Canon PowerShot
G12
 vs
Nikon
D3100

Updated (March, 2012): Compare the Canon PowerShot G1X vs Nikon D3200

Nikon D3100

72

  
Canon PowerShot G12

55

  
Winner

Nikon D3100

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3100

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 24fps
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
 

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot G12

Size
 Really small
Mid size 112x76x48 mm
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Lens
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Thickness
 Thin
1.9"
Weight
 Light-weight
401 g
 

differences

Advantages of the Canon G12
Image stabilization Image stabilization Lens vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
 Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
Size Smaller 112x76x48 mm vs 124x96x73 mm
Help
 2.2x smaller
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Thickness Thinner 1.9" vs 2.9"
Help
 More than 30% thinner
Weight Lighter 401 g vs 505 g
Help
 More than 20% lighter
Canon PowerShot G12 Learn more about
the Canon G12

Advantages of the Nikon D3100
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 67.0 vs 47.0
Help
 More than 40% better image quality
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
Startup delay Much less startup delay 400 ms vs 2700 ms
Help
 6.8x less delay when turning on
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 24fps vs 720p @ 24fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video
Screen size Larger screen 3.0" vs 2.8"
Help
 Around 10% larger screen
Color depth Better color depth 22.5 bits vs 20.4 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 2.1 more bits of color
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor APS-C 23.1x15.4mm vs 1/1.7" 7.6x5.7mm
Help
 More than 8x larger sensor
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
 Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 919 ISO vs 161 ISO
Help
 The D3100 has excellent image quality 2.5 f-stops higher ISO than the G12
True resolution Higher true resolution 14.2 MP vs 10 MP
Help
 Capture more than 40% more detail in your photos
Battery life Longer battery life 550 shots vs 350 shots
Help
 Around 60% more shots per battery charge
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
 CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 279 ms vs 380 ms
Help
 Around 30% less delay when taking photos
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
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
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 3 fps vs 2 fps
Help
 50% faster continuous shooting
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.3 EV vs 11.2 EV
Help
 0.1 f-stops more dynamic range
Lowest price Cheaper $399.00 vs $971.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $572 cheaper (2.4x less)
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 G12 Canon PowerShot G12
55 vs 72
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.

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Supports 24p Both support 24p, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
For that film look
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
G12:Tunnel
D3100:Pentamirror
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/4000 of a second
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Weight Heavy Help
G12:401 g
D3100:505 g
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
G12:11.2 EV
D3100:11.3 EV

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$332 body only

$429 - $499 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
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D3100
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$597 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Dynamic range Has significantly wider dynamic range
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D5100 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the D5100 vs the D3100
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$599 - $649 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D3100
Nikon Coolpix P510

Nikon Coolpix P510

Super zoom

$335 - $347
Zoom Has way more more zoom
Wide angle Has a slightly wider wide angle lens
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Coolpix P510 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the Coolpix P510 vs the D3100
Canon PowerShot SX50 HS

Canon PowerShot SX50 HS

Super zoom

$429 - $450
Zoom Has way more more zoom
Wide angle Has a slightly wider wide angle lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the PowerShot SX50 HS vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the PowerShot SX50 HS vs the D3100
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$497 with 10-30mm lens
Size Is slightly smaller
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Viewfinder Doesn't have a viewfinder
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Compare the 1 J1 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the 1 J1 vs the D3100

Canon PowerShot G12 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon PowerShot G1X

Canon PowerShot G1X

Boutique

$649
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Overall image quality Better image quality
Macro focus Much worse macro capability
Size Larger
Compare the PowerShot G1X vs the PowerShot G12
Nikon Coolpix P7100

Nikon Coolpix P7100

Pro digicam

$299
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Screen size Larger screen
Supports 24p No 24p support
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the Coolpix P7100 vs the PowerShot G12
Canon PowerShot G11

Canon PowerShot G11

Pro digicam
Battery life Much longer battery life
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay
Supports 24p No 24p support
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Compare the PowerShot G11 vs the PowerShot G12
Fujifilm Finepix X10

Fujifilm Finepix X10

Pro digicam

$549
Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Supports 24p No 24p support
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Compare the Finepix X10 vs the PowerShot G12
Canon PowerShot G10

Canon PowerShot G10

Pro digicam
Battery life Much longer battery life
Screen size Larger screen
Supports 24p No 24p support
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Compare the PowerShot G10 vs the PowerShot G12

Nikon D3100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Lowest price Slightly more expensive
Compare the D3200 vs the D3100
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$675 - $899 body only

$799 - $1,099 with 18-105mm lens
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Dynamic range More dynamic range
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Compare the D90 vs the D3100
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$550 body only

$609 with 18-55mm lens
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus
Battery life Shorter battery life
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D3100
Nikon D3000

Nikon D3000

Entry-level DSLR

$436 with 18-55mm lens
Size Slightly smaller
Thickness Thinner
Movie format Does not take movies
Live view No live view
Compare the D3000 vs the D3100

appearance

Canon PowerShot G12 Nikon D3100
Canon PowerShot G12 Nikon D3100
Canon PowerShot G12 Nikon D3100

discussion

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