Canon A3100 IS vs Nikon S3100

differences

Advantages of the Canon A3100 IS

Wider aperture

f/2.7

f/3.2

At its widest zoom, the A3100 IS's lens captures marginally more light (0.5 f-stops)

Much better macro capability

3 cm

10 cm

Focus on subjects 3.3x closer to the lens

Better image stabilization

Lens

Sensor shift

Less risk of blur

Slightly higher true resolution

9.8 MP

9.7 MP

Almost the same

Slightly larger sensor

1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm

Almost the same

Slightly less shutter lag

390 ms

570 ms

More than 30% less delay when taking photos

Longer exposures

15s

Around 4x longer exposures

Learn more about
the Canon A3100 IS

Advantages of the Nikon S3100

Much better wide angle

26 mm

35 mm

Around 30% better wide angle

Significantly smaller

93x57x18 mm

97x58x28 mm

Around 40% smaller

Higher resolution movies

720p @ 30fps

480p @ 30fps

Shoots high resolution HD (720p) video

Can create panoramas in-camera

Yes

Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective

Significantly thinner

0.7"

1.1"

More than 30% thinner

Better maximum light sensitivity

3,200 ISO

1,600 ISO

The S3100's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better

Significantly lighter

118 g

165 g

Around 30% lighter

Faster max shutter speed

1/2000s

1/1600s

20% faster max shutter speed

Slightly cheaper

$131.95

$157.99

The best price we've seen is $26 cheaper (around 20% less)

Learn more about
the Nikon S3100

recommendations

Relative to the best recent compacts, and ignoring price

Canon PowerShot A3100 IS

45	vs	61
Explain scores

Nikon Coolpix S3100

Snapsort recommends the Nikon Coolpix S3100. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a compact with a ultra compact.

advice

Need help deciding?

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I am considering either the Canon A3100 IS or the Nikon S3100,

For example: Taking photos in low light or great family photos or ability to take great photos underwater

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similarities

Compared to recent compacts

Common Strengths

Common Weaknesses

Inexpensive

A3100 IS:	$157.99
S3100:	$131.95

	Lower-end sensor types
	CCD

	Neither has in-camera HDR
	You could do HDR manually

	Very small screens
	2.7"

	No touchscreens
	More buttons

	Low resolution screens
	230k dots

Poor movies

A3100 IS:	480p @ 30fps
S3100:	720p @ 30fps

Poor zoom

A3100 IS:	4x
S3100:	5x

competitors

Canon PowerShot A2200

Compact

$147

Has boost light sensitivity

Has a slower max shutter speed

Is thicker

Compare the PowerShot A2200 vs the PowerShot A3100 IS

Compare the PowerShot A2200 vs the Coolpix S3100

Canon ELPH 100 HS

Compact

$106 - $189

Records higher quality movies

Has a significantly larger screen

Has a slower max shutter speed

Is slightly heavier

Compare the ELPH 100 HS vs the PowerShot A3100 IS

Compare the ELPH 100 HS vs the Coolpix S3100

Canon PowerShot A3200 IS

Compact

$122 - $174

Has a slower max shutter speed

Is thicker

Compare the PowerShot A3200 IS vs the PowerShot A3100 IS

Compare the PowerShot A3200 IS vs the Coolpix S3100

Canon PowerShot A3300 IS

Compact

$129

Has a significantly larger screen

Has a slower max shutter speed

Is thicker

Compare the PowerShot A3300 IS vs the PowerShot A3100 IS

Compare the PowerShot A3300 IS vs the Coolpix S3100

Canon ELPH 300 HS

Compact

$148 - $179

Records higher quality movies

Has a slightly wider wide angle lens

Is slightly heavier

Compare the ELPH 300 HS vs the PowerShot A3100 IS

Compare the ELPH 300 HS vs the Coolpix S3100

Nikon Coolpix S3000

Compact

$167

Significantly worse macro focusing

Has worse image stabilization

Compare the Coolpix S3000 vs the PowerShot A3100 IS

Compare the Coolpix S3000 vs the Coolpix S3100

Canon PowerShot A2300 IS

Compact

$129

Has a slightly narrower wide angle lens

Compare the PowerShot A2300 IS vs the PowerShot A3100 IS

Compare the PowerShot A2300 IS vs the Coolpix S3100

Canon PowerShot A800

Compact

$84 - $90

Better macro capability

Cheaper

No image stabilization

Narrower aperture

Compare the PowerShot A800 vs the PowerShot A3100 IS

Nikon Coolpix S2600

Compact

$122

Slightly larger sensor

Does not take movies

Lacks in-camera panoramic stitching

Compare the Coolpix S2600 vs the Coolpix S3100

Nikon Coolpix S3300

Compact

$120

Significantly better macro capability

Slightly more zoom

Narrower aperture

Lacks in-camera panoramic stitching

Compare the Coolpix S3300 vs the Coolpix S3100

Nikon Coolpix S4100

Compact

Higher resolution movies

Significantly larger screen

No image stabilization

Lacks in-camera panoramic stitching

Compare the Coolpix S4100 vs the Coolpix S3100

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Canon PowerShot
A3100 IS
vs
Nikon Coolpix
S3100

Nikon Coolpix S3100

Reasons to buy the Nikon Coolpix S3100

Canon PowerShot A3100 IS

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot A3100 IS

recommendations

Relative to the best recent compacts, and ignoring price

differences

Advantages of the Canon A3100 IS

Advantages of the Nikon S3100

recommendations

Relative to the best recent compacts, and ignoring price

advice

Need help deciding?

similarities

Compared to recent compacts

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon PowerShot A2200

Canon ELPH 100 HS

Canon PowerShot A3200 IS

Canon PowerShot A3300 IS

Canon ELPH 300 HS

Nikon Coolpix S3000

Canon PowerShot A2300 IS

Canon PowerShot A3100 IS Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon PowerShot A800

Nikon Coolpix S3100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon Coolpix S2600

Nikon Coolpix S3300

Nikon Coolpix S4100

appearance

discussion

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Canon PowerShotA3100 IS vs Nikon CoolpixS3100

Nikon Coolpix S3100

Reasons to buy the Nikon Coolpix S3100

Canon PowerShot A3100 IS

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot A3100 IS

recommendations

Relative to the best recent compacts, and ignoring price

differences

Advantages of the Canon A3100 IS

Advantages of the Nikon S3100

recommendations

Relative to the best recent compacts, and ignoring price

advice

Need help deciding?

similarities

Compared to recent compacts

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon PowerShot A2200

Canon ELPH 100 HS

Canon PowerShot A3200 IS

Canon PowerShot A3300 IS

Canon ELPH 300 HS

Nikon Coolpix S3000

Canon PowerShot A2300 IS

Canon PowerShot A3100 IS Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon PowerShot A800

Nikon Coolpix S3100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon Coolpix S2600

Nikon Coolpix S3300

Nikon Coolpix S4100

appearance

discussion

Showing 0 comments

Canon PowerShot
A3100 IS
vs
Nikon Coolpix
S3100