Canon PowerShot
G11
 vs
Sony Alpha
NEX-3

Updated (June, 2011): Compare the Canon PowerShot G12 vs Sony NEX C3

Canon PowerShot G11

56

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot G11

Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Lens
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Viewfinder
 Great viewfinder
Tunnel
Built-in flash
 Built-in flash
Usually standard
Sony Alpha NEX-3

41
Runner-up

Sony Alpha NEX-3
"Most impressive is that it focuses fast enough to track a subject running full speed at the camera"
imaging-resource.com | talking about the NEX-3's video-quality
"The Sony NEX-3 and NEX-5 are unique cameras that will be remembered for their design as well as their excellent image quality/"
imaging-resource.com | talking about the NEX-3's image-quality

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha NEX-3

Overall image quality
 Great image quality
68.0
Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
920k dots
Light sensitivity
 High ISO
12,800 ISO
Color depth
 Great color depth
22.1 bits
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12 EV
Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
830 ISO

differences

Advantages of the Canon G11
Image stabilization Image stabilization Lens vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
 A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Tunnel vs None
Help
 A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Canon PowerShot G11 Learn more about
the Canon G11

Advantages of the Sony NEX-3
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 68.0 vs 47.0
Help
 More than 40% better image quality
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 461k dots
Help
 Around 2x higher resolution screen
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The NEX-3's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Movie format Higher resolution movies 720p @ 30fps vs 480p @ 30fps
Help
 Shoots high resolution HD (720p) video
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO 830 ISO vs 169 ISO
Help
 The NEX-3 has excellent image quality 2.3 f-stops higher ISO than the G11
Screen size Larger screen 3.0" vs 2.8"
Help
 Around 10% larger screen
Color depth Better color depth 22.1 bits vs 20.4 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.7 more bits of color
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 14 MP vs 10 MP
Help
 Capture more than 40% more detail in your photos
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12 EV vs 11.1 EV
Help
 0.9 f-stops more dynamic range
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
 Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
 More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 7 fps vs 1.1 fps
Help
 Around 6.5x faster continuous shooting
Size Smaller 117x62x33 mm vs 112x76x48 mm
Help
 More than 40% smaller
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
 CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Thickness Thinner 1.3" vs 1.9"
Help
 More than 30% thinner
Weight Lighter 297 g vs 375 g
Help
 More than 20% lighter
Longest exposure Longer exposures 30s vs 15s
Help
 2x longer exposures
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $479.00 vs $703.80
Help
 The best price we've seen is $225 cheaper (more than 30% less)
Sony Alpha NEX-3 Learn more about
the Sony NEX-3
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon PowerShot G11 Canon PowerShot G11
56 vs 41
Explain scores
Sony Alpha NEX-3 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon PowerShot G11. 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 mirrorless interchangeable-lens.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

CanonPowerShot G11
 Canon PowerShot G11 vs Sony Alpha NEX-3
SonyAlpha NEX-3
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
0
1
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
0
1
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
0
1
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
0
1
Vote Vote
Autofocus performance Video focusing
Speed and accuracy
0
1
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
1
0
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/4000 of a second
Movie format Poor movies Help
G11:480p @ 30fps
NEX-3:720p @ 30fps

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the PowerShot G11
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the Alpha NEX-3
Canon PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$389 - $500
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the PowerShot G12 vs the PowerShot G11
Compare the PowerShot G12 vs the Alpha NEX-3
Olympus PEN E-PL1

Olympus PEN E-PL1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$280 - $299 with 14-42mm lens
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
Compare the PEN E-PL1 vs the PowerShot G11
Compare the PEN E-PL1 vs the Alpha NEX-3
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$599 - $600 body only

$698 - $699 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Movie format Records higher quality movies
External mic jack Lacks and external mic jack
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Compare the NEX-5N vs the PowerShot G11
Compare the NEX-5N vs the Alpha NEX-3
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$379 body only

$460 - $550 with 18-55mm lens
Lens availability Much more lenses available
Battery life Has a significantly longer battery life
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the PowerShot G11
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the Alpha NEX-3
Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$414 - $430
Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Compare the Powershot S100 vs the PowerShot G11
Compare the Powershot S100 vs the Alpha NEX-3
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$499 - $949 body only

$579 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the PowerShot G11
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the Alpha NEX-3

Canon PowerShot G11 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon Coolpix P7000

Nikon Coolpix P7000

Pro digicam

$279 - $500
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the Coolpix P7000 vs the PowerShot G11
Canon PowerShot G1X

Canon PowerShot G1X

Boutique

$799
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Macro focus Much worse macro capability
Size Larger
Compare the PowerShot G1X vs the PowerShot G11
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
Compare the PowerShot G10 vs the PowerShot G11
Canon PowerShot S95

Canon PowerShot S95

Pro digicam

$369
Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Macro focus Significantly worse macro capability
Compare the PowerShot S95 vs the PowerShot G11
Canon PowerShot G9

Canon PowerShot G9

Pro digicam
Screen size Larger screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Wide angle Much worse wide angle
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Compare the PowerShot G9 vs the PowerShot G11

Sony Alpha NEX-3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony NEX C3

Sony NEX C3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$499 - $550 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Better image quality
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Compare the NEX C3 vs the Alpha NEX-3
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$597 with 10-30mm lens
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Compare the 1 J1 vs the Alpha NEX-3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$329 - $379 with 14-42mm lens
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF2 vs the Alpha NEX-3
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $984 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Autofocus Faster autofocus
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Screen resolution Significantly lower resolution screen
Compare the D3100 vs the Alpha NEX-3

appearance

Canon PowerShot G11 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Canon PowerShot G11 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Canon PowerShot G11 Sony Alpha NEX-3

Find similar cameras

Here are some links to help you find other cameras with similar features to both of these:

discussion Which do you think is better?

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