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Nikon D3100 vs Panasonic ZS45

Portability
68
Imaging
54
Features
59
Overall
56
Nikon D3100 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 front
Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
55
Overall
46

Nikon D3100 vs Panasonic ZS45 Key Specs

Nikon D3100
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Boost to 12800)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 505g - 124 x 96 x 75mm
  • Introduced December 2010
  • Replaced the Nikon D3000
  • Successor is Nikon D3200
Panasonic ZS45
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 249g - 108 x 60 x 32mm
  • Announced January 2015
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ57
  • Older Model is Panasonic ZS40
  • Successor is Panasonic ZS50
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Nikon D3100 vs Panasonic ZS45 Overview

Its time to look a bit more closely at the Nikon D3100 versus Panasonic ZS45, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Nikon and Panasonic. The resolution of the D3100 (14MP) and the ZS45 (16MP) is relatively similar but the D3100 (APS-C) and ZS45 (1/2.3") feature different sensor measurements.

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The D3100 was released 5 years prior to the ZS45 and that is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Nikon D3100 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic ZS45 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the D3100 matches up against the ZS45 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D3100 over the Panasonic ZS45

 D3100 ZS45 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS45 over the Nikon D3100

 ZS45 D3100 
AnnouncedJanuary 2015December 2010Fresher by 49 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1040k230kCrisper screen (+810k dot)

Common features in the Nikon D3100 and Panasonic ZS45

 D3100 ZS45 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch screen Neither provides Touch screen

Nikon D3100 vs Panasonic ZS45 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry your camera regularly, you will have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Nikon D3100 provides outer dimensions of 124mm x 96mm x 75mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 3.0") with a weight of 505 grams (1.11 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS45 has dimensions of 108mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs).

Examine the Nikon D3100 versus Panasonic ZS45 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. Underneath is the front view dimensions comparison of the D3100 and the ZS45.

Nikon D3100 vs Panasonic ZS45 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the D3100 and ZS45 is 68 and 91 respectively.

Nikon D3100 vs Panasonic ZS45 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D3100 vs Panasonic ZS45 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very difficult to picture the gap between sensor sizing purely by going over specifications. The graphic here should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the D3100 and ZS45.

Plainly, both of the cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The D3100 because of its bigger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh less difficult and the Panasonic ZS45 will offer greater detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The older D3100 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Nikon D3100 vs Panasonic ZS45 sensor size comparison

Nikon D3100 vs Panasonic ZS45 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D3100 vs Panasonic ZS45 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D3100 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS45 as a Portrait photography camera
72
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides face detection focusing
saves RAW files
37
MP count good (16 megapixels)
offers face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon D3100 Street photography details
Panasonic ZS45 Street photography details
58
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
69
tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (249g)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D3100 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS45 as a Sports photography camera
60
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
comes with phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
56
great zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
offers tracking focus
better than average battery pack (350 shots)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D3100 Travel photography details
Panasonic ZS45 Travel photography details
58
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
no Timelapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
71
better than average battery pack (350 CIPA)
lighter than competition in class (249 grams)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (24mm)
very long reach (480mm)
lack of Timelapse function
does not contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D3100 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZS45 as a Landscape photography camera
65
manual focus
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
does not have image stabilization
no Timelapse mode
48
quite wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
better than average battery pack (350 per charge)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D3100 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS45 as a Vlogging camera
27
provides face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
no external microphone jack
34
quite wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (249 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not contain selfie friendly display
lack of microphone port
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Nikon D3100 vs Panasonic ZS45 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D3100 and Panasonic ZS45
 Nikon D3100Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45
General Information
Manufacturer Nikon Panasonic
Model type Nikon D3100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45
Also called as - Lumix DMC-TZ57
Category Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2010-12-21 2015-01-06
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Expeed 2 -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.1 x 15.4mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 355.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3072 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Highest enhanced ISO 12800 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 21
Cross type focus points 1 -
Lens
Lens support Nikon F fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-480mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Available lenses 309 -
Crop factor 1.6 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 1,040 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech TFT LCD monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 6.00 m
Flash modes Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/200s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30, 25, 24 fps), 640 x 424 (24 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4 MPEG-4
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 505 grams (1.11 lb) 249 grams (0.55 lb)
Dimensions 124 x 96 x 75mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 3.0") 108 x 60 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 67 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 919 not tested
Other
Battery life 550 photographs 350 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL14 -
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $565 $300