Nikon D5100

100

Winner

Nikon D5100

"Sophisticated AF system for the price"
dpreview.com | talking about the D5100's auto-focus
"On the whole the D5100's movies are look great, with smooth motion and impressively low noise in dim light."
dpreview.com | talking about the D5100's video-quality

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5100

Overall image quality
Great image quality
80.0
Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
13 EV
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Movie continuous focus
Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
External mic jack
External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35

52

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35

Size
Really small
Prosumer size 118x76x89 mm
Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Lens
Badge
Autofocuses shooting video
Contrast detection
Weight
Light-weight
367 g
Longest exposure
Long exposures
60 seconds

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D5100

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
4x higher resolution screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
Catch candid moments easily
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
More than 10% larger screen
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
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
Get that real film feel
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
True resolution Much higher true resolution 16.1 MP vs 9.8 MP
Help
Capture more than 60% more detail in your photos
Sensor size Much larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.6mm vs 1/2.3" 6.1x4.6mm
Help
More than 13x larger sensor
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
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
Battery life Longer battery life 660 shots vs 470 shots
Help
More than 40% more shots per battery charge
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
External flash Supports an external flash Yes vs No
Help
An external flash often produces better looking flash images
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
The D5100's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 4 fps vs 2.3 fps
Help
More than 70% faster continuous shooting
Viewfinder Has an optical viewfinder Pentamirror vs Digital
Help
Optical viewfinders save battery life and are more detailed
Thickness Thinner 3.1" vs 3.5"
Help
More than 10% thinner
Fastest shutter speed Significantly faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/2000s
Help
2x faster max shutter speed
Nikon D5100 Learn more about
the Nikon D5100

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-FZ35

Image stabilization Image stabilization Lens vs None
Help
Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Size Smaller 118x76x89 mm vs 127x96x78 mm
Help
Around 20% smaller
Weight Lighter 367 g vs 560 g
Help
More than 30% lighter
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
2x longer exposures
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-FZ35
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon D5100 Nikon D5100
100 vs 52
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35
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 entry-level DSLR with a super zoom.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
Battery life Great battery life Help
D5100:660 shots
DMC-FZ35:470 shots
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
D5100:Pentamirror
DMC-FZ35:Digital
Longest exposure Long exposures Help
D5100:30s
DMC-FZ35:60s
Thickness Quite thick Help
D5100:3.1"
DMC-FZ35:3.5"
Weight Heavy Help
D5100:560 g
DMC-FZ35:367 g
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Size Large Help
D5100:127x96x78 mm
DMC-FZ35:118x76x89 mm
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Weight Is slightly heavier
Autofocus Lacks autofocus
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$333 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens

Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Autofocus Lacks autofocus

Nikon D5100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens

Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen
Overall image quality Worse image quality
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Much higher true resolution
Weight Lighter
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Size Slightly smaller
Weight Slightly lighter
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens

Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder
Movie format Lower resolution movies
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Weather sealed Weather sealed
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150

Super zoom

$499 - $500

Movie format Higher resolution movies
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Size Larger
Weight Heavier
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ48

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ48

Super zoom

$370 - $426

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Supports RAW No RAW support
Size Slightly larger
Nikon Coolpix L120

Nikon Coolpix L120

Super zoom

$180 - $229

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Aperture Narrower aperture
Supports RAW No RAW support
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40

Super zoom

$411

Screen size Significantly larger screen
Zoom More zoom
Size Slightly larger
Weight Heavier
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28

Super zoom

$136 - $152

Lowest price Slightly cheaper
Weight Slightly heavier

appearance

Nikon D5100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35
Nikon D5100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35
Nikon D5100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35

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