Nikon Coolpix
P100
 vs
Panasonic Lumix
DMC-FZ38

Updated (February, 2011): Compare the Nikon Coolpix P500 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38

Nikon Coolpix P100

70
"The P100 is definitely the current big deal in Nikon's Coolpix performance line."
digitalcamerareview.com | talking about the P100's overall-performance
"The overall control layout is simple and straightforward."
digitalcamerareview.com | talking about the P100's button-layout

Reasons to buy the Nikon Coolpix P100

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
High-speed framerate
 High speed movies
240 fps
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Sensor type
 CMOS Sensor
Better in low light
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38

57

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38

Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 118x76x89 mm
Light sensitivity (boost)
 High ISO (boost)
6,400 ISO
Weight
 Light-weight
397 g
Supports RAW
 Shoots RAW
Better editing
Longest exposure
 Long exposures
60 seconds

differences

Advantages of the Nikon P100
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video
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
Zoom Significantly more zoom 26.1x vs 18x
Help
 More than 2x more zoom
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
 More than 10% larger screen
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies 240 fps vs None
Help
 Capture events too fast for the naked eye and play them back in super-slow motion
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
 CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 10 fps vs 2.3 fps
Help
 Around 4.5x faster continuous shooting
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 460k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 2x higher resolution screen
Wide angle Better wide angle 26 mm vs 27 mm
Help
 Almost the same
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 3,200 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The P100's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
True resolution Slightly higher true resolution 9.8 MP vs 9.8 MP
Help
 Almost the same
Nikon Coolpix P100 Learn more about
the Nikon P100

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-FZ38
Supports RAW Shoots RAW Yes vs No
Help
 Digitally develop your own photos with precise image control
Image stabilization Better image stabilization Lens vs Sensor shift
Help
 Less risk of blur
Size Smaller 118x76x89 mm vs 114x83x99 mm
Help
 More than 10% smaller
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 6,400 ISO vs None
Help
 Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Longest exposure Much longer exposures 60s vs 8s
Help
 7.5x longer exposures
Weight Lighter 397 g vs 481 g
Help
 Around 20% lighter
Thickness Thinner 3.5" vs 3.9"
Help
 More than 10% thinner
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-FZ38
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent super zooms, and ignoring price

Nikon Coolpix P100 Nikon Coolpix P100
70 vs 57
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon Coolpix P100.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

NikonCoolpix P100
 Nikon Coolpix P100 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38
PanasonicLumix DMC-FZ38
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
1
1
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
2
1
Vote Vote
Features Low light image quality Low light image quality
Lack of noise, sharp details
1
0
Vote Vote
Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
1
1
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
2
0
Vote Vote
Autofocus performance Video focusing
Speed and accuracy
2
0
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
1
0
Vote Vote
Performance Image stabilization
Ability to reduce blur from hand shake
1
1
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent digicams

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Aperture Wide aperture Help
f/2.8
Zoom Great zoom Help
P100:26.1x
DMC-FZ38:18x
Macro focus Good macro capabilities Help
1 cm
Viewfinder Both have digital viewfinders Help
Digital
Thickness Quite thick Help
P100:3.9"
DMC-FZ38:3.5"
Weight Heavy Help
P100:481 g
DMC-FZ38:397 g
Size Large Help
P100:114x83x99 mm
DMC-FZ38:118x76x89 mm

Compared to recent super zooms

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.
External flash No external flash support Help
Less expandable

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon Coolpix P500

Nikon Coolpix P500

Super zoom

$319 - $350
Zoom Has much more zoom
Wide angle Has a slightly wider wide angle lens
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Coolpix P500 vs the Coolpix P100
Compare the Coolpix P500 vs the Lumix DMC-FZ38
Nikon Coolpix L120

Nikon Coolpix L120

Super zoom

$227 - $230
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Viewfinder Doesn't have a viewfinder
Aperture Has a slightly narrower aperture
Compare the Coolpix L120 vs the Coolpix P100
Compare the Coolpix L120 vs the Lumix DMC-FZ38
Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Super zoom

$420
Zoom Has much more zoom
Wide angle Has a slightly wider wide angle lens
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the PowerShot SX30 IS vs the Coolpix P100
Compare the PowerShot SX30 IS vs the Lumix DMC-FZ38
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ45

