Fujifilm FinePix
S3 Pro
 vs
Nikon
D5100

Updated (October, 2012): Compare the Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro vs Nikon D5200

Nikon D5100

58

  
Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro

20

  
Winner

Nikon D5100

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5100

Overall image quality
 Great image quality
80.0
Color depth
 Great color depth
23.5 bits
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
13 EV
Live view
 Has live view
Preview your photos
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
 

Reasons to buy the Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro

Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
13.5 EV
Storage slots
 More storage slots
2
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
 

differences

Advantages of the Fujifilm S3 Pro
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
 Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
 More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13.5 EV vs 13 EV
Help
 0.5 f-stops more dynamic range
Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro Learn more about
the Fujifilm S3 Pro

Advantages of the Nikon D5100
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.0"
Help
 More than 50% larger screen
Color depth Better color depth 23.5 bits vs 20.9 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 2.6 more bits of color
Overall image quality Much better image quality 80.0 vs 60.0
Help
 More than 30% better image quality
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 235k dots
Help
 Around 4x higher resolution screen
Live view Has live view Yes vs No
Help
 Preview your photos on the camera's screen before taking them
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,183 ISO vs 346 ISO
Help
 The D5100 has excellent image quality 1.8 f-stops higher ISO than the S3 Pro
Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 30fps vs None
Help
 Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
 Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
 CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
True resolution Higher true resolution 16.1 MP vs 12.1 MP
Help
 Capture more than 30% more detail in your photos
Size Significantly smaller 127x96x78 mm vs 148x135x80 mm
Help
 Around 40% smaller
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The D5100's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Weight Significantly lighter 560 g vs 930 g
Help
 Around 40% lighter
Viewfinder coverage Better viewfinder coverage 95% vs 94%
Help
 Almost the same
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs None
Help
 Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Thickness Slightly thinner 3.1" vs 3.1"
Help
 Almost the same
Nikon D5100 Learn more about
the Nikon D5100
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro
20 vs 58
Explain scores
Nikon D5100 Nikon D5100
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D5100. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a pro DSLR with a entry-level DSLR.

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Built-in flash Each has a built-in flash Help
External flash not needed
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
S3 Pro:94%
D5100:95%
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
S3 Pro:12.1 MP
D5100:16.1 MP
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus Help
S3 Pro:None
D5100:Contrast detection
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
S3 Pro:1,600 ISO
D5100:6,400 ISO
Sensor size Very small sensors Help
S3 Pro:APS-C 23.0x15.5mm
D5100:APS-C 23.6x15.6mm
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Thickness Is thinner
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
External mic jack Lacks and external mic jack
Compare the D3100 vs the FinePix S3 Pro
Compare the D3100 vs the D5100
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$599 - $899 body only

$799 - $1,099 with 18-105mm lens
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
Weight Is slightly heavier
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
Compare the D90 vs the FinePix S3 Pro
Compare the D90 vs the D5100
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Weather sealed Has a weather sealed body
Weight Is slightly heavier
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
Compare the D7000 vs the FinePix S3 Pro
Compare the D7000 vs the D5100
Nikon D5000

Nikon D5000

Entry-level DSLR

$600 with 18-55mm lens
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
External mic jack Lacks and external mic jack
Compare the D5000 vs the FinePix S3 Pro
Compare the D5000 vs the D5100
Nikon D600

Nikon D600

Pro DSLR

$1,997 body only

$2,397 with 24-85mm lens
Low light performance Is much less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D600 vs the FinePix S3 Pro
Compare the D600 vs the D5100
Nikon D300

Nikon D300

Pro DSLR

$1,764 body only
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Weather sealed Has a weather sealed body
Weight Is significantly heavier
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the D300 vs the FinePix S3 Pro
Compare the D300 vs the D5100
Nikon D80

Nikon D80

Entry-level DSLR
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
Autofocus Users slower contrast detection autofocus
Compare the D80 vs the FinePix S3 Pro
Compare the D80 vs the D5100

Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro

Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro

Pro DSLR
Screen size Much larger screen
Color depth Better color depth
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Compare the FinePix S5 Pro vs the FinePix S3 Pro
Nikon D200

Nikon D200

Pro DSLR

$1,319 body only
Color depth Better color depth
Screen size Much larger screen
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Compare the D200 vs the FinePix S3 Pro
Fujifilm FinePix S2 Pro

Fujifilm FinePix S2 Pro

Pro DSLR
Size Slightly smaller
Weight Lighter
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
Supports RAW No RAW support
Compare the FinePix S2 Pro vs the FinePix S3 Pro
Nikon D100

Nikon D100

Pro DSLR
Size Smaller
Viewfinder coverage Better viewfinder coverage
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
True resolution Significantly lower true resolution
Compare the D100 vs the FinePix S3 Pro

Nikon D5100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution
Color depth Better color depth
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Compare the D3200 vs the D5100
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$599 - $649 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D5100
Nikon D5200

Nikon D5200

Entry-level DSLR

$697 body only

$797 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution
Overall image quality Better image quality
Battery life Shorter battery life
Compare the D5200 vs the D5100
Canon 650D / T4i

Canon Rebel T4i

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $800 body only

$749 with 18-55mm lens
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Autofocus Faster video autofocus
Color depth Worse color depth
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the D5100

appearance

Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro Nikon D5100
Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro Nikon D5100
Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro Nikon D5100

discussion

Showing 1 comments

Chrishschan2008 (2:01 AM, March 29, 2012)
Should not use these two for comparison, old man and a young boy, they are at lest 5-6 years or more apart. If the D5100 still cannot match or higher with the S3, then Nikon technology should not in the being.
Fuji S3 pro still looks very professional when comparing with Nikon D5100 a cheapy look camera.