What is the difference between a Nikon D5000 and D3100?

I know that the D3100 has 14ish megapixel, and the D5000 has 12ish. Is that a big difference, and does it matter that much? What are some other differences?

Oh, absolutely. I mean, you do need to impress your friends and what's 12 mpix these days.

The D5000 has a foldout screen, the D3100 has the latest nikon sensor and better video.

Here's a tip: http://www.dpreview.com/...byside.asp

You can neglect that megapixels, it is very little.

The differences can be found in the chart below:
http://www.dpreview.com/...ikond3100/
…
D3100 has 1080 video… D500 has 720
D3100 active D-lighting buttons are on/off… D5000 are Auto, Extra high, High, Normal, Low, or Off
D3100 has no bracketing fuction… D5000 does have
D3100, 3fps… D5000, 4fps
D3100, ISO 100 - 3200 • To ISO 12800 with boost… D5000, ISO 200 - 3200 to ISO 100-6400 with boost
D3100, 3" LCD, not articulated… D5000, 2.7", fully articulated

D5000 has a slightly bigger sensor
D3100 uses EXPEED2… D5000, EXPEED

For viewing pictures on the monitor, you don't need more than 5MP.

So 14 and 12 is the same. More megapixels doesn't make your photos sharper or crisper. Forget that, it's not true.

I'd go with the D3100, cause it's newer but same price and much better, less noise at higher ISO and better video.

Here's a post called 'Buying a DSLR, what's important, megapixels, features, brand, price, quality and which one to buy - http://www.the-dslr-photographer.com/2009/03/which-dslr-to-buy.html

Good luck! The site has many more tutorials, tips, reviews and guides!