Updated (September, 2011): Compare the Canon Powershot S100 vs Sony NEX C3

Canon Powershot S100

80

Reasons to buy the Canon Powershot S100

Aperture
Wide aperture
f/2.0
Movie format
Full HD
1080p @ 24fps
Wide angle
Wide angle lens
24 mm
High-speed framerate
High speed movies
240 fps
Supports 24p
24p movies
For that film look
Continuous shooting
Rapid fire
10 fps
Sony Alpha NEX-3

47

Runner-up

Sony Alpha NEX-3

"The Sony NEX-3 and NEX-5 are unique cameras that will be remembered for their design as well as their excellent image quality/"
imaging-resource.com | talking about the NEX-3's image-quality
"Most impressive is that it focuses fast enough to track a subject running full speed at the camera"
imaging-resource.com | talking about the NEX-3's video-quality

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha NEX-3

Overall image quality
Great image quality
68.0
Screen resolution
High resolution screen
920k dots
True resolution
High true resolution
14 MP
Light sensitivity
High ISO
12,800 ISO
Startup delay
Almost no delay when powering up
1000 ms startup delay
Color depth
Great color depth
22.1 bits

differences

Advantages of the Canon S100

Image stabilization Image stabilization Lens vs None
Help
Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 24fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video but at a lower frame rate
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
Get that real film feel
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies 240 fps vs None
Help
Capture events too fast for the naked eye and play them back in super-slow motion
GPS Has a GPS Yes vs No
Help
Automatically geotags your photos when traveling
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 10 fps vs 7 fps
Help
More than 40% faster continuous shooting
Size Slightly smaller 99x60x28 mm vs 117x62x33 mm
Help
More than 30% smaller
Weight Lighter 198 g vs 297 g
Help
More than 30% lighter
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs None
Help
Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Thickness Slightly thinner 1.1" vs 1.3"
Help
Around 20% thinner
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $371.99 vs $689.00
Help
The best price we've seen is $317 cheaper (around 50% less)
Canon Powershot S100 Learn more about
the Canon S100

Advantages of the Sony NEX-3

Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 68.0 vs 50.0
Help
Around 40% better image quality
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 461k dots
Help
Around 2x higher resolution screen
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
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
Sensor size Much larger sensor APS-C 23.4x15.6mm vs 1/1.8" 7.5x5.5mm
Help
Around 9x larger sensor
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
Color depth Better color depth 22.1 bits vs 20.7 bits
Help
Distinguishes 1.4 more bits of color
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
The NEX-3's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 830 ISO vs 153 ISO
Help
The NEX-3 has excellent image quality 2.4 f-stops higher ISO than the S100
Startup delay Less startup delay 1000 ms vs 2400 ms
Help
2.4x less delay when turning on
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12 EV vs 11.6 EV
Help
0.4 f-stops more dynamic range
True resolution Higher true resolution 14 MP vs 12 MP
Help
Capture around 20% more detail in your photos
Focus points More focus points 25 vs 9
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Battery life Longer battery life 330 shots vs 200 shots
Help
Around 70% more shots per battery charge
External flash Supports an external flash Yes vs No
Help
An external flash often produces better looking flash images
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 441 ms vs 571 ms
Help
More than 20% less delay when taking photos
Fastest shutter speed Significantly faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/2000s
Help
2x faster max shutter speed
Longest exposure Longer exposures 30s vs 15s
Help
2x longer exposures
Sony Alpha NEX-3 Learn more about
the Sony NEX-3
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon Powershot S100 Canon Powershot S100
80 vs 47
Explain scores
Sony Alpha NEX-3 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon Powershot S100. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a pro digicam with a mirrorless interchangeable-lens.

advice

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votes
by Riya-Bkk this month
Canon S100 vs Sony NEX-3

I'm a beginner and the types of photo I like to take is the children's action. The features i...

One person recommends the Canon S100:

" The S100 is an amazing camera for its size, its very small and compact which will make it easy t..."

0
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by Bill-Burr this month
Canon S100 vs Sony NEX-3

i want to be able to take quality landscapes that you can enlarge to poster size  take nice peop...

0
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by drrazariz last month
Nikon D3100 vs Sony NEX-3

Am a beginner. Want to get a camera for my wedding and honeymoon pictures. Preferably camera tha...

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by Aaron-McGee this month
Canon S100 vs Olympus E-PM1

Quality and a long lasting product are important. Ease of use of controls and functions, too. I ...

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by Amy-Elser this month
Sony C3 vs Sony NEX-3

I am essentially a beginner.  I'd like to  try to video my kids events and pull pictures from th...

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
HDR Both have in-camera, most cameras like these don't Help
Combines multiple exposures
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting weaknesses shared by these two products.

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$390 - $496

Macro focus Slightly closer macro focusing
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Sensor type Has a CCD-family sensor
Thickness Is thicker
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Pro digicam

$325

Macro focus Slightly closer macro focusing
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures
Sensor type Has a CCD-family sensor
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$547 with 10-30mm lens

High-speed framerate Records even higher-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
True resolution Takes slightly lower resolution photos
Canon Powershot SX40

Canon Powershot SX40

Super zoom

$347 - $380

Zoom Has way more more zoom
Macro focus Slightly closer macro focusing
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$598 - $600 body only

$698 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$469 body only

Touch screen Has a touch screen
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Nikon 1 V1

Nikon 1 V1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$797 - $947 with 10-30mm lens

High-speed framerate Records even higher-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Thickness Is thicker
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature

Canon Powershot S100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon PowerShot S95

Canon PowerShot S95

Pro digicam

$340 - $389

Startup delay Slightly less startup delay
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Wide angle Significantly worse wide angle
Nikon Coolpix P310

Nikon Coolpix P310

Pro digicam

$300 - $315

Focus points Many more focus points
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Supports 24p No 24p support
High-speed framerate Doesn't record high-speed movies
Olympus XZ-1

Olympus XZ-1

Pro digicam

$499 - $500

Screen type Has an OLED screen
Aperture Wider aperture
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Wide angle Significantly worse wide angle
Fujifilm Finepix X10

Fujifilm Finepix X10

Pro digicam

$599

Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera
Focus points Significantly more focus points
Wide angle Significantly worse wide angle
Supports 24p No 24p support
Canon PowerShot SX260 HS

Canon PowerShot SX260 HS

Travel zoom

$299

Zoom Significantly more zoom
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera
Aperture Much narrower aperture
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR

Sony Alpha NEX-3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Dynamic range More dynamic range
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Sony NEX C3

Sony NEX C3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$548 with 16mm lens

Overall image quality Better image quality
True resolution Higher true resolution
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Autofocus Faster autofocus
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Olympus PEN E-PL1

Olympus PEN E-PL1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$260 - $279 with 14-42mm lens

Image stabilization Image stabilization
Built-in flash Built-in flash
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Screen size Significantly smaller screen

appearance

Canon Powershot S100 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Canon Powershot S100 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Canon Powershot S100 Sony Alpha NEX-3

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