Updated (February, 2012): Compare the Canon PowerShot SX230 HS vs Nikon Coolpix S9300

Canon PowerShot SX230 HS

85

"The camera's controls are a mix of good and bad"
reviews.cnet.com | talking about the SX230 HS's button-layout
"HS has good low-light photo quality for its class"
reviews.cnet.com | talking about the SX230 HS's image-quality

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot SX230 HS

GPS
Built-in GPS
Great for travel
Supports 24p
24p movies
For that film look
Panorama
In-camera panoramas
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
Nikon Coolpix S9100

78

"Full HD video"
trustedreviews.com | talking about the S9100's video-quality
"the S9100 is slickly styled like a high end enthusiasts' compact complete with top plate mode dial, sunken flash and stereo microphones."
trustedreviews.com | talking about the S9100's overall-performance

Reasons to buy the Nikon Coolpix S9100

Zoom
Great zoom
18x
Screen resolution
High resolution screen
921k dots
Continuous shooting
Rapid fire
9.5 fps
HDR
In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Panorama
In-camera panoramas
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
Battery life
Great battery life
270 shots

differences

Advantages of the Canon SX230 HS

GPS Has a GPS Yes vs No
Help
Automatically geotags your photos when traveling
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
Get that real film feel
Aperture Wider aperture f/3.1 vs f/3.5
Help
At its widest zoom, the SX230 HS's lens captures marginally more light (0.4 f-stops)
Size Smaller 106x59x33 mm vs 105x62x35 mm
Help
Around 10% smaller
Image stabilization Better image stabilization Lens, Sensor shift vs Sensor shift
Help
Less risk of blur
True resolution Slightly higher true resolution 9.8 MP vs 9.7 MP
Help
Almost the same
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor 1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm vs 1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm
Help
Almost the same
Thickness Thinner 1.3" vs 1.4"
Help
Around 10% thinner
Fastest shutter speed Significantly faster max shutter speed 1/3200s vs 1/2000s
Help
Around 40% faster max shutter speed
Longest exposure Longer exposures 15s vs 1s
Help
15x longer exposures
Canon PowerShot SX230 HS Learn more about
the Canon SX230 HS

Advantages of the Nikon S9100

Zoom Significantly more zoom 18x vs 14x
Help
Around 70% more zoom
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle 25 mm vs 28 mm
Help
More than 10% better wide angle
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen 921k dots vs 461k dots
Help
Around 2x higher resolution screen
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 9.5 fps vs 3.2 fps
Help
Around 3x faster continuous shooting
Battery life Longer battery life 270 shots vs 210 shots
Help
Around 30% more shots per battery charge
Macro focus Better macro capability 4 cm vs 5 cm
Help
Focus on subjects 20% closer to the lens
Nikon Coolpix S9100 Learn more about
the Nikon S9100
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent travel zooms, and ignoring price

Canon PowerShot SX230 HS Canon PowerShot SX230 HS
85 vs 78
Explain scores
Nikon Coolpix S9100 Nikon Coolpix S9100
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon PowerShot SX230 HS.

advice

Need help deciding?

Ask the community!

I am considering either the Canon SX230 HS or the Nikon S9100,
For example: Taking photos in low light or great family photos or ability to take great photos underwater

Select aspects that are most important to you: (max 3)

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Are you a camera expert? Share your knowledge!

0
votes
by Bobby-Butler last month
Canon SX230 HS vs Nikon S9100

Hi I have been looking at nikon coolpix p 300 and nikon p310 read your review vs 300 against 310 r...

One person recommends the Canon SX230 HS:

"Hi Bobby, I think the Canon PowerShot SX230 would be a great camera, it has 14x zoom which will be..."

0
votes
by Vicky-Armstrong last month
Canon SX230 HS vs Nikon S9100

I want a camera that I can use for continuous shooting to get some decent action shots of my 2 l...

2
votes
by Jamie-Henry-Tinnemeyer this month
Canon SX230 HS vs Panasonic DMC-ZS10

Looking for a nice digital camera, not sure if I should go for a canon, nikon, or panasonic.  I ...

