Updated (April, 2011): Compare the Canon PowerShot G12 vs Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

100

Winner

Nikon D5100

"Sophisticated AF system for the price"
dpreview.com | talking about the D5100's auto-focus
"On the whole the D5100's movies are look great, with smooth motion and impressively low noise in dim light."
dpreview.com | talking about the D5100's video-quality

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5100

Overall image quality
Great image quality
80.0
Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
13 EV
Low light performance
Low noise at high ISO
1,183 ISO
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Movie continuous focus
Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Canon PowerShot G11

55

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot G11

Size
Really small
Mid size 112x76x48 mm
Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Lens
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Thickness
Thin
1.9"
Weight
Light-weight
375 g

differences

Advantages of the Canon G11

Image stabilization Image stabilization Lens vs None
Help
Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Size Significantly smaller 112x76x48 mm vs 127x96x78 mm
Help
2.4x smaller
Thickness Thinner 1.9" vs 3.1"
Help
Around 40% thinner
Weight Lighter 375 g vs 560 g
Help
More than 30% lighter
Canon PowerShot G11 Learn more about
the Canon G11

Advantages of the Nikon D5100

Overall image quality Much better image quality 80.0 vs 47.0
Help
More than 70% better image quality
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 480p @ 30fps
Help
Shoots high resolution Full HD (1080p) video
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
Catch candid moments easily
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
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
Get that real film feel
Color depth Better color depth 23.5 bits vs 20.4 bits
Help
Distinguishes 3.1 more bits of color
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 16.1 MP vs 10 MP
Help
Capture more than 60% more detail in your photos
Screen size Larger screen 3.0" vs 2.8"
Help
Around 10% larger screen
Sensor size Much larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.6mm vs 1/1.7" 7.6x5.7mm
Help
Around 8.5x larger sensor
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13 EV vs 11.1 EV
Help
1.9 f-stops more dynamic range
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 1,183 ISO vs 169 ISO
Help
The D5100 has excellent image quality 2.8 f-stops higher ISO than the G11
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The D5100's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 4 fps vs 1.1 fps
Help
More than 3.5x faster continuous shooting
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 25,600 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
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $499.99 vs $671.89
Help
The best price we've seen is $172 cheaper (around 30% less)
Nikon D5100 Learn more about
the Nikon D5100
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon PowerShot G11 Canon PowerShot G11
55 vs 100
Explain scores
Nikon D5100 Nikon D5100
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D5100. 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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One person recommends the Nikon D5100:

" its all about ISO and better GLASS"

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
G11:Tunnel
D5100:Pentamirror
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/4000 of a second
Weight Heavy Help
G11:375 g
D5100:560 g
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

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

True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is 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 Has a slightly longer battery life
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Thickness Is thicker
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$598 - $600 body only

$698 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

Light sensitivity Much higher maximum light sensitivity
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Viewfinder Doesn't have a viewfinder
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash

Canon PowerShot G11 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$390 - $496

Supports 24p Supports 24p
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Weight Slightly heavier
Canon PowerShot G1X

Canon PowerShot G1X

Boutique

$799 - $800

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Macro focus Much worse macro capability
Size Larger
Canon PowerShot G10

Canon PowerShot G10

Pro digicam

Screen size Larger screen
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Nikon Coolpix P7000

Nikon Coolpix P7000

Pro digicam

$249

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$356 - $430

Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Macro focus Worse macro capability

Nikon D5100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Much higher true resolution
Weight Lighter
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Size Slightly smaller
Weight Slightly lighter
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens

Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder
Movie format Lower resolution movies
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Weather sealed Weather sealed
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Size Smaller
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Overall image quality Worse image quality

appearance

Canon PowerShot G11 Nikon D5100
Canon PowerShot G11 Nikon D5100
Canon PowerShot G11 Nikon D5100

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