Canon SD1200 IS vs Nikon S3100

differences

Advantages of the Canon SD1200 IS

Wider aperture

f/2.8

f/3.2

At its widest zoom, the SD1200 IS's lens captures marginally more light (0.4 f-stops)

Much better macro capability

3 cm

10 cm

Focus on subjects 3.3x closer to the lens

Has a viewfinder

Tunnel

None

A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off

Better image stabilization

Lens

Sensor shift

Less risk of blur

Slightly higher true resolution

9.8 MP

9.7 MP

Almost the same

Slightly larger sensor

1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm

Almost the same

Longer exposures

15s

Around 4x longer exposures

Learn more about
the Canon SD1200 IS

Advantages of the Nikon S3100

Much better wide angle

26 mm

35 mm

Around 30% better wide angle

Higher resolution movies

720p @ 30fps

480p @ 30fps

Shoots high resolution HD (720p) video

Can create panoramas in-camera

Yes

Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective

Larger screen

2.7"

2.5"

Around 10% larger screen

Better maximum light sensitivity

3,200 ISO

1,600 ISO

The S3100's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better

Slightly more zoom

Around 3x more zoom

Thinner

0.7"

0.9"

Around 20% thinner

Slightly smaller

93x57x18 mm

86x55x22 mm

Almost the same

Significantly faster max shutter speed

1/2000s

1/1500s

More than 20% faster max shutter speed

Learn more about
the Nikon S3100

recommendations

Relative to the best recent compacts, and ignoring price

Canon PowerShot SD1200 IS

51	vs	61
Explain scores

Nikon Coolpix S3100

Snapsort recommends the Nikon Coolpix S3100. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a compact with a ultra compact.

advice

Need help deciding?

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I am considering either the Canon SD1200 IS or the Nikon S3100,

For example: Taking photos in low light or great family photos or ability to take great photos underwater

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similarities

Compared to recent compacts

Common Strengths

Common Weaknesses

Fairly small

SD1200 IS:	86x55x22 mm
S3100:	93x57x18 mm

Light weight

SD1200 IS:	120 g
S3100:	118 g

	Lower-end sensor types
	CCD

	Neither has in-camera HDR
	You could do HDR manually

Very small screens

SD1200 IS:	2.5"
S3100:	2.7"

	No touchscreens
	More buttons

	Low resolution screens
	230k dots

Poor movies

SD1200 IS:	480p @ 30fps
S3100:	720p @ 30fps

Poor zoom

SD1200 IS:	3x
S3100:	5x

competitors

Canon ELPH 100 HS

Compact

$106 - $189

Records higher quality movies

Has a significantly larger screen

Has a slower max shutter speed

Is slightly heavier

Compare the ELPH 100 HS vs the PowerShot SD1200 IS

Compare the ELPH 100 HS vs the Coolpix S3100

Canon PowerShot A3200 IS

Compact

$122 - $174

Has a slower max shutter speed

Is thicker

Compare the PowerShot A3200 IS vs the PowerShot SD1200 IS

Compare the PowerShot A3200 IS vs the Coolpix S3100

Canon ELPH 300 HS

Compact

$148 - $179

Records higher quality movies

Has a slightly wider wide angle lens

Is slightly heavier

Compare the ELPH 300 HS vs the PowerShot SD1200 IS

Compare the ELPH 300 HS vs the Coolpix S3100

Canon PowerShot A3300 IS

Compact

$129

Has a significantly larger screen

Has a slower max shutter speed

Is thicker

Compare the PowerShot A3300 IS vs the PowerShot SD1200 IS

Compare the PowerShot A3300 IS vs the Coolpix S3100

Canon PowerShot SD1300 IS

Compact

$178

Much better wide angle

Larger screen

No viewfinder

Slightly larger

Compare the PowerShot SD1300 IS vs the PowerShot SD1200 IS

Canon PowerShot A1300

Compact

$109 - $119

Much better wide angle

Higher resolution movies

Significantly larger

Significantly heavier

Compare the PowerShot A1300 vs the PowerShot SD1200 IS

Canon ELPH 310 HS

Travel zoom

$195 - $196

Much better wide angle

Higher resolution movies

No viewfinder

Narrower aperture

Compare the ELPH 310 HS vs the PowerShot SD1200 IS

Canon PowerShot S95

Pro digicam

$340 - $389

Much larger sensor

Much better wide angle

Significantly larger

No viewfinder

Compare the PowerShot S95 vs the PowerShot SD1200 IS

Canon PowerShot A2200

Compact

$147

Wider aperture

Much better macro capability

No image stabilization

Worse wide angle

Compare the PowerShot A2200 vs the Coolpix S3100

Nikon Coolpix S2600

Compact

$122

Slightly larger sensor

Does not take movies

Lacks in-camera panoramic stitching

Compare the Coolpix S2600 vs the Coolpix S3100

Nikon Coolpix S3300

Compact

$120

Significantly better macro capability

Slightly more zoom

Narrower aperture

Lacks in-camera panoramic stitching

Compare the Coolpix S3300 vs the Coolpix S3100

Nikon Coolpix S4100

Compact

Higher resolution movies

Significantly larger screen

No image stabilization

Lacks in-camera panoramic stitching

Compare the Coolpix S4100 vs the Coolpix S3100

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Canon PowerShotSD1200 IS vs Nikon CoolpixS3100

Nikon Coolpix S3100

Reasons to buy the Nikon Coolpix S3100

Canon PowerShot SD1200 IS

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot SD1200 IS

recommendations

Relative to the best recent compacts, and ignoring price

differences

Advantages of the Canon SD1200 IS

Advantages of the Nikon S3100

recommendations

Relative to the best recent compacts, and ignoring price

advice

Need help deciding?

similarities

Compared to recent compacts

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon ELPH 100 HS

Canon PowerShot A3200 IS

Canon ELPH 300 HS

Canon PowerShot A3300 IS

Canon PowerShot SD1200 IS Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon PowerShot SD1300 IS

Canon PowerShot A1300

Canon ELPH 310 HS

Canon PowerShot S95

Nikon Coolpix S3100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon PowerShot A2200

Nikon Coolpix S2600

Nikon Coolpix S3300

Nikon Coolpix S4100

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discussion

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Canon PowerShot
SD1200 IS
vs
Nikon Coolpix
S3100