Nikon
D3100
 vs
Panasonic Lumix
DMC-FZ100

Updated (April, 2012): Compare the Nikon D3200 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150

Nikon D3100

65
Winner

Nikon D3100
"The D3100 offers little to complain about in terms of image quality, and its new 14Mp sensor delivers very good results."
dpreview.com | talking about the D3100's image-quality
"It's almost impossible to pick up without your hand falling into a sensible position with the key controls at your fingertips."
dpreview.com | talking about the D3100's button-layout

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
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100

58
"The Panasonic FZ100 is an impressive camera, with superior build quality, excellent handling, fast performance and a range of features better than almost anything else on the market."
trustedreviews.com | talking about the DMC-FZ100's overall-performance
"Other aspects of image quality are more encouraging, Colour rendition is excellent, and dynamic range is also better than expected from a small 14MP 1/2.3-inch sensor."
trustedreviews.com | talking about the DMC-FZ100's image-quality

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
High-speed framerate
 High speed movies
220 fps
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Lens
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
11 fps
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Longest exposure
 Long exposures
60 seconds

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
Sensor size Much larger sensor APS-C 23.1x15.4mm vs 1/2.3" 6.1x4.6mm
Help
 More than 12.5x larger sensor
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 14.2 MP vs 9.8 MP
Help
 Capture around 50% more detail in your photos
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
 Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
Thickness Thinner 2.9" vs 3.7"
Help
 More than 20% thinner
Size Slightly smaller 124x96x73 mm vs 124x81x95 mm
Help
 Around 10% smaller
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 3,200 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The D3100's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Viewfinder Has an optical viewfinder Pentamirror vs Digital
Help
 Optical viewfinders save battery life and are more detailed
Fastest shutter speed Significantly faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/2000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The D3100's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Weight Slightly lighter 505 g vs 539 g
Help
 Around 10% lighter
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $499.99 vs $610.64
Help
 The best price we've seen is $111 cheaper (around 20% less)
Nikon D3100 Learn more about
the Nikon D3100

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-FZ100
Image stabilization Image stabilization Lens vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
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
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
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 460k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 2x higher resolution screen
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 11 fps vs 3 fps
Help
 More than 3.5x faster continuous shooting
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
 2x longer exposures
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-FZ100
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon D3100 Nikon D3100
65 vs 58
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100
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.

advice

Need help deciding?

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I am considering either the Nikon D3100 or the Panasonic DMC-FZ100,
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similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Movie format Full HD (1080p) video Help
D3100:1080p @ 24fps
DMC-FZ100:1080p @ 30fps
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
D3100:Pentamirror
DMC-FZ100:Digital
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Longest exposure Long exposures Help
D3100:30s
DMC-FZ100:60s
Thickness Quite thick Help
D3100:2.9"
DMC-FZ100:3.7"
Weight Heavy Help
D3100:505 g
DMC-FZ100:539 g
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Size Large Help
D3100:124x96x73 mm
DMC-FZ100:124x81x95 mm
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$333 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
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-FZ100
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Compare the D5100 vs the D3100
Compare the D5100 vs the Lumix DMC-FZ100
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Autofocus Lacks autofocus
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D3100
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the Lumix DMC-FZ100
Nikon Coolpix P510

Nikon Coolpix P510

Super zoom

$397 - $400
Zoom Has way more more zoom
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Longest exposure Significantly shorter exposures
Compare the Coolpix P510 vs the D3100
Compare the Coolpix P510 vs the Lumix DMC-FZ100
Canon Powershot SX40

Canon Powershot SX40

Super zoom

$347 - $380
Zoom Has way more more zoom
Longest exposure Slightly shorter exposures
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Powershot SX40 vs the D3100
Compare the Powershot SX40 vs the Lumix DMC-FZ100
Fujifilm FinePix HS20 EXR

Fujifilm FinePix HS20

Super zoom

$299 - $335
Zoom Has significantly more zoom
High-speed framerate Records even higher-speed movies
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the FinePix HS20 vs the D3100
Compare the FinePix HS20 vs the Lumix DMC-FZ100

Nikon D3100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $700 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Thickness Slightly thicker
Lowest price Slightly more expensive
Compare the D3200 vs the D3100
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus
Startup delay More startup delay
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D3100
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus
Compare the D90 vs the D3100
Nikon D3000

Nikon D3000

Entry-level DSLR

$449 with 18-55mm lens
Size Slightly smaller
Thickness Thinner
Movie format Does not take movies
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus
Compare the D3000 vs the D3100

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150

Super zoom

$495 - $500
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
3D Takes 3D photos
Longest exposure Significantly shorter max exposures
Compare the Lumix DMC-FZ150 vs the Lumix DMC-FZ100
Leica V-Lux 2

Leica V-Lux 2

Super zoom

$1,101
Movie format Lower resolution movies
High-speed framerate Doesn't record high-speed movies
Compare the V-Lux 2 vs the Lumix DMC-FZ100
Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Super zoom

$420
Zoom Much more zoom
Wide angle Better wide angle
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
Compare the PowerShot SX30 IS vs the Lumix DMC-FZ100
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40

Super zoom

$411
Size Slightly smaller
Weight Slightly lighter
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Compare the Lumix DMC-FZ40 vs the Lumix DMC-FZ100
Nikon Coolpix P500

Nikon Coolpix P500

Super zoom

$300
Zoom Much more zoom
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Aperture Significantly narrower aperture
Supports RAW No RAW support
Compare the Coolpix P500 vs the Lumix DMC-FZ100

appearance

Nikon D3100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100
Nikon D3100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100
Nikon D3100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100

discussion

Showing 4 comments

guest (2:53 PM, September 13, 2011)
Hi thanks for replying. I would like to know that in order to achieve this magnification of 16.7 x , do we need both 18-55 mm and the 55-300 mm lenses to be attached to the camera together or need to replace the former with the latter?  since i wil be using SLR for the first time, please pardon my ignorance of the issue.
 
guest (8:09 AM, September 10, 2011)
ok. i still cannot decide effectively b/w Nikon d3100 and Lumix  FZ100.
1. which of these will give netter pics at night?
2. is it better to buy Nikon D3100 with 55-300 mm lens or just Nikon D3100 and a sleek compact camera with high zoom that can slid into the pocket. 
3 . or forget everything and just buy Lumix FZ100?

Please advice as ive never used SLR before
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (2:36 PM, September 09, 2011)
If you had an 18-55 lens and 55-300 lens on the D3100, you'd have effectively 300/18 = 16.7x zoom (though you'd have to change lenses to use all of it).
 
guest (1:53 PM, September 09, 2011)
How can we add extra zoom to Nikon D 3100? how much zoom can be obtained by adding 55-300mm lens kit