Updated (April, 2011): Compare the Nikon D5100 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1

Nikon D5000

42

Winner

Nikon D5000

"The D5000 acquires the 11-point AF system from the D90. It's a pretty sophisticated setup for a camera at this level"
dpreview.com | talking about the D5000's auto-focus
"Excellent degree of customization (reversible dial and meter ease transition from other systems)"
dpreview.com | talking about the D5000's button-layout

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5000

Supports 24p
24p movies
For that film look
Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
12.5 EV
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Live view
Has live view
Preview your photos
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1

29

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1

Size
Really small
Standard size 124x84x45 mm
Badge
Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Thickness
Thin
1.8"
Weight
Light-weight
430 g
Live view
Has live view
Preview your photos
Longest exposure
Long exposures
60 seconds

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D5000

Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 72.0 vs 53.0
Help
Around 40% better image quality
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
Catch candid moments easily
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
Movie format Shoots movies 720p @ 24fps vs None
Help
Shoots HD (720p) video as well as still pictures
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.5 EV vs 10.3 EV
Help
2.2 f-stops more dynamic range
Lens availability Much more lenses available 169 lenses vs 26 lenses
Help
6.5x more lenses available
Color depth Better color depth 22.7 bits vs 21.1 bits
Help
Distinguishes 1.6 more bits of color
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs Four thirds 18.0x13.5mm
Help
More than 50% larger sensor
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 868 ISO vs 463 ISO
Help
The D5000 has a slight edge (0.9 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 3,200 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
The D5000'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
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 4 fps vs 3 fps
Help
More than 30% faster continuous shooting
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The D5000's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Nikon D5000 Learn more about
the Nikon D5000

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-G1

Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
More than 10% larger screen
Size Significantly smaller 124x84x45 mm vs 127x104x80 mm
Help
2.3x smaller
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 460k dots vs 230k dots
Help
2x higher resolution screen
Thickness Significantly thinner 1.8" vs 3.1"
Help
More than 40% thinner
Weight Lighter 430 g vs 590 g
Help
Around 30% lighter
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
2x longer exposures
Lowest price Cheaper $489.90 vs $879.95
Help
The best price we've seen is $390 cheaper (more than 40% less)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-G1
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon D5000 Nikon D5000
42 vs 29
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D5000. 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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0
votes
by Jithmi-Alwis last month
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5000

iam a beginner ...and need a good entry level dslr...which is cheap...and have great image stab...

One person recommends the Nikon D3100:

" The D3100 is a great starter camera"

0
votes
by Neeraj-Jain last week
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5000

I am beginner and I want to become an expert in portrait photography, especially baby shots. Ple...

0
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by telmanri this month
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5000

I'm photography enthusiast and I plan to move on for my first dSLR. I want to buy a refurbished ...

0
votes
by Ketan-Nivding last month
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5000

Hi, I' am an amateur photographer and have taken up photography as a hobby. Recently, while on a J...

0
votes
by ImranVirk last month
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5000

Im a beginner and will mainly be using the camera for vacation pictures and weekend hobby photogra...

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
D5000:APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
DMC-G1:Four thirds 18.0x13.5mm
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
D5000:Pentamirror
DMC-G1: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
D5000:30s
DMC-G1:60s
Weight Heavy Help
D5000:590 g
DMC-G1:430 g
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Movie format One shoots movies Help
D5000:720p @ 24fps
DMC-G1:None

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens

Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

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

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
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
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon D3000

Nikon D3000

Entry-level DSLR

$449 with 18-55mm lens

Live view Doesn't let you preview your photos on the screen
Sensor type Has a CCD-family sensor

Nikon D5000 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Weather sealed Weather sealed
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Weight Heavier

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$500 body only

$700 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Shoots movies
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Sensor size Slightly smaller sensor
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$615 - $642 with 14-42mm lens

Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Movie format Shoots movies
Size Larger
Thickness Thicker
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$330 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Shoots movies
Autofocus Video autofocus
Size Larger
Thickness Thicker
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,125 with 14-45mm lens

Movie format Shoots movies
Autofocus Video autofocus
Viewfinder No viewfinder
Lowest price More expensive
Olympus PEN E-PL1

Olympus PEN E-PL1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$260 - $279 with 14-42mm lens

Image stabilization Image stabilization
Movie format Shoots movies
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
Screen resolution Lower resolution screen

appearance

Nikon D5000 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1
Nikon D5000 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1
Nikon D5000 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1

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