Updated (April, 2012): Compare the Canon PowerShot G10 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 G10

51

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot G10

Size
Really small
Mid size 109x78x46 mm
Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Lens
Thickness
Thin
1.8"
Weight
Light-weight
390 g

differences

Advantages of the Canon G10

Image stabilization Image stabilization Lens vs None
Help
Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Size Significantly smaller 109x78x46 mm vs 124x96x73 mm
Help
2.3x smaller
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 461k dots vs 230k dots
Help
More than 2x higher resolution screen
Thickness Thinner 1.8" vs 2.9"
Help
Around 40% thinner
Weight Lighter 390 g vs 505 g
Help
More than 20% lighter
True resolution Slightly higher true resolution 14.6 MP vs 14.2 MP
Help
Almost the same
Canon PowerShot G10 Learn more about
the Canon G10

Advantages of the Nikon D3100

Overall image quality Much better image quality 67.0 vs 37.0
Help
More than 80% better image quality
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 24fps vs 480p @ 30fps
Help
Shoots high resolution Full HD (1080p) video but at a lower frame rate
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
Color depth Better color depth 22.5 bits vs 19 bits
Help
Distinguishes 3.5 more bits of color
Sensor size Much larger sensor APS-C 23.1x15.4mm vs 1/1.7" 7.6x5.7mm
Help
More than 8x larger sensor
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 919 ISO vs 156 ISO
Help
The D3100 has excellent image quality 2.6 f-stops higher ISO than the G10
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.3 EV vs 10 EV
Help
1.3 f-stops more dynamic range
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 3 fps vs 0.7 fps
Help
Around 4.5x 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
Viewfinder Has a through-the-lens viewfinder Pentamirror vs Tunnel
Help
Through-the-lens viewfinders let you see exactly what your photo will look like
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 G10 Canon PowerShot G10
51 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 pro digicam 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:

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1
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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
True resolution Capture very high resolution images Help
G10:14.6 MP
D3100:14.2 MP
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
G10:Tunnel
D3100:Pentamirror
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/4000 of a second
Weight Heavy Help
G10:390 g
D3100:505 g
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

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

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

Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Nikon Coolpix P510

Nikon Coolpix P510

Super zoom

$397 - $400

Zoom Has way more more zoom
Wide angle Has a significantly wider wide angle lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Longest exposure Slightly shorter exposures
Canon Powershot SX40

Canon Powershot SX40

Super zoom

$347 - $380

Zoom Has way more more zoom
Wide angle Has a significantly wider wide angle lens
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier

Canon PowerShot G10 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$390 - $496

Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Screen size Smaller screen
True resolution Significantly lower true resolution
Canon PowerShot G1X

Canon PowerShot G1X

Boutique

$799 - $800

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Macro focus Much worse macro capability
Size Larger
Canon PowerShot G11

Canon PowerShot G11

Pro digicam

$672

Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Overall image quality Better image quality
Screen size Smaller screen
True resolution Significantly lower true resolution
Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$356 - $430

Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Movie format Higher resolution movies
True resolution Lower true resolution
Macro focus Worse macro capability
Canon PowerShot G9

Canon PowerShot G9

Pro digicam

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Size Slightly smaller
Wide angle Much worse wide angle
Screen resolution Lower resolution screen

Nikon D3100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Size Slightly larger
Weight Slightly heavier
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
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
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus
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 G10 Nikon D3100
Canon PowerShot G10 Nikon D3100
Canon PowerShot G10 Nikon D3100

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