Updated (May, 2011): Compare the Nikon D5100 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

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
Low light performance
Low noise at high ISO
1,183 ISO
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
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2

35

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2

Touch screen
Touch screen
Less buttons
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
3D
Takes 3D photos
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
External mic jack
External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Badge
Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Weight
Light-weight
416 g

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D5100

Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 80.0 vs 53.0
Help
More than 50% better image quality
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
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 460k dots
Help
2x higher resolution screen
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
Get that real film feel
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13 EV vs 10.3 EV
Help
2.7 f-stops more dynamic range
Lens availability Much more lenses available 169 lenses vs 26 lenses
Help
6.5x more lenses available
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Color depth Better color depth 23.5 bits vs 21.2 bits
Help
Distinguishes 2.3 more bits of color
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 16.1 MP vs 12 MP
Help
Capture more than 30% more detail in your photos
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,183 ISO vs 493 ISO
Help
The D5100 has excellent image quality 1.3 f-stops higher ISO than the DMC-G2
Battery life Longer battery life 660 shots vs 390 shots
Help
Around 70% more shots per battery charge
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.6mm vs Four thirds 18.0x13.5mm
Help
More than 50% larger sensor
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
Startup delay Less startup delay 500 ms vs 1000 ms
Help
2x less delay when turning on
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 4 fps vs 2.6 fps
Help
More than 50% faster continuous shooting
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 273 ms vs 423 ms
Help
Around 40% less delay when taking photos
Viewfinder Has an optical viewfinder Pentamirror vs Digital
Help
Optical viewfinders save battery life and are more detailed
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $499.99 vs $614.99
Help
The best price we've seen is $115 cheaper (around 20% less)
Nikon D5100 Learn more about
the Nikon D5100

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-G2

Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Touch screen Has a touch screen Yes vs No
Help
Fewer buttons to worry about and direct interaction with camera menus
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
Size Smaller 124x90x74 mm vs 127x96x78 mm
Help
More than 10% smaller
Focus points More focus points 23 vs 11
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Weight Lighter 416 g vs 560 g
Help
Around 30% lighter
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
2x longer exposures
Thickness Slightly thinner 2.9" vs 3.1"
Help
Around 10% thinner
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-G2
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon D5100 Nikon D5100
100 vs 35
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2
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 mirrorless interchangeable-lens.

advice

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One person recommends the Nikon D5100:

" its all about ISO and better GLASS"

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
External mic jack You can plug a microphone into both of these Help
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Interchangeable lenses Both support interchangeable lenses, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
Many lenses to choose from
Sensor size Large sensors Help
D5100:APS-C 23.6x15.6mm
DMC-G2:Four thirds 18.0x13.5mm
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Sensor cleaning Self cleaning sensors Help
Avoids dust in your photos
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
D5100:Pentamirror
DMC-G2:Digital
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/4000 of a second
Longest exposure Long exposures Help
D5100:30s
DMC-G2:60s
Thickness Quite thick Help
D5100:3.1"
DMC-G2:2.9"
Weight Heavy Help
D5100:560 g
DMC-G2:416 g
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Size Large Help
D5100:127x96x78 mm
DMC-G2:124x90x74 mm
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
D5100:1
DMC-G2:0

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

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

True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Weight Is slightly heavier
Autofocus Lacks autofocus
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

External mic jack Lacks and external mic jack
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
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
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

Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
External mic jack Lacks and external mic jack
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$598 - $600 body only

$698 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

Size Is significantly smaller
Light sensitivity Much higher maximum light sensitivity
Viewfinder Doesn't have a viewfinder
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash

Nikon D5100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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 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
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens

Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Battery life Significantly longer battery life
Overall image quality Worse image quality
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$500 body only

$700 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Size Smaller
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Battery life Shorter battery life
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$433 body only

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Size Significantly smaller
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$849 - $997 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Battery life Slightly shorter battery life
Sensor size Slightly smaller sensor
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$376 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Size Significantly smaller
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$330 with 14-42mm lens

Weight Slightly lighter
Lowest price Slightly cheaper
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out

appearance

Nikon D5100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2
Nikon D5100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2
Nikon D5100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2

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