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ45

Super zoom

$362 - $429
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Lumix DMC-FZ45 vs the Coolpix P100
Compare the Lumix DMC-FZ45 vs the Lumix DMC-FZ38
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1

Super zoom

$355
Fastest shutter speed Has a faster max shutter speed
Weight Is slightly heavier
Sensor size Has a slightly smaller sensor
Compare the Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 vs the Coolpix P100
Compare the Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 vs the Lumix DMC-FZ38
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100

Super zoom

$562 - $657
External flash Supports an external flash
Weight Is slightly heavier
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the Lumix DMC-FZ100 vs the Coolpix P100
Compare the Lumix DMC-FZ100 vs the Lumix DMC-FZ38
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ47

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ47

Super zoom

$299 - $349
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Lumix DMC-FZ47 vs the Coolpix P100
Compare the Lumix DMC-FZ47 vs the Lumix DMC-FZ38

Nikon Coolpix P100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon Coolpix P100.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150

Super zoom

$475
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Size Larger
Weight Heavier
Compare the Lumix DMC-FZ150 vs the Lumix DMC-FZ38
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28

Super zoom
Weight Slightly heavier
Compare the Lumix DMC-FZ28 vs the Lumix DMC-FZ38

appearance

Nikon Coolpix P100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38
Nikon Coolpix P100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38
Nikon Coolpix P100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38

Find similar cameras

Here are some links to help you find other cameras with similar features to both of these:

discussion Which do you think is better?

Speech is free, but discussion at Snapsort is moderated! Please discuss your opinion of these cameras here, and discuss feedback for Snapsort at our support community.

Showing 6 comments

Sheldoncwinn (4:46 PM, December 17, 2010)
The P-100 produces really terrible images. The FZ-38 has better image quality, more resolution, is lighter, has more operating modes, and is a far superior camera.
 
Motorkid_87 (5:18 AM, September 16, 2010)
Thaks alot The information, is really help,
which one would you prefer to buy on the basis of image and movie quality (considering colors, sharpness and cleanliness)
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (1:20 PM, September 15, 2010)
Motorkid_87 asked:

plz Can any one tell me which one's image quality is better PanasonicFz38 or Nikon P100, and what are the setbacks in NikonP100 as iam about to buy one

My response:

I looked at some test shots from the Panasonic DMC-FZ38 (aka the Panasonic DMC-FZ35) and the Nikon P100, and compared them side by side. They look really close to me, though I did have a few observations:
- It looked to me like the P100 had a bit more chromatic aberration (purple fringing)
- At 1600 ISO, the FZ38 looked sharper but noiser, where the P100 looked cleaner but softer, likely Nikon is just applying more aggressive noise reduction
 
Avatar for jptja jptja (0:36 PM, July 15, 2010)
That's what I say ;)
Forgot one thing to mention..
In S-mode on the FZ38 the maximum shuttertime is 8s, but in manual you can put this up to 60s
The new look of snapsort looks nice by the way :)
 
Avatar for Alex Black Alex Black (11:50 AM, July 15, 2010)
Hi, thanks for mentioning these potential mistakes.

1. Resolution - Snapsort doesn't think megapixels make much difference, especially in point and shoots with small sensors, so we calculate a true resolution based on the limits of the camera's sensor size, hence the 9.8MP. If you view the detailed specs for either camera I expect you'll see the correct native resolution.

Its not clearly labeled as such, we'll get that fixed.

2. The FZ38 has listed as its advantages above: shoots RAW, has boost ISO 6400, and has lens image stabilization. That seems to match up with what you're saying?

Reasons to consider the Panasonic DMC-FZ38

Shoots RAW Yes vs No

Has boost ISO 6,400 ISO vs None

Better image stabilization Lens vs Sensor shift

 
Avatar for jptja jptja (10:57 AM, July 15, 2010)
I dont know about the P100, but there are some significant mistakes with the specs of the fz38..
Resolution is 12.1MP in stead of 9.8, it shoots raw aswell, it has a boost iso of 6400 aswell, and the stabilisation is lensbased, designed by Leica.
Prices in the Netherlands are a lot different (@ cameranu.nl)
P100 is €305 all in (if it is in stock.. ), FZ38 is €255 (that site says the res of P100 is 10.3MP)
Cheers