Nikon
D5000
 vs
Panasonic Lumix
DMC-G1

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

Nikon D5000

41
Winner

Nikon D5000
"Excellent degree of customization (reversible dial and meter ease transition from other systems)"
dpreview.com | talking about the D5000's button-layout
"The image quality is undeniably impressive."
dpreview.com | talking about the D5000's image-quality

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

23

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
Movie format Shoots movies 720p @ 24fps vs None
Help
 Shoots HD (720p) video as well as still pictures
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
Lens availability Much more lenses available 169 lenses vs 26 lenses
Help
 6.5x more lenses available
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.5 EV vs 10.3 EV
Help
 2.2 f-stops more dynamic range
Color depth Better color depth 22.7 bits vs 21.1 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.6 more bits of color
Low light performance Significantly 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 $499.99 vs $996.98
Help
 The best price we've seen is $497 cheaper (around 50% 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
41 vs 23
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.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

NikonD5000
 Nikon D5000 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1
PanasonicLumix DMC-G1
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
0
0
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
0
0
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
0
0
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
0
0
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
0
0
Vote Vote
Build quality Build quality
Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal
0
0
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

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
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
True resolution Capture very high resolution images Help
D5000:12.2 MP
DMC-G1:12 MP
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
Movie format One shoots movies Help
D5000:720p @ 24fps
DMC-G1:None

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $984 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the D3100 vs the D5000
Compare the D3100 vs the Lumix DMC-G1
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$499 - $949 body only

$579 - $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
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D5000
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the Lumix DMC-G1
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$869 - $897 body only

$1,099 - $1,200 with 18-105mm lens
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the D90 vs the D5000
Compare the D90 vs the Lumix DMC-G1
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$609 - $800 body only

$709 - $1,180 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
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D5000
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the Lumix DMC-G1
Pentax K-r

Pentax K-r

Entry-level DSLR

$649 body only

$540 - $579 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the K-r vs the D5000
Compare the K-r vs the Lumix DMC-G1
Nikon Coolpix P500

Nikon Coolpix P500

Super zoom

$339 - $350
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Longest exposure Slightly shorter exposures
Compare the Coolpix P500 vs the D5000
Compare the Coolpix P500 vs the Lumix DMC-G1

Nikon D5000 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$650 - $749 body only

$600 - $750 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Startup delay Slightly more startup delay
Compare the D5100 vs the D5000
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$379 body only

$460 - $550 with 18-55mm lens
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Battery life Longer battery life
Supports 24p No 24p support
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D5000
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,097 body only

$1,227 with 55-200mm lens
Weather sealed Weather sealed
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Weight Heavier
Compare the D7000 vs the D5000

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$642 - $649 with 14-42mm lens
Movie format Shoots movies
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Size Larger
Thickness Thicker
Compare the Lumix DMC-G2 vs the Lumix DMC-G1
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$549 body only
Movie format Shoots movies
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Compare the Lumix DMC-G3 vs the Lumix DMC-G1
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$550 with 14-42mm lens
Movie format Shoots movies
Autofocus Video autofocus
Size Larger
Thickness Thicker
Compare the Lumix DMC-G10 vs the Lumix DMC-G1
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$754 body only

$916 - $964 with 14-42mm lens
Movie format Shoots movies
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Viewfinder No viewfinder
Color depth Worse color depth
Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the Lumix DMC-G1
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$329 - $379 with 14-42mm lens
Movie format Shoots movies
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Viewfinder No viewfinder
Light sensitivity (boost) No boost ISO
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF2 vs the Lumix DMC-G1

appearance

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

Find similar cameras

Here are some links to help you find other cameras with similar features to both of these:

discussion Which do you think is better?

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