Updated (April, 2012): Compare the Canon PowerShot A480 vs Nikon D3200

Nikon D3100

65

Winner

Nikon D3100

"It's almost impossible to pick up without your hand falling into a sensible position with the key controls at your fingertips."
dpreview.com | talking about the D3100's button-layout
"Thanks to its lineage the D3100 remains one of the most pleasant to hold cameras in its class."
dpreview.com | talking about the D3100's feel

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3100

Movie format
Full HD
1080p @ 24fps
Supports 24p
24p movies
For that film look
Movie continuous focus
Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Badge
Autofocuses shooting video
Contrast detection
Live view
Has live view
Preview your photos
Canon PowerShot A480

32

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot A480

Size
Really small
Compact 92x62x31 mm
Thickness
Thin
1.2"
Weight
Light-weight
140 g

differences

Advantages of the Canon A480

Size Significantly smaller 92x62x31 mm vs 124x96x73 mm
Help
5x smaller
Weight Significantly lighter 140 g vs 505 g
Help
3.6x lighter
Thickness Significantly thinner 1.2" vs 2.9"
Help
2.4x thinner
Lowest price Cheaper $137.15 vs $499.99
Help
The best price we've seen is $363 cheaper (3.6x less)
Canon PowerShot A480 Learn more about
the Canon A480

Advantages of the Nikon D3100

Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 24fps vs 480p @ 20fps
Help
Shoots high resolution Full HD (1080p) video at a higher frame rate
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.5"
Help
More than 20% larger screen
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
Catch candid moments easily
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
Get that real film feel
Sensor size Much larger sensor APS-C 23.1x15.4mm vs 1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm
Help
Around 12.5x larger sensor
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 14.2 MP vs 9.8 MP
Help
Capture more than 40% more detail in your photos
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
Supports RAW Shoots RAW Yes vs No
Help
Digitally develop your own photos with precise image control
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 230k dots vs 115k dots
Help
2x higher resolution screen
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Pentamirror vs None
Help
A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
External flash Supports an external flash Yes vs No
Help
An external flash often produces better looking flash images
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 3 fps vs 0.8 fps
Help
Around 4x faster continuous shooting
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 3,200 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
The D3100's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
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
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
Nikon D3100 Learn more about
the Nikon D3100
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon PowerShot A480 Canon PowerShot A480
32 vs 65
Explain scores
Nikon D3100 Nikon D3100
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3100. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a compact with a entry-level DSLR.

advice

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0
votes
by Sooraj-Nair this month
Canon 500D vs Nikon D3100

Which one should I buy canon 550d or nikon 3100?

One person recommends the Nikon D3100:

" The Nikon D3100 has better low light image quality, it takes excellent quality photos up to 919 ..."

1
votes
by Kelly-Charpie 6 days ago
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D7000

I am not a beginner nor am I am expert.. in between I suppose. I've worked for professional phot...

0
votes
by Faizaan-Ahmad last month
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D7000

I am a beginner enthusiast and have been learning photography on nikon p7000 for almost a year. no...

One person recommends the Nikon D7000:

" He is willing to learn,might outgrow the D3100 then wishing he would have invested in the D7000...."

1
votes
by Lance-Villanueva-Ramos last month
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90

Beginner,capturing the moment of different events

2 people recommend the Nikon D3100:

" D3100 is going to have better video capabilities which you outlined as a need, image quality wil..."

"The D3100 is better for beginners because it has a great guide that will help you set up the camer..."

0
votes
by Kate-Hughes 3 days ago
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90

I am a beginner is DSLR photography & have been researching entry level models. I kep coming bac...

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

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

Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
A480:115k dots
D3100:230k dots

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens

Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
Dynamic range Has significantly wider dynamic range
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Canon Powershot SX40

Canon Powershot SX40

Super zoom

$347 - $380

Aperture Has a slightly wider aperture
Zoom Has way more more zoom
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier

Canon PowerShot A480 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon PowerShot A800

Canon PowerShot A800

Compact

$84 - $90

Weight Slightly heavier
Canon PowerShot A490

Canon PowerShot A490

Compact

$102

Weight Slightly heavier
Canon PowerShot A1200

Canon PowerShot A1200

Compact

$69

Wide angle Much better wide angle
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Macro focus Worse macro capability
Weight Slightly heavier
Canon PowerShot A495

Canon PowerShot A495

Compact

$109

Weight Slightly heavier
Canon PowerShot A2200

Canon PowerShot A2200

Compact

$147

Wide angle Much better wide angle
Screen size Larger screen
Macro focus Worse macro capability
Fastest shutter speed Slower max shutter speed

Nikon D3100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$333 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens

Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Battery life Longer battery life
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus
Battery life Shorter battery life
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Thickness Slightly thicker
Lowest price Slightly more expensive
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus
Startup delay More startup delay
Nikon D3000

Nikon D3000

Entry-level DSLR

$481 with 18-55mm lens

Size Slightly smaller
Thickness Thinner
Movie format Does not take movies
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus

appearance

Canon PowerShot A480 Nikon D3100
Canon PowerShot A480 Nikon D3100
Canon PowerShot A480 Nikon D3100

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