Updated (February, 2012): Compare the Canon PowerShot S3 IS vs Nikon Coolpix P510

Nikon Coolpix P500

85

"doubles up as an effective video camera thanks to its excellent video mode."
photographyblog.com | talking about the P500's video-quality
"This feature really does seem to make a difference and could mean capturing a successful, sharp shot or missing the opportunity altogether."
photographyblog.com | talking about the P500's image-stabilization

Reasons to buy the Nikon Coolpix P500

Zoom
Great zoom
36x
Movie format
Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
Wide angle
Wide angle lens
23 mm
Screen size
Large screen
3.0"
Screen resolution
High resolution screen
920k dots
High-speed framerate
High speed movies
240 fps
Canon PowerShot S3 IS

45

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Size
Really small
Prosumer size 113x78x76 mm
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Thickness
Thin
3"
Viewfinder
Great viewfinder
Digital

differences

Advantages of the Canon S3 IS

Aperture Significantly wider aperture f/2.7 vs f/3.5
Help
At its widest zoom, the S3 IS's lens captures slightly more light (0.7 f-stops)
Size Smaller 113x78x76 mm vs 116x84x103 mm
Help
More than 30% smaller
Image stabilization Better image stabilization Lens vs Sensor shift
Help
Less risk of blur
Thickness Thinner 3" vs 4.1"
Help
Around 30% thinner
Fastest shutter speed Significantly faster max shutter speed 1/3200s vs 1/2000s
Help
Around 40% faster max shutter speed
Longest exposure Longer exposures 15s vs 8s
Help
Around 90% longer exposures
Canon PowerShot S3 IS Learn more about
the Canon S3 IS

Advantages of the Nikon P500

Wide angle Much better wide angle 23 mm vs 36 mm
Help
Around 40% better wide angle
Zoom Much more zoom 36x vs 12x
Help
9x more zoom
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.0"
Help
More than 50% larger screen
True resolution Much higher true resolution 9.7 MP vs 5.9 MP
Help
Capture more than 60% more detail in your photos
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 480p @ 30fps
Help
Shoots high resolution Full HD (1080p) video
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 115k dots
Help
8x higher resolution screen
Macro focus Much better macro capability 1 cm vs 10 cm
Help
Focus on subjects 10x closer to the lens
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies 240 fps vs None
Help
Capture events too fast for the naked eye and play them back in super-slow motion
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 10 fps vs 1.5 fps
Help
More than 6.5x faster continuous shooting
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 3,200 ISO vs 800 ISO
Help
The P500's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Sensor size Larger sensor 1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm vs 1/2.5" 5.8x4.3mm
Help
More than 10% larger sensor
Weight Slightly lighter 481 g vs 510 g
Help
Around 10% lighter
Nikon Coolpix P500 Learn more about
the Nikon P500
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent super zooms, and ignoring price

Canon PowerShot S3 IS Canon PowerShot S3 IS
45 vs 85
Explain scores
Nikon Coolpix P500 Nikon Coolpix P500
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon Coolpix P500.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent digicams

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Viewfinder Both have digital viewfinders Help
Digital
Weight Heavy Help
S3 IS:510 g
P500:481 g
Thickness Quite thick Help
S3 IS:3"
P500:4.1"
Light sensitivity (boost) No boost ISO Help
Lacks boost light sensitivity
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Size Large Help
S3 IS:113x78x76 mm
P500:116x84x103 mm
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons

Compared to recent super zooms

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

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

External flash No external flash support Help
Less expandable
Supports RAW No RAW support Help
Less editing fidelity
External mic jack Neither has an external mic jack Help
Limited to the in-camera mic

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Powershot SX40

Canon Powershot SX40

Super zoom

$347 - $380

Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Battery life Has a significantly longer battery life
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Super zoom

$420

External flash Supports an external flash
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Light sensitivity Significantly higher maximum light sensitivity
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier
Canon PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$390 - $496

Size Is slightly smaller
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Wide angle Has a much narrower wide angle lens

Canon PowerShot S3 IS Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

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

Sensor size Much larger sensor
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Size Significantly larger
Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$356 - $430

Wide angle Much better wide angle
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Zoom Less zoom
Fujifilm FinePix S5200 Zoom

Fujifilm FinePix S5200 Zoom

Super zoom

Macro focus Much better macro capability
Supports RAW Shoots RAW
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Canon PowerShot S95

Canon PowerShot S95

Pro digicam

$340 - $389

Screen size Much larger screen
Wide angle Much better wide angle
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Zoom Less zoom

Nikon Coolpix P500 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon Coolpix P510

Nikon Coolpix P510

Super zoom

$397 - $400

Zoom Significantly more zoom
Aperture Wider aperture
Wide angle Worse wide angle
Continuous shooting Shoots slower
Fujifilm FinePix HS30 EXR

Fujifilm FinePix HS30 EXR

Super zoom

$438 - $500

Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Battery life Much longer battery life
Zoom Significantly less zoom
Size Much larger
Sony Cybershot DSC-HX100v

Sony Cybershot DSC-HX100v

Super zoom

$409

Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Battery life Much longer battery life
Zoom Significantly less zoom
Wide angle Significantly worse wide angle
Fujifilm FinePix HS20 EXR

Fujifilm FinePix HS20

Super zoom

$299 - $335

Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Zoom Significantly less zoom
Screen resolution Significantly lower resolution screen
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V

Super zoom

$399

Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Zoom Significantly less zoom
Wide angle Significantly worse wide angle

appearance

Canon PowerShot S3 IS Nikon Coolpix P500
Canon PowerShot S3 IS Nikon Coolpix P500
Canon PowerShot S3 IS Nikon Coolpix P500

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