Generally, some of the advantages of the Canon 320 HS compared to super zoom competitors include: it has a much wider wide angle lens (24 mm vs 36 mm), has a much larger screen (3.2" vs 2.5"), has a slightly higher resolution screen (461k dots vs 207k dots), is slightly smaller (super compact (94×57×21 mm) vs prosumer size (117×80×78 mm)) and has better image stabilization (lens vs sensor shift).
However, on average it doesn't have a screen which flips out, has a much shorter battery life (170 shots vs 420 shots), doesn't have a viewfinder (none vs digital), doesn't support an external flash and has a slower max shutter speed (1/2000 of a second vs 1/4000 of a second).
Nikon Coolpix L310
similar age
$270
Significant advantages of the L310 (vs the 320 HS)
- Much longer battery life: 420 shots vs 170 shots
- Significantly faster max shutter speed: 1/4000 of a second vs 1/2000 of a second
Significant disadvantages of the L310 (vs the 320 HS)
- Has a CCD-family sensor: CCD vs CMOS
- Much smaller screen: 3" vs 3.2"
- No touch screen
common strengths of the L310 and 320 HS
- Fairly small: Prosumer size (110×77×78 mm) vs Super compact (94×57×21 mm)
- Light weight: 435 g vs 145 g
- Thin: 3.1" vs 0.8"
Canon PowerShot S5 IS
4 years older
$281
Significant advantages of the S5 IS (vs the 320 HS)
- Has a flip-out screen
- Supports an external flash
- Has a viewfinder: Digital vs None
Significant disadvantages of the S5 IS (vs the 320 HS)
- Much smaller screen: 2.5" vs 3.2"
- Much worse wide angle: 36 mm vs 24 mm
- Has a CCD-family sensor: CCD vs CMOS
common strengths of the S5 IS and 320 HS
- Wide aperture: f/2.7 vs f/2.7
- Fairly small: Prosumer size (117×80×78 mm) vs Super compact (94×57×21 mm)
- Thin: 3.1" vs 0.8"