the D3200 at a later date. So to cut a long story short what is the difference between the 2 cameras? :/

The Nikon 1 is not a DSLR. It does have interchangeable lenses, but that does not mean it's a DSLR. DSLR stands for Digital Single Lens Reflex, which has to do with the mirror system that shows you the view your lens is seeing directly through the viewfinder.

The Nikon 1 is a "mirrorless" camera, which means it has no such mirror. You can still see what your lens is seeing by using the LCD display on the back, but there's no eyepiece, or if it's one of the models that has one, it's digital rather than optical.

The D3200 would have better performance in lowlight.

The way Nikon 1 cameras are priced currently, I would say it's DEFINITELY a better value to get the D3200. There are way more lenses and accessories available for the D3200 than for any mirrorless system currently on the market, and your lenses largely determine the types of photography you can do; more so than your camera body.

Comparing the Nikon 1 cameras (J3, S1, J2, V2, J1, V1) with their 13.2mm x 8.8mm sensor to a D3200 with its 23.2mm x 15.4mm sensor is like comparing apples to oranges. Add in the fact that the Nikon 1 cameras are mirror-less while the D3200 has a traditional optical viewfinder and the difference increases. No optical viewfinder eliminates the Nikon 1 as a DSLR. It isn't.

A true DSLR like the D3200 will give you far more options now and in the future. It will literally take you years to fully exhaust the capabilities of the D3200 as you add lenses, an external flash and other accessories.

However… In my opinion you should also consider the Pentax K-30 which has several features not found on the D3200 and other DSLR models in its price range.

With the D3200 you must use Nikon's more expensive AF-S lenses if you want auto focus because the D3200 lacks a focusing motor. The K-30 has a focusing motor in the camera body so any Pentax auto focus lens ever made will auto focus on it. Advantage Pentax.

The Pentax K-30 is Weather Resistant (WR) as is the 18-55mm zoom offered with it. This means that you can take the K-30 out on a rainy day with no worries. The D3200 isn't Weather Resistant so taking it out on a rainy day isn't a good idea. Advantage Pentax.

The K-30 uses a pentaprism which is more expensive to manufacture and is brighter than the cheaper to manufacture and dimmer pentamirror used in the D3200. A brighter viewfinder is more useful in low-light situations and when using manual focusing. Advantage Pentax.

The K-30 has Pentax's version of Image Stabilization in the camera body. Any lens used becomes a stabilized lens. Nikon chose to put their version of IS (Nikon calls it VR) in some but not all of their lenses. With Nikon you have to pay again and again for the VR feature. Advantage Pentax.

For added creative possibilities the K-30 allows you to make double or multiple exposures on a single frame. The D3200 doesn't have this creative feature. Advantage Pentax.

Price: At B&H - http://www.bhphotovideo.com/...ovideo.com - the K-30 w/18-55mm zoom is $796.95 and the D3200 w/18-55mm zoom is $696.95. For a mere $100.00 you gain a lot of benefits with the K-30.

K-30 review: http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/pentax-k30/pentax-k30A.HTM