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Canon A3100 IS vs Sony WX30

Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
14
Overall
26
Canon PowerShot A3100 IS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX30 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
41
Overall
39

Canon A3100 IS vs Sony WX30 Key Specs

Canon A3100 IS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 35-140mm (F2.7-5.6) lens
  • 165g - 97 x 58 x 28mm
  • Launched January 2010
Sony WX30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.6-6.3) lens
  • 117g - 92 x 52 x 19mm
  • Launched July 2011
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Canon A3100 IS vs Sony WX30 Overview

Let's take a closer look at the Canon A3100 IS and Sony WX30, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by rivals Canon and Sony. There is a considerable difference among the resolutions of the A3100 IS (12MP) and WX30 (16MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The A3100 IS was unveiled 18 months before the WX30 making them a generation away from each other. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before getting right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise summation of how the A3100 IS grades versus the WX30 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon A3100 IS over the Sony WX30

 A3100 IS WX30 

Reasons to pick Sony WX30 over the Canon A3100 IS

 WX30 A3100 IS 
LaunchedJuly 2011January 2010More modern by 18 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kClearer display (+692k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Canon A3100 IS and Sony WX30

 A3100 IS WX30 
Focus manually Lack of manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Canon A3100 IS vs Sony WX30 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry around your camera often, you'll have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Canon A3100 IS comes with external dimensions of 97mm x 58mm x 28mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 165 grams (0.36 lbs) and the Sony WX30 has measurements of 92mm x 52mm x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7") having a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Look at the Canon A3100 IS and Sony WX30 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. Following is a front view scale comparison of the A3100 IS versus the WX30.

Canon A3100 IS vs Sony WX30 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the A3100 IS and WX30 is 94 and 96 respectively.

Canon A3100 IS vs Sony WX30 top view buttons comparison

Canon A3100 IS vs Sony WX30 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's tough to visualize the contrast in sensor sizes just by checking out technical specs. The image below will help give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the A3100 IS and WX30.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different megapixels. You can anticipate the Sony WX30 to provide more detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop images more aggressively. The more aged A3100 IS will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Canon A3100 IS vs Sony WX30 sensor size comparison

Canon A3100 IS vs Sony WX30 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A3100 IS vs Sony WX30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A3100 IS Portrait photography factors
Sony WX30 Portrait photography factors
21
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
30
megapixel count good (16MP)
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon A3100 IS as a Street photography camera
Sony WX30 as a Street photography camera
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (117 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon A3100 IS Sports photography info
Sony WX30 Sports photography info
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
39
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon A3100 IS Travel photography details
Sony WX30 Travel photography details
51
built-in flash
missing Timelapse recording
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
wide angle not great (35mm)
slow max aperture (f2.7)
69
lighter than competition in class (117 grams)
megapixel count good (16MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
does not posses selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f2.6)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A3100 IS as a Landscape photography camera
Sony WX30 as a Landscape photography camera
27
has image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (35mm)
slow max aperture (f2.7)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
no manual control
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
missing Timelapse recording
43
decently wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
manual focus not available
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.6)
manual mode not available
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon A3100 IS Vlogging info
Sony WX30 Vlogging info
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not great (35mm)
slow max aperture (f2.7)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (640 x 480 pixels)
missing microphone port
35
decently wide (25mm)
touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (117g)
sluggish max aperture (f2.6)
does not posses selfie friendly display
missing mic support
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Canon A3100 IS vs Sony WX30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A3100 IS and Sony WX30
 Canon PowerShot A3100 ISSony Cyber-shot DSC-WX30
General Information
Brand Name Canon Sony
Model Canon PowerShot A3100 IS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX30
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2010-01-05 2011-07-25
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - BIONZ
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 35-140mm (4.0x) 25-125mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.7-5.6 f/2.6-6.3
Macro focus range 3cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology - XtraFine TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.00 m 3.70 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 165 gr (0.36 lb) 117 gr (0.26 lb)
Physical dimensions 97 x 58 x 28mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 1.1") 92 x 52 x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 250 photos
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model NB-8L NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2, 10, Custom, Face) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HD MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Pricing at release $159 $259