Canon PowerShot
SD1200 IS
 vs
Nikon
D3100

Updated (April, 2012): Compare the Canon PowerShot SD1200 IS vs Nikon D3200

Nikon D3100

65
Winner

Nikon D3100
"It's almost impossible to pick up without your hand falling into a sensible position with the key controls at your fingertips."
dpreview.com | talking about the D3100's button-layout
"Thanks to its lineage the D3100 remains one of the most pleasant to hold cameras in its class."
dpreview.com | talking about the D3100's feel

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3100

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 24fps
Supports 24p
 24p movies
For that film look
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
Canon PowerShot SD1200 IS

38

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot SD1200 IS

Size
 Really small
Super compact 86x55x22 mm
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Lens
Thickness
 Thin
0.9"
Weight
 Light-weight
120 g

differences

Advantages of the Canon SD1200 IS
Image stabilization Image stabilization Lens vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Size Much smaller 86x55x22 mm vs 124x96x73 mm
Help
 8.5x smaller
Thickness Much thinner 0.9" vs 2.9"
Help
 3.3x thinner
Weight Significantly lighter 120 g vs 505 g
Help
 4.2x lighter
Canon PowerShot SD1200 IS Learn more about
the Canon SD1200 IS

Advantages of the Nikon D3100
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 24fps vs 480p @ 30fps
Help
 Shoots high resolution Full HD (1080p) video but at a lower frame rate
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.5"
Help
 More than 20% larger screen
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Sensor size Much larger sensor APS-C 23.1x15.4mm vs 1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm
Help
 Around 12.5x larger sensor
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 14.2 MP vs 9.8 MP
Help
 Capture more than 40% more detail in your photos
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
 Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
Supports RAW Shoots RAW Yes vs No
Help
 Digitally develop your own photos with precise image control
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
 CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
External flash Supports an external flash Yes vs No
Help
 An external flash often produces better looking flash images
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 3,200 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The D3100's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
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
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/1500s
Help
 2.7x faster max shutter speed
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
Nikon D3100 Learn more about
the Nikon D3100
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon PowerShot SD1200 IS Canon PowerShot SD1200 IS
38 vs 65
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 compact with a entry-level DSLR.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
SD1200 IS:Tunnel
D3100:Pentamirror
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
230k dots

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant shared competitors found.

Canon PowerShot SD1200 IS Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon ELPH 300 HS

Canon ELPH 300 HS

Compact

$148 - $179
Wide angle Much better wide angle
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Viewfinder No viewfinder
Weight Slightly heavier
Compare the ELPH 300 HS vs the PowerShot SD1200 IS
Canon ELPH 100 HS

Canon ELPH 100 HS

Compact

$106 - $189
Wide angle Much better wide angle
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Viewfinder No viewfinder
Weight Slightly heavier
Compare the ELPH 100 HS vs the PowerShot SD1200 IS
Canon PowerShot SD1300 IS

Canon PowerShot SD1300 IS

Compact

$178
Wide angle Much better wide angle
Screen size Larger screen
Viewfinder No viewfinder
Weight Slightly heavier
Compare the PowerShot SD1300 IS vs the PowerShot SD1200 IS
Canon PowerShot A3300 IS

Canon PowerShot A3300 IS

Compact

$129
Wide angle Much better wide angle
Screen size Much larger screen
Viewfinder No viewfinder
Weight Slightly heavier
Compare the PowerShot A3300 IS vs the PowerShot SD1200 IS
Canon PowerShot A1300

Canon PowerShot A1300

Compact

$109 - $119
Wide angle Much better wide angle
Screen size Larger screen
Size Slightly larger
Thickness Thicker
Compare the PowerShot A1300 vs the PowerShot SD1200 IS

Nikon D3100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Size Slightly larger
Weight Slightly heavier
Compare the D5100 vs the D3100
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 Longer battery life
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D3100
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus
Battery life Shorter battery life
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D3100
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $700 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Thickness Slightly thicker
Lowest price Slightly more expensive
Compare the D3200 vs the D3100
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus
Startup delay More startup delay
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D3100

appearance

Canon PowerShot SD1200 IS Nikon D3100
Canon PowerShot SD1200 IS Nikon D3100
Canon PowerShot SD1200 IS Nikon D3100

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