Updated (April, 2012): Compare the Nikon D3200 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

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-G2

35

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2

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
External mic jack
External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Badge
Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Weight
Light-weight
416 g

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D3100

Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 24fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video but at a lower frame rate
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
Overall image quality Better image quality 67.0 vs 53.0
Help
Around 30% better image quality
Lens availability Much more lenses available 169 lenses vs 26 lenses
Help
6.5x more lenses available
Color depth Better color depth 22.5 bits vs 21.2 bits
Help
Distinguishes 1.3 more bits of color
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.3 EV vs 10.3 EV
Help
1 f-stop more dynamic range
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 919 ISO vs 493 ISO
Help
The D3100 has a slight edge (0.9 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
True resolution Higher true resolution 14.2 MP vs 12 MP
Help
Capture around 20% more detail in your photos
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 23.1x15.4mm vs Four thirds 18.0x13.5mm
Help
Around 50% larger sensor
Battery life Longer battery life 550 shots vs 390 shots
Help
More than 40% more shots per battery charge
Startup delay Less startup delay 400 ms vs 1000 ms
Help
2.5x less delay when turning on
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
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 279 ms vs 423 ms
Help
More than 30% less delay when taking photos
Viewfinder Has an optical viewfinder Pentamirror vs Digital
Help
Optical viewfinders save battery life and are more detailed
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $499.99 vs $614.99
Help
The best price we've seen is $115 cheaper (around 20% less)
Nikon D3100 Learn more about
the Nikon D3100

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-G2

Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
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
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
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 460k dots vs 230k dots
Help
2x higher resolution screen
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The DMC-G2's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Focus points More focus points 23 vs 11
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Size Slightly smaller 124x90x74 mm vs 124x96x73 mm
Help
Around 10% smaller
Weight Lighter 416 g vs 505 g
Help
Around 20% lighter
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
2x longer exposures
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-G2
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon D3100 Nikon D3100
65 vs 35
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2
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.

advice

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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
Sensor size Large sensors Help
D3100:APS-C 23.1x15.4mm
DMC-G2:Four thirds 18.0x13.5mm
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Sensor cleaning Self cleaning sensors Help
Avoids dust in your photos
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
D3100:Pentamirror
DMC-G2:Digital
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/4000 of a second
Longest exposure Long exposures Help
D3100:30s
DMC-G2:60s
Thickness Quite thick Help
2.9"
Weight Heavy Help
D3100:505 g
DMC-G2:416 g
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Size Large Help
D3100:124x96x73 mm
DMC-G2:124x90x74 mm
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
D3100:1
DMC-G2:0
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually

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

Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Autofocus Lacks autofocus
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
Weight Is slightly heavier
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
Weight Is slightly heavier
Autofocus Lacks autofocus
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens

Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Weight Is slightly heavier
Autofocus Lacks autofocus
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 with 18-55mm lens

Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Size Is significantly smaller
Viewfinder Doesn't have a viewfinder
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash

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
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
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

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$500 body only

$700 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Size Smaller
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Battery life Shorter battery life
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$433 body only

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Size Significantly smaller
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$849 - $997 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Battery life Slightly shorter battery life
Sensor size Slightly smaller sensor
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$376 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Size Significantly smaller
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Samsung NX11

Samsung NX11

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$619 - $725 with 18-55mm lens

Screen type Has an OLED screen
Size Smaller
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out

appearance

Nikon D3100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2
Nikon D3100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2
Nikon D3100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2

discussion

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