Updated (February, 2011): Compare the Nikon Coolpix S3100 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5

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
Fastest shutter speed
Fast shutter speed
1/2000 of a second
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3

55

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3

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

differences

Advantages of the Nikon S3100

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
Size Smaller 93x57x18 mm vs 98x55x24 mm
Help
More than 20% smaller
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
Weight Significantly lighter 118 g vs 165 g
Help
Around 30% lighter
Thickness Thinner 0.7" vs 0.9"
Help
More than 20% thinner
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed 1/2000s vs 1/1600s
Help
20% faster max shutter speed
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $131.95 vs $146.99
Help
The best price we've seen is $15 cheaper (more than 10% less)
Nikon Coolpix S3100 Learn more about
the Nikon S3100

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-FH3

Aperture Wider aperture f/2.8 vs f/3.2
Help
At its widest zoom, the DMC-FH3's lens captures marginally more light (0.4 f-stops)
Macro focus Significantly better macro capability 5 cm vs 10 cm
Help
Focus on subjects 2x closer to the lens
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 5.5 fps vs 0.7 fps
Help
Around 8x faster continuous shooting
Image stabilization Better image stabilization Lens vs Sensor shift
Help
Less risk of blur
Longest exposure Much longer exposures 60s vs 4s
Help
15x longer exposures
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 310 ms vs 570 ms
Help
Around 50% less delay when taking photos
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-FH3
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent compacts, and ignoring price

Nikon Coolpix S3100 Nikon Coolpix S3100
61 vs 55
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3
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 compact.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent compacts

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
S3100:$131.95
DMC-FH3:$146.99
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
Zoom Poor zoom Help
5x

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon PowerShot A2200

Canon PowerShot A2200

Compact

$147

Macro focus Slightly closer macro focusing
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Canon PowerShot A3200 IS

Canon PowerShot A3200 IS

Compact

$122 - $174

Macro focus Slightly closer macro focusing
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Light sensitivity (boost) Lacks boost light sensitivity
Canon PowerShot A3300 IS

Canon PowerShot A3300 IS

Compact

$129

Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
Macro focus Slightly closer macro focusing
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Light sensitivity (boost) Lacks boost light sensitivity
Canon ELPH 300 HS

Canon ELPH 300 HS

Compact

$148 - $179

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Wide angle Has a slightly wider wide angle lens
Weight Is slightly heavier
Nikon Coolpix L26

Nikon Coolpix L26

Compact

$100

Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Canon PowerShot A2300 IS

Canon PowerShot A2300 IS

Compact

$129

Macro focus Slightly closer macro focusing
Wide angle Has a slightly narrower wide angle lens
Sony Cybershot DSC-W560

Sony Cybershot W560

Compact

$116

Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Wide angle Has a slightly narrower wide angle lens

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 ELPH 100 HS

Canon ELPH 100 HS

Compact

$106 - $189

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Supports 24p Supports 24p
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

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8

Compact

$149

Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Continuous shooting Shoots slower
True resolution Lower true resolution
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2

Ultra compact

$129

Size Smaller
Thickness Thinner
Aperture Narrower aperture
Continuous shooting Shoots slower
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20

Travel zoom

$165 - $199

Zoom More zoom
Aperture Narrower aperture
Size Larger
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH1

Compact

$122

Size Slightly smaller
Thickness Slightly thinner

appearance

Nikon Coolpix S3100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3
Nikon Coolpix S3100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3
Nikon Coolpix S3100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3

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