Updated (March, 2012): Compare the Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro vs Nikon D3200

Nikon D3100
Winner
Nikon D3100

46

vs
Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro

34
 
 
 
 

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3100

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 24fps
Screen size
 Large screen
3.0"
Live view
 Has live view
Preview your photos
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
 

Reasons to buy the Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro

Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
13.5 EV
Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.60x
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Fastest shutter speed
 Fast shutter speed
1/8000 of a second
 
Differences | Recommendations | Similarities | Competitors | Appearance | Discussion

differences

Advantages of the Fujifilm S5 Pro
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13.5 EV vs 11.3 EV
Help
 2.2 f-stops more dynamic range
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.60x vs 0.51x
Help
 Around 40% larger viewfinder
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
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro Learn more about
the Fujifilm S5 Pro

Advantages of the Nikon D3100
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.5"
Help
 More than 20% larger screen
Live view Has live view Yes vs No
Help
 Preview your photos on the camera's screen before taking them
Color depth Better color depth 22.5 bits vs 21.6 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.9 more bits of color
Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 24fps vs None
Help
 Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 919 ISO vs 448 ISO
Help
 The D3100 has excellent image quality 1 f-stop higher ISO than the S5 Pro
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
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 67.0 vs 65.0
Help
 Almost the same
True resolution Higher true resolution 14.2 MP vs 12.1 MP
Help
 Capture around 20% more detail in your photos
Size Smaller 124x96x73 mm vs 147x113x74 mm
Help
 Around 30% smaller
Weight Significantly lighter 505 g vs 920 g
Help
 Around 50% lighter
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs None
Help
 Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Nikon D3100 Learn more about
the Nikon D3100
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro
34 vs 46
Explain scores
Nikon D3100 Nikon D3100
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3100. 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
Thickness Thin Help
2.9"
Built-in flash Each has a built-in flash Help
External flash not needed
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
230k dots
Light sensitivity (boost) One has boost ISO Help
S5 Pro:None
D3100:12,800 ISO
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
S5 Pro:12.1 MP
D3100:14.2 MP
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
3,200 ISO
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus Help
S5 Pro:None
D3100:Contrast detection
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Sensor size Very small sensors Help
S5 Pro:APS-C 23.0x15.5mm
D3100:APS-C 23.1x15.4mm
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
S5 Pro:65.0
D3100:67.0
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
S5 Pro:448 ISO
D3100:919 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Color depth Has slightly more color depth
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D3200 vs the FinePix S5 Pro
Compare the D3200 vs the D3100
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$595 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Color depth Has slightly more color depth
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the FinePix S5 Pro
Compare the D5100 vs the D3100
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$595 - $599 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the FinePix S5 Pro
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D3100
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$600 - $899 body only

$740 - $1,099 with 18-105mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D90 vs the FinePix S5 Pro
Compare the D90 vs the D3100
Nikon D3000

Nikon D3000

Entry-level DSLR

$436 - $456 with 18-55mm lens
Thickness Is thinner
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Compare the D3000 vs the FinePix S5 Pro
Compare the D3000 vs the D3100
Nikon D5000

Nikon D5000

Entry-level DSLR

$642 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5000 vs the FinePix S5 Pro
Compare the D5000 vs the D3100
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Color depth Has slightly more color depth
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D7000 vs the FinePix S5 Pro
Compare the D7000 vs the D3100

Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D200

Nikon D200

Pro DSLR

$1,319 body only
Color depth Better color depth
Autofocus Faster autofocus
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
True resolution Lower true resolution
Compare the D200 vs the FinePix S5 Pro
Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro

Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro

Pro DSLR
Storage slots Has more storage slots
Screen size Much smaller screen
Color depth Worse color depth
Compare the FinePix S3 Pro vs the FinePix S5 Pro
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,797 body only

$3,187 with 70-300mm lens
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Much better image quality
Thickness Significantly thicker
Size Larger
Compare the D800 vs the FinePix S5 Pro

Nikon D3100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$328 body only

$449 with 18-55mm lens
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Battery life Longer battery life
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
Supports 24p No 24p support
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D3100
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$540 body only

$638 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus
Color depth Worse color depth
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D3100

appearance

Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro Nikon D3100
Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro Nikon D3100
Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro Nikon D3100

discussion

Showing 2 comments

Avatar for Legacy Photography Legacy Photography (1:36 AM, August 30, 2011)
No contest in regards to the 2 camera's the S5 does not have the dedicated backing of someone like Nikon it has to use nikon mounts or other top end like canon. D3100 has battery grip option no clue where jonjo1 got his info from but all his points are void. The D3100 on every website beats the S5 pro hands down in nearly all features. Does not have better image quality or lighting than the D3100 its impossible view the specs!! you will see iam not lying and also D3100 has auto focus and 1080p HD video as a bonus. S5 pro is a donkey in comparision.
 
Jonjo1 (11:38 AM, January 27, 2011)
no contest, The 3100 is a DSLR entry level camera, it hasn't got half the features of the S5, the s5 produces better pictures out of camera.

The S5 is built on a weather sealed body, The S5 is a more robust camera with the option to add a battery grip, the D3100 has no such option.

The S5 works with virtually all nikon F mount lenses, has better lighting options and better colour.

There's no difficulty deciding which is the more superior camera. Even though the fuji is older, it is still better than the d3100.