Updated (April, 2012): Compare the Nikon D3200 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10

Nikon D3100

54

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
Color depth
Great color depth
22.5 bits
Screen size
Large screen
3.0"
Movie continuous focus
Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Badge
Autofocuses shooting video
Contrast detection
Weight
Light-weight
505 g
Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10

21

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10

Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Lens
Badge
Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Longest exposure
Long exposures
60 seconds

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D3100

Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO 919 ISO vs 429 ISO
Help
The D3100 has excellent image quality 1.1 f-stops higher ISO than the DMC-L10
Color depth Better color depth 22.5 bits vs 21.3 bits
Help
Distinguishes 1.2 more bits of color
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.5"
Help
More than 20% larger screen
Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 24fps vs None
Help
Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 67.0 vs 55.0
Help
More than 20% better image quality
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
Catch candid moments easily
Sensor size Much larger sensor APS-C 23.1x15.4mm vs Four thirds 18.0x13.5mm
Help
Around 50% larger sensor
Lens availability Much more lenses available 169 lenses vs 26 lenses
Help
6.5x more lenses available
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.3 EV vs 10.8 EV
Help
0.5 f-stops more dynamic range
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 14.2 MP vs 10 MP
Help
Capture more than 40% more detail in your photos
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
Automatically focuses shooting video
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.51x vs 0.46x
Help
More than 20% larger viewfinder
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
Size Smaller 124x96x73 mm vs 135x96x78 mm
Help
More than 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
Thickness Thinner 2.9" vs 3.1"
Help
Around 10% thinner
Weight Lighter 505 g vs 556 g
Help
Around 10% lighter
Nikon D3100 Learn more about
the Nikon D3100

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-L10

Image stabilization Image stabilization Lens vs None
Help
Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Longest exposure Much longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
2x longer exposures
Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-L10
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent entry-level DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D3100 Nikon D3100
54 vs 21
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10 Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3100.

advice

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1
votes
by Lance-Villanueva-Ramos last month
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90

Beginner,capturing the moment of different events

2 people recommend the Nikon D3100:

" D3100 is going to have better video capabilities which you outlined as a need, image quality wil..."

"The D3100 is better for beginners because it has a great guide that will help you set up the camer..."

1
votes
by Kate-Hughes 4 days ago
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90

I am a beginner is DSLR photography & have been researching entry level models. I kep coming bac...

One person recommends the Nikon D3100:

" Hi Kate, Since you are a beginner in DSLR photography and it seems you have a budget, I would..."

0
votes
by Larisa-Dragan this month
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90

beginner/want to start a studio for newborn/children pictures/i think shooting in low light is i...

0
votes
by Cathy-Bodie last month
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90

Not beginner, but not novice, want also to use for family gatherings and holidays, night shots, sc...

0
votes
by Terence-Robertson this month
Fujifilm HS20 vs Nikon D3100

i am a beginer with £400 budget just want best alrounder for my money

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.

Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
D3100:3,200 ISO
DMC-L10:1,600 ISO
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
3 fps
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
D3100:230k dots
DMC-L10:207k dots
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
D3100:14.2 MP
DMC-L10:10 MP
Viewfinder size Below average viewfinder size Help
D3100:0.51x
DMC-L10:0.46x
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
D3100:11.3 EV
DMC-L10:10.8 EV

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

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

Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Canon EOS Rebel T1i

Canon Rebel T1i

Entry-level DSLR

$475 - $629 body only

$549 - $580 with 18-55mm lens

Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
Shutter lag Has significantly less shutter lag
Battery life Has a slightly shorter battery life
Supports 24p Doesn't record movies in 24p
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker

Nikon D3100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$333 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens

Battery life Longer battery life
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Screen size Much smaller screen
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Color depth Worse color depth
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
Viewfinder size Slightly smaller viewfinder
Size Slightly larger
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens

Dynamic range More dynamic range
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus
Nikon D3000

Nikon D3000

Entry-level DSLR

$449 with 18-55mm lens

Sensor size Larger sensor
Size Smaller
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
Movie format Does not take movies

Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$330 with 14-42mm lens

Screen size Much larger screen
Movie format Shoots movies
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Viewfinder Has a digital viewfinder
Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1

Entry-level DSLR

Size Slightly smaller
Thickness Slightly thinner
True resolution Lower true resolution
Weight Heavier
Olympus E-510

Olympus E-510

Entry-level DSLR

Size Significantly smaller
Thickness Significantly thinner
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Olympus PEN E-P1

Olympus PEN E-P1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$184 body only

$375 with 17mm lens

Screen size Much larger screen
Movie format Shoots movies
Viewfinder No viewfinder
Dynamic range Less dynamic range

appearance

Nikon D3100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10
Nikon D3100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10
Nikon D3100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10

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