• APS-C 355.7mm2
  • 14.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • 1 inch 116.2mm2
  • 20.1 megapixels
  • 24.00mm - 480.00mm (35mm eq.)

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Differences

Nikon D3100 advantages over Panasonic FZ2500

  • Larger sensor
    APS-C vs 1 inch
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 5.01 vs 2.41 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Fast startup
    ~0.40 vs 2.3 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 550 vs 350 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Thinner
    74 mm vs 134 mm
    Thinner

Panasonic FZ2500 advantages over Nikon D3100

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Tilt-swivel vs none
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Shoot 4K video
    4K (DCI) vs 1080p
    Make sure you have a fast computer
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • Integrated ND filter
    Yes vs No
    Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
  • External Mic Jack
    Jack vs No jack
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Higher max flash sync
    1/4000 vs 1/200 sec
    Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
  • Newer
    8 years vs 14 years old
    Newer cameras often support more advanced features
  • More dots on screen
    1040k vs 230k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • Less shutter lag
    0.10 vs 0.28 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • More viewfinder magnification
    0.74x vs 0.53x
    Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
  • More pixels
    20.1 vs 14.2 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Shoots 60p video
    Yes vs No
    A faster framerate can give you more editing options
  • Headphone jack
    Yes vs No
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Longer exposure
    60 vs 30 sec
    Long exposures for night shots
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    11.4 fps vs 2.9 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos
  • Faster shutter
    1/16000 vs 1/4000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light
  • Higher extended ISO
    25600 vs 12800 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Rear display
    Both provide
    Review photos on the back of the camera
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Both provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • RAW file ability
    Both provide
    Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Manual focus
    Both provide
    AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Hot shoe
    Both provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

  • NFC
    Neither provide
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Top deck display
    Neither provide
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • Dual card slots
    Neither provide
    Gives you more storage flexibility

User reviews

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Buy the Panasonic FZ2500
Panasonic FZ2500 (Black)
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Review Excerpt

  • Rugged camera body with many physical controls; Generally excellent image quality & high ISO performance for its class; Versatile zoom lens; Fast and accurate autofocus; Unlimited 4K video recording; Fast full-res burst mode with generous buffers.

  • Continuous autofocus performance struggles at telephoto end; Slow buffer clearing (no UHS-II support); Lens produces soft corners at most focal lengths.

  • Read our Panasonic FZ2500 Review

The Competition

Compared to Sony DSLR-A380

Nikon D3100
Sony DSLR-A380
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Less expensive
  • $849
  • APS-C
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Tiltable Screen

Compare Nikon D3100 vs Sony DSLR-A380

Panasonic FZ2500
Sony DSLR-A380
  • $931
  • 1 inch
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Focus peaking
  • $849
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels

Compare Panasonic FZ2500 vs Sony DSLR-A380

Compared to Sony A33

Nikon D3100
Sony A33
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Fast startup
  • $540
  • APS-C
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • In-camera panoramas

Compare Nikon D3100 vs Sony A33

Panasonic FZ2500
Sony A33
  • $931
  • 1 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • $540
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels

Compare Panasonic FZ2500 vs Sony A33

Compared to Pentax K-r

Nikon D3100
Pentax K-r
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Higher effective ISO
  • $850
  • APS-C
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Fast startup

Compare Nikon D3100 vs Pentax K-r

Panasonic FZ2500
Pentax K-r
  • $931
  • 1 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • $850
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels

Compare Panasonic FZ2500 vs Pentax K-r

Compared to Panasonic FZ1000

Nikon D3100
Panasonic FZ1000
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels
  • $773
  • 1 inch
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Focus peaking

Compare Nikon D3100 vs Panasonic FZ1000

Panasonic FZ2500
Panasonic FZ1000
  • $931
  • 1 inch
  • Touchscreen
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • $773
  • 1 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Fast startup

Compare Panasonic FZ2500 vs Panasonic FZ1000

Compared to Leica V-LUX (Typ 114)

Nikon D3100
Leica V-LUX (Typ 114)
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels
  • $899
  • 1 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D3100 vs Leica V-LUX (Typ 114)

Panasonic FZ2500
Leica V-LUX (Typ 114)
  • $931
  • 1 inch
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Touchscreen
  • $899
  • 1 inch

Compare Panasonic FZ2500 vs Leica V-LUX (Typ 114)

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