Nikon
D3100
 vs
Panasonic Lumix
DMC-GF2

Updated (March, 2012): Compare the Nikon D3200 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Nikon D3100

69

  
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

34

  
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-GF2

Size
 Really small
Mid size 113x68x33 mm
Touch screen
 Touch screen
Less buttons
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
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
 

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
Overall image quality Better image quality 67.0 vs 54.0
Help
 More than 20% 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
Battery life Longer battery life 550 shots vs 300 shots
Help
 More than 80% more shots per battery charge
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.3 EV vs 10.3 EV
Help
 1 f-stop more dynamic range
Startup delay Less startup delay 400 ms vs 1000 ms
Help
 2.5x less delay when turning on
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 506 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
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Pentamirror vs None
Help
 A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
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 337 ms
Help
 Around 20% less delay when taking photos
Nikon D3100 Learn more about
the Nikon D3100

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-GF2
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Size Significantly smaller 113x68x33 mm vs 124x96x73 mm
Help
 3.5x smaller
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
Thickness Significantly thinner 1.3" vs 2.9"
Help
 2.2x thinner
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The DMC-GF2's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Weight Lighter 310 g vs 505 g
Help
 Around 40% lighter
Focus points More focus points 23 vs 11
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Longest exposure Longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
 2x longer exposures
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $317.00 vs $446.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $130 cheaper (around 30% less)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-GF2
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon D3100 Nikon D3100
69 vs 34
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2
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
DMC-GF2:Four thirds 17.3x13.0mm
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
D3100:400 ms
DMC-GF2:1000 ms
Sensor cleaning Self cleaning sensors Help
Avoids dust in your photos
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
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-GF2:0
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
D3100:11.3 EV
DMC-GF2:10.3 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

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$514 with 14-42mm lens
Weight Slightly lighter
Startup delay More startup delay
Overall image quality Slightly worse image quality
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the Lumix DMC-GF2
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$239 - $249 body only

$399 - $419 with 14-42mm lens
HDR Has in-camera HDR
True resolution Higher true resolution
Startup delay More startup delay
Color depth Worse color depth
Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the Lumix DMC-GF2
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,100 with 14-45mm lens
Battery life Longer battery life
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor
Touch screen No touch screen
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF1 vs the Lumix DMC-GF2
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$600 with 14-42mm lens
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Battery life Slightly longer battery life
Overall image quality Slightly worse image quality
Color depth Worse color depth
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF5 vs the Lumix DMC-GF2
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$656 - $782 with 18-55mm lens
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Overall image quality Better image quality
Touch screen No touch screen
Shutter lag More shutter lag
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the Lumix DMC-GF2

appearance

Nikon D3100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2
Nikon D3100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2
Nikon D3100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

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