Updated (February, 2011): Compare the Nikon Coolpix S3100 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH25

Nikon Coolpix S3100

61

"The Coolpix S3100 generally produces well exposed images although on occasions the camera underexposed a touch in bright conditions with colours accurately reproduced."
ephotozine.com | talking about the S3100's image-quality

Reasons to buy the Nikon Coolpix S3100

Panorama
In-camera panoramas
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
Thickness
Thin
0.7"
Fastest shutter speed
Fast shutter speed
1/2000 of a second
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20

51

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20

Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Lens
Continuous shooting
Rapid fire
4.6 fps
Shutter lag
Barely any delay taking photos
290 ms shutter lag
Light sensitivity (boost)
High ISO (boost)
6,400 ISO
Longest exposure
Long exposures
60 seconds

differences

Advantages of the Nikon S3100

Size Significantly smaller 93x57x18 mm vs 100x56x28 mm
Help
Around 40% smaller
Wide angle Better wide angle 26 mm vs 28 mm
Help
Around 10% better wide angle
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
Thickness Significantly thinner 0.7" vs 1.1"
Help
More than 30% thinner
Weight Significantly lighter 118 g vs 178 g
Help
More than 30% lighter
Aperture Slightly wider aperture f/3.2 vs f/3.3
Help
At its widest zoom, the S3100's lens captures marginally more light (0.1 f-stops)
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 3,200 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
The S3100's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed 1/2000s vs 1/1600s
Help
20% faster max shutter speed
Lowest price Cheaper $131.95 vs $164.99
Help
The best price we've seen is $33 cheaper (more than 20% less)
Nikon Coolpix S3100 Learn more about
the Nikon S3100

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-FH20

Macro focus Significantly better macro capability 5 cm vs 10 cm
Help
Focus on subjects 2x closer to the lens
Zoom More zoom 8x vs 5x
Help
More than 2.5x more zoom
Image stabilization Better image stabilization Lens vs Sensor shift
Help
Less risk of blur
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 4.6 fps vs 0.7 fps
Help
More than 6.5x faster continuous shooting
Longest exposure Much longer exposures 60s vs 4s
Help
15x longer exposures
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 290 ms vs 570 ms
Help
Around 50% less delay when taking photos
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-FH20
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent compacts, and ignoring price

Nikon Coolpix S3100 Nikon Coolpix S3100
61 vs 51
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon Coolpix S3100. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a ultra compact with a travel zoom.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent compacts

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
S3100:$131.95
DMC-FH20:$164.99
Sensor type Lower-end sensor types Help
CCD
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Screen size Very small screens Help
2.7"
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
230k dots
Movie format Both shoot high resolution HD movies Help
720p @ 30fps

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon PowerShot A2200

Canon PowerShot A2200

Compact

$147

Aperture Has a slightly wider aperture
Macro focus Slightly closer macro focusing
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Canon ELPH 100 HS

Canon ELPH 100 HS

Compact

$106 - $189

Aperture Has a slightly wider aperture
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Weight Is slightly heavier
Canon ELPH 300 HS

Canon ELPH 300 HS

Compact

$148 - $179

Aperture Has a slightly wider aperture
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Weight Is slightly heavier
Nikon Coolpix S6200

Nikon Coolpix S6200

Travel zoom

$177 - $223

Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Olympus VG-120

Olympus VG120

Compact

$118

Aperture Has a slightly wider aperture
Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
Macro focus Slightly worse macro focusing
Image stabilization Has worse image stabilization

Nikon Coolpix S3100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon Coolpix S2600

Nikon Coolpix S2600

Compact

$122

Sensor size Slightly larger sensor
Movie format Does not take movies
Panorama Lacks in-camera panoramic stitching
Nikon Coolpix S3300

Nikon Coolpix S3300

Compact

$120

Macro focus Significantly better macro capability
Zoom Slightly more zoom
Aperture Narrower aperture
Panorama Lacks in-camera panoramic stitching
Canon PowerShot A3200 IS

Canon PowerShot A3200 IS

Compact

$122 - $174

Aperture Wider aperture
Macro focus Much better macro capability
Wide angle Worse wide angle
Panorama Lacks in-camera panoramic stitching
Nikon Coolpix S4100

Nikon Coolpix S4100

Compact

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Panorama Lacks in-camera panoramic stitching
Canon PowerShot A3300 IS

Canon PowerShot A3300 IS

Compact

$129

Aperture Wider aperture
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Shutter lag Much more shutter lag
Wide angle Worse wide angle

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH25

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH25

Travel zoom

$149 - $200

Weight Lighter
Lowest price Slightly cheaper
Continuous shooting Shoots slower
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH22

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH22

Travel zoom

$129

Screen size Significantly larger screen
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3

Compact

$147

Aperture Wider aperture
Size Smaller
Zoom Less zoom
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2

Ultra compact

$129

Size Significantly smaller
Aperture Wider aperture
Zoom Less zoom
Continuous shooting Shoots slower
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8

Travel zoom

$161 - $271

Zoom Significantly more zoom
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
Size Larger
Continuous shooting Shoots slower

appearance

Nikon Coolpix S3100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20
Nikon Coolpix S3100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20
Nikon Coolpix S3100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20

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