Nikon
D3100
 vs
Panasonic Lumix
DMC-G3

Updated (July, 2012): Compare the Nikon D3200 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5

Nikon D3100

69

  
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

36

  
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
Live view
 Has live view
Preview your photos
 

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Size
 Really small
Standard size 115x84x47 mm
Touch screen
 Touch screen
Less buttons
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
3D
 Takes 3D photos
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Badge
 Autofocuses shooting video
Contrast detection
 

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
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 56.0
Help
 Around 20% better image quality
Color depth Better color depth 22.5 bits vs 21 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.5 more bits of color
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 550 shots vs 270 shots
Help
 More than 2x more shots per battery charge
Startup delay Less startup delay 400 ms vs 1400 ms
Help
 3.5x less delay when turning on
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.3 EV vs 10.6 EV
Help
 0.7 f-stops more dynamic range
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 23.1x15.4mm vs Four thirds 17.3x13.0mm
Help
 Around 60% larger sensor
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 919 ISO vs 667 ISO
Help
 The D3100 has a slight edge (0.5 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Viewfinder Has an optical viewfinder Pentamirror vs Digital
Help
 Optical viewfinders save battery life and are more detailed
Nikon D3100 Learn more about
the Nikon D3100

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-G3
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
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
Touch screen Has a touch screen Yes vs No
Help
 Fewer buttons to worry about and direct interaction with camera menus
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
Size Smaller 115x84x47 mm vs 124x96x73 mm
Help
 Around 50% smaller
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The DMC-G3's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
True resolution Higher true resolution 15.8 MP vs 14.2 MP
Help
 Capture more than 10% more detail in your photos
Thickness Thinner 1.9" vs 2.9"
Help
 Around 40% thinner
Weight Lighter 336 g vs 505 g
Help
 More than 30% lighter
Focus points More focus points 23 vs 11
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 4 fps vs 3 fps
Help
 More than 30% faster continuous shooting
Longest exposure Longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
 2x longer exposures
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-G3
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon D3100 Nikon D3100
69 vs 36
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3
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
True resolution Capture very high resolution images Help
D3100:14.2 MP
DMC-G3:15.8 MP
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
Sensor size Large sensors Help
D3100:APS-C 23.1x15.4mm
DMC-G3: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
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
D3100:Pentamirror
DMC-G3:Digital
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/4000 of a second
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
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
DMC-G3:0
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
D3100:11.3 EV
DMC-G3:10.6 EV

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$332 body only

$449 - $499 with 18-55mm lens
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D3100
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the Lumix DMC-G3
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D3200 vs the D3100
Compare the D3200 vs the Lumix DMC-G3
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
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D5100 vs the D3100
Compare the D5100 vs the Lumix DMC-G3
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
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D3100
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the Lumix DMC-G3

Nikon D3100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
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

$550 body only

$609 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-G3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$498 body only

$498 with 14-42mm lens
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster
Size Larger
Thickness Thicker
Compare the Lumix DMC-G5 vs the Lumix DMC-G3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$229 - $239 body only

$399 - $419 with 14-42mm lens
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Viewfinder No viewfinder
Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the Lumix DMC-G3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$339 - $514 with 14-42mm lens
Size Smaller
Thickness Thinner
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the Lumix DMC-G3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$950 with 14-42mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Battery life Longer battery life
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Size Larger
Compare the Lumix DMC-G2 vs the Lumix DMC-G3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$600 with 14-42mm lens
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Size Smaller
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF5 vs the Lumix DMC-G3

appearance

Nikon D3100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3
Nikon D3100
Nikon D3100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

discussion

Showing 2 comments

Avatar for Tai Shy Tai Shy (1:43 PM, July 14, 2011)
Hi Dave, hope this isn't too late for you, but in my opinion the touch focus is really a great bonus, but minor in what the camera can do!! Hopefully you will be able to find other uses for ICLs !!
 
Low budget Dave (7:46 PM, May 23, 2011)
I am planning to get the g3 because of the touchscreen focus. For me that outweighs the superior IQ of the d3100. It seems like a close call.