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Canon A3400 IS vs Canon S120

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37
Canon PowerShot A3400 IS front
 
Canon PowerShot S120 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
57
Overall
45

Canon A3400 IS vs Canon S120 Key Specs

Canon A3400 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F2.8-6.9) lens
  • 126g - 94 x 56 x 21mm
  • Released February 2012
Canon S120
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F1.8-5.7) lens
  • 217g - 100 x 59 x 29mm
  • Announced November 2013
  • Previous Model is Canon S110
Photography Glossary

Canon A3400 IS vs Canon S120 Overview

The following is a detailed analysis of the Canon A3400 IS and Canon S120, both Small Sensor Compact cameras and they are both sold by Canon. There exists a sizable gap among the sensor resolutions of the A3400 IS (16MP) and S120 (12MP) and the A3400 IS (1/2.3") and S120 (1/1.7") possess different sensor sizing.

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The A3400 IS was manufactured 21 months earlier than the S120 making the cameras a generation away from one another. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before going through a thorough comparison, below is a quick overview of how the A3400 IS grades against the S120 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon A3400 IS over the Canon S120

 A3400 IS S120 

Reasons to pick Canon S120 over the Canon A3400 IS

 S120 A3400 IS 
AnnouncedNovember 2013February 2012Newer by 21 months
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Display resolution922k230kCrisper display (+692k dot)

Common features in the Canon A3400 IS and Canon S120

 A3400 IS S120 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Canon A3400 IS vs Canon S120 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to travel with your camera regularly, you need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Canon A3400 IS enjoys outer measurements of 94mm x 56mm x 21mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs) whilst the Canon S120 has proportions of 100mm x 59mm x 29mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 217 grams (0.48 lbs).

Check the Canon A3400 IS and Canon S120 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are employing at the time. Below is the front view over all size comparison of the A3400 IS vs the S120.

Canon A3400 IS vs Canon S120 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A3400 IS and S120 is 96 and 92 respectively.

Canon A3400 IS vs Canon S120 top view buttons comparison

Canon A3400 IS vs Canon S120 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very difficult to imagine the gap in sensor dimensions purely by looking through a spec sheet. The picture here might provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the A3400 IS and S120.

As you can see, the 2 cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The A3400 IS because of its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF harder and the Canon A3400 IS will result in more detail due to its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The more aged A3400 IS will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon A3400 IS vs Canon S120 sensor size comparison

Canon A3400 IS vs Canon S120 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A3400 IS vs Canon S120 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A3400 IS as a Portrait photography camera
Canon S120 as a Portrait photography camera
34
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
offers face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
42
manual focus
features face detection focusing
supports RAW files
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Canon A3400 IS Street photography information
Canon S120 Street photography information
67
image stabilization (Optical)
boasts focus via touch
lighter than competition in class (126 grams)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
65
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
comes with focus via touch
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
more heavy than average (217 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Canon A3400 IS as a Sports photography camera
Canon S120 as a Sports photography camera
38
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
low frames per second (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery pack (180 shots)
has no phase detect AF
38
has image stabilization (Optical)
features tracking autofocus
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon A3400 IS Travel photography features
Canon S120 Travel photography features
68
lighter than competition in class (126 grams)
boasts focus via touch
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
low battery pack (180 per charge)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
67
comes with focus via touch
built-in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
more heavy than average (217 grams)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A3400 IS Landscape photography advice
Canon S120 Landscape photography advice
41
pretty wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
manual mode not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
low battery pack (180 per charge)
missing Time Lapse mode
57
manual focus
relatively wide (24mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon A3400 IS
Vlogging with Canon S120
34
pretty wide (28mm)
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
lighter than competition in class (126 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic port
35
relatively wide (24mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of external microphone jack
more heavy than average (217g)
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Canon A3400 IS vs Canon S120 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A3400 IS and Canon S120
 Canon PowerShot A3400 ISCanon PowerShot S120
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Canon
Model Canon PowerShot A3400 IS Canon PowerShot S120
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Released 2012-02-07 2013-11-26
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Digic 6
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) 24-120mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-6.9 f/1.8-5.7
Macro focus range 3cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 4.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech - TFT PureColor II G Touch screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 seconds 15 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 12.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.00 m 7.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, on, slow synchro, off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 or 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 126g (0.28 lb) 217g (0.48 lb)
Dimensions 94 x 56 x 21mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.8") 100 x 59 x 29mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 56
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.3
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.9
DXO Low light score not tested 246
Other
Battery life 180 images 230 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-11L NB-6LH
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $230 $449