Nikon
D3100
 vs
Olympus
PEN E-PL2

Updated (March, 2012): Compare the Nikon D3200 vs Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Nikon D3100

69

  
Olympus PEN E-PL2

36

  
Winner

Nikon D3100

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3100

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 24fps
Supports 24p
 24p movies
For that film look
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Badge
 Autofocuses shooting video
Contrast detection
Live view
 Has live view
Preview your photos
 
Runner-up

Olympus PEN E-PL2

Reasons to buy the Olympus PEN E-PL2

Size
 Really small
Mid size 115x72x42 mm
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Badge
 Autofocuses shooting video
Contrast detection
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Thickness
 Thin
1.7"
 

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D3100
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 24fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video but at a lower frame rate
Lens availability Much more lenses available 169 lenses vs 26 lenses
Help
 6.5x more lenses available
Overall image quality Better image quality 67.0 vs 55.0
Help
 More than 20% better image quality
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 550 shots vs 280 shots
Help
 Around 2x more shots per battery charge
Startup delay Less startup delay 400 ms vs 1300 ms
Help
 3.2x less delay when turning on
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.3 EV vs 10.2 EV
Help
 1.1 f-stops more dynamic range
Color depth Better color depth 22.5 bits vs 21.4 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.1 more bits of color
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 23.1x15.4mm vs Four thirds 17.3x13.0mm
Help
 Around 60% larger sensor
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Pentamirror vs None
Help
 A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
True resolution Higher true resolution 14.2 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
 Capture around 20% more detail in your photos
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 919 ISO vs 573 ISO
Help
 The D3100 has a slight edge (0.7 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 279 ms vs 434 ms
Help
 Around 40% less delay when taking photos
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs None
Help
 Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Nikon D3100 Learn more about
the Nikon D3100

Advantages of the Olympus PEN E-PL2
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Size Significantly smaller 115x72x42 mm vs 124x96x73 mm
Help
 2.5x smaller
Thickness Thinner 1.7" vs 2.9"
Help
 More than 40% thinner
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The PEN E-PL2's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Weight Lighter 362 g vs 505 g
Help
 Around 30% lighter
Longest exposure Longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
 2x longer exposures
Olympus PEN E-PL2 Learn more about
the Olympus PEN E-PL2
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon D3100 Nikon D3100
69 vs 36
Explain scores
Olympus PEN E-PL2 Olympus PEN E-PL2
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3100. 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.

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Interchangeable lenses Both support interchangeable lenses, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
Many lenses to choose from
Movie continuous focus Focus continuously recording movies Help
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
Sensor size Large sensors Help
D3100:APS-C 23.1x15.4mm
PEN E-PL2:Four thirds 17.3x13.0mm
Sensor cleaning Both have self cleaning sensors, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
Avoids dust in your photos
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
D3100:CMOS
PEN E-PL2:NMOS
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/4000 of a second
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
D3100:1
PEN E-PL2:0
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Focus points Few focus points Help
11
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
D3100:11.3 EV
PEN E-PL2:10.2 EV

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant shared competitors found.

Nikon D3100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$332 body only

$429 - $499 with 18-55mm lens
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Battery life Longer battery life
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
Supports 24p No 24p support
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D3100
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Compare the D3200 vs the D3100
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$597 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Size Slightly larger
Weight Slightly heavier
Compare the D5100 vs the D3100
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$599 - $649 with 18-55mm lens
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus
Startup delay Significantly more startup delay
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D3100
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$675 - $899 body only

$799 - $1,099 with 18-105mm lens
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Dynamic range More dynamic range
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Compare the D90 vs the D3100

Olympus PEN E-PL2 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$399 with 14-42mm lens
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Startup delay More startup delay
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Compare the PEN Lite E-PL3 vs the PEN E-PL2
Olympus PEN E-PL1

Olympus PEN E-PL1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$270 with 14-42mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Color depth Better color depth
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
Movie continuous focus Doesn't focus continuously recording movies
Compare the PEN E-PL1 vs the PEN E-PL2
Olympus PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$299 with 14-42mm lens
Movie format Higher resolution movies
3D Takes 3D photos
Built-in flash No built-in flash
Startup delay More startup delay
Compare the PEN E-PM1 vs the PEN E-PL2
Olympus PEN E-PL5

Olympus PEN E-PL5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$829 with 14-42mm lens
Overall image quality Better image quality
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Movie continuous focus Doesn't focus continuously recording movies
Built-in flash No built-in flash
Compare the PEN E-PL5 vs the PEN E-PL2
Olympus PEN E-P3

Olympus PEN E-P3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$369 with 14-42mm lens
Screen type Has an OLED screen
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Overall image quality Slightly worse image quality
Compare the PEN E-P3 vs the PEN E-PL2

appearance

Nikon D3100 Olympus PEN E-PL2
Nikon D3100 Olympus PEN E-PL2
Nikon D3100 Olympus PEN E-PL2

discussion

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