Nikon
D3100
 vs
Panasonic Lumix
DMC-FZ150

Updated (July, 2012): Compare the Nikon D3200 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200

Nikon D3100

72

  
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150

63

  
Winner

Nikon D3100

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3100

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
Badge
 Phase detection autofocus
fast and accurate
Live view
 Has live view
Preview your photos
 

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150

High-speed framerate
 High speed movies
220 fps
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Lens
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
12 fps
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Panorama
 In-camera panoramas
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
3D
 Takes 3D photos
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
 

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D3100
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 67.0 vs 40.0
Help
 Around 70% better image quality
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
Color depth Better color depth 22.5 bits vs 19.4 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 3.1 more bits of color
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor APS-C 23.1x15.4mm vs 1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm
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 More than 12.5x larger sensor
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
 Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
True resolution Higher true resolution 14.2 MP vs 9.7 MP
Help
 Capture around 50% more detail in your photos
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 919 ISO vs 132 ISO
Help
 The D3100 has excellent image quality 2.8 f-stops higher ISO than the DMC-FZ150
Battery life Longer battery life 550 shots vs 410 shots
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 More than 30% more shots per battery charge
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.3 EV vs 10.9 EV
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 0.4 f-stops more dynamic range
Thickness Thinner 2.9" vs 3.6"
Help
 Around 20% thinner
Size Slightly smaller 124x96x73 mm vs 124x82x92 mm
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 Around 10% smaller
Viewfinder Has an optical viewfinder Pentamirror vs Digital
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 Optical viewfinders save battery life and are more detailed
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/2000s
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 2x faster max shutter speed
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
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 The D3100's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Weight Slightly lighter 505 g vs 528 g
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 Almost the same
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $446.95 vs $720.26
Help
 The best price we've seen is $273 cheaper (around 40% less)
Nikon D3100 Learn more about
the Nikon D3100

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-FZ150
Image stabilization Image stabilization Lens vs None
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 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
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 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
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
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
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 Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
 Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies 220 fps vs None
Help
 Capture events too fast for the naked eye and play them back in super-slow motion
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 12 fps vs 3 fps
Help
 4x faster continuous shooting
Focus points More focus points 23 vs 11
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-FZ150
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon D3100 Nikon D3100
72 vs 63
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150
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 super zoom.

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
D3100:Pentamirror
DMC-FZ150:Digital
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Thickness Quite thick Help
D3100:2.9"
DMC-FZ150:3.6"
Weight Heavy Help
D3100:505 g
DMC-FZ150:528 g
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Size Large Help
D3100:124x96x73 mm
DMC-FZ150:124x82x92 mm
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
D3100:11.3 EV
DMC-FZ150:10.9 EV

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared 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 Has a slightly longer battery life
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Autofocus Lacks autofocus
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D3100
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the Lumix DMC-FZ150
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$597 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Dynamic range Has significantly wider dynamic range
Compare the D5100 vs the D3100
Compare the D5100 vs the Lumix DMC-FZ150
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$599 - $649 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Autofocus Lacks autofocus
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D3100
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the Lumix DMC-FZ150
Nikon Coolpix P510

Nikon Coolpix P510

Super zoom

$338 - $347
Zoom Has way more more zoom
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Longest exposure Slightly shorter exposures
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Compare the Coolpix P510 vs the D3100
Compare the Coolpix P510 vs the Lumix DMC-FZ150
Canon PowerShot SX50 HS

Canon PowerShot SX50 HS

Super zoom

$429 - $450
Zoom Has way more more zoom
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Longest exposure Slightly shorter exposures
Compare the PowerShot SX50 HS vs the D3100
Compare the PowerShot SX50 HS vs the Lumix DMC-FZ150
Nikon Coolpix P520

Nikon Coolpix P520

Super zoom

$427
Zoom Has way more more zoom
Screen size Has a slightly larger screen
Longest exposure Slightly shorter exposures
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Compare the Coolpix P520 vs the D3100
Compare the Coolpix P520 vs the Lumix DMC-FZ150

Nikon D3100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
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 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
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$500 body only

$600 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
Battery life Shorter battery life
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D3100
Nikon D3000

Nikon D3000

Entry-level DSLR

$436 with 18-55mm lens
Size Slightly smaller
Thickness Thinner
Movie format Does not take movies
Live view No live view
Compare the D3000 vs the D3100

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200

Super zoom

$498
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Battery life Longer battery life
Size Larger
Overall image quality Slightly worse image quality
Compare the Lumix DMC-FZ200 vs the Lumix DMC-FZ150
Canon Powershot SX40

Canon Powershot SX40

Super zoom

$299 - $320
Zoom Significantly more zoom
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Compare the Powershot SX40 vs the Lumix DMC-FZ150
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V

Super zoom

$327 - $348
Zoom Significantly more zoom
HDR Has in-camera HDR
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
High-speed framerate Doesn't record high-speed movies
Compare the Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V vs the Lumix DMC-FZ150
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ62

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ62

Super zoom

$392
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Battery life Slightly longer battery life
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Compare the Lumix DMC-FZ62 vs the Lumix DMC-FZ150
Fujifilm FinePix HS30 EXR

Fujifilm FinePix HS30 EXR

Super zoom

$294 - $339
Zoom More zoom
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Size Significantly larger
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Compare the FinePix HS30 EXR vs the Lumix DMC-FZ150

appearance

Nikon D3100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150
Nikon D3100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150
Nikon D3100

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