6 people recommend the Canon SX230 HS:

" Easier to use and more colorful and faster performance. :)"

" Which do you recommend and why?   I think Canon makes the best P&S cameras and I'm a Nikon D..."

" I think you should have a closer look at the Canon Powershot SX230 HS. It's a good allround Came..."

One person recommends the Panasonic DMC-ZS10:

" Hey, Jamie. I used too many point and shoot cameras in last 9 years.. Just enter the world o..."

0
votes
by Victoria-Gutierrez-Calvi-o last month
Canon SX230 HS vs Canon SX40

I like taking portraits of my kids, family vacations, filming short videos of my kids.

0
votes
by Jim-Allan this month
Fujifilm F600 EXR vs Nikon S9100

Bit of a beginner - have considered the Fujifilm F600EXR, the Nikon S9100, the Canon Powershot S...

similarities

Compared to recent compacts

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Zoom Great zoom Help
SX230 HS:14x
S9100:18x
Movie format Both shoot high resolution HD movies Help
1080p @ 30fps
High-speed framerate Very high speed movies Help
240 fps
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Panorama In-camera panoramas Help
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
Thickness Quite thick Help
SX230 HS:1.3"
S9100:1.4"
Weight Heavy Help
SX230 HS:215 g
S9100:214 g
Size Large Help
SX230 HS:106x59x33 mm
S9100:105x62x35 mm
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons

Compared to recent travel zooms

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

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

3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9v

Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9v

Travel zoom

$319

3D Captures 3D images
Longest exposure Slightly longer exposures
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Canon PowerShot SX260 HS

Canon PowerShot SX260 HS

Travel zoom

$294 - $299

Zoom Has slightly more zoom
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Aperture Has a slightly narrower aperture
Canon PowerShot SX220 HS

Canon PowerShot SX220 HS

Travel zoom

$281 - $332

Panorama Lacks a built in panoramas
Wide angle Has a slightly narrower wide angle lens
Nikon Coolpix S9300

Nikon Coolpix S9300

Travel zoom

$300 - $327

3D Captures 3D images
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
High-speed framerate Records less high-speed movies
Nikon Coolpix S8200

Nikon Coolpix S8200

Travel zoom

$229

Macro focus Slightly closer macro focusing
High-speed framerate Doesn't record high-speed movies
Canon PowerShot SX240 HS

Canon PowerShot SX240 HS

Travel zoom

$354 - $419

Zoom Has slightly more zoom
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Aperture Has a slightly narrower aperture
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10

Travel zoom

$328

Touch screen Has a touch screen
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost light sensitivity
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Panorama Lacks a built in panoramas

Canon PowerShot SX230 HS Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon PowerShot SX230 HS.

Nikon Coolpix S9100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon Coolpix S8100

Nikon Coolpix S8100

Travel zoom

$100

Size Smaller
Macro focus Better macro capability
Zoom Much less zoom
Wide angle Much worse wide angle

appearance

Canon PowerShot SX230 HS Nikon Coolpix S9100
Canon PowerShot SX230 HS Nikon Coolpix S9100
Canon PowerShot SX230 HS Nikon Coolpix S9100

discussion

Showing 3 comments

Bob (3:39 PM, September 27, 2011)
I have a Nikon & very disapointed. It seems to be out of focus. Asy sugestions?
 
Erosewater6040 (11:22 PM, July 29, 2011)
The Nikon has approximately 30% more zoom, not %70.
 
Samiam (6:24 AM, April 11, 2011)
What?! How does Snapsport come up with 70% more zoom? And how do these two get even results - both 88's?
It's 14X vs 18X; It's 392mm vs 450mm; how is that 70%? The Nikon does start wider at 25mm vs 28mm for the Canon.
A friend just bought the S9100, and I played around with it for a couple hours. I can tell you the S9100 feels a lot larger in-hand and in-pocket.
Nikon included no manual controls on the S9100, very limited ISO choices (starts at 160 ugh!), no aperture priority, no shutter priority. It's like a big version of of a basic P&S for kids or something.
Before seriously considering the Nikon S9100, compare IQ between the two - no contest, Canon wins this one by a land slide.