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Canon A480 vs Nikon S3100

Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
13
Overall
25
Canon PowerShot A480 front
 
Nikon Coolpix S3100 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
23
Overall
31

Canon A480 vs Nikon S3100 Key Specs

Canon A480
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 37-122mm (F3.0-5.8) lens
  • 140g - 92 x 62 x 31mm
  • Revealed January 2009
Nikon S3100
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-130mm (F3.2-6.5) lens
  • 118g - 94 x 58 x 18mm
  • Released February 2011
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Canon A480 vs Nikon S3100 Overview

Let's look closer at the Canon A480 vs Nikon S3100, both Ultracompact cameras by competitors Canon and Nikon. There exists a large gap among the resolutions of the A480 (10MP) and S3100 (14MP) but they possess the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The A480 was introduced 3 years before the S3100 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras come with the identical body type (Ultracompact).

Before delving in to a in depth comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the A480 scores against the S3100 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon A480 over the Nikon S3100

 A480 S3100 

Reasons to pick Nikon S3100 over the Canon A480

 S3100 A480 
ReleasedFebruary 2011January 2009More modern by 25 months
Display dimension2.7"2.5"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution230k115kSharper display (+115k dot)

Common features in the Canon A480 and Nikon S3100

 A480 S3100 
Focus manually Lack of manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Canon A480 vs Nikon S3100 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry around your camera, you will have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Canon A480 has exterior measurements of 92mm x 62mm x 31mm (3.6" x 2.4" x 1.2") having a weight of 140 grams (0.31 lbs) and the Nikon S3100 has dimensions of 94mm x 58mm x 18mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 0.7") and a weight of 118 grams (0.26 lbs).

Look at the Canon A480 vs Nikon S3100 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Underneath is the front view over all size comparison of the A480 compared to the S3100.

Canon A480 vs Nikon S3100 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A480 and S3100 is 94 and 96 respectively.

Canon A480 vs Nikon S3100 top view buttons comparison

Canon A480 vs Nikon S3100 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be hard to visualise the contrast in sensor sizes purely by researching specs. The image below will help give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the A480 and S3100.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but not the same megapixels. You can anticipate the Nikon S3100 to provide you with more detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The more aged A480 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Canon A480 vs Nikon S3100 sensor size comparison

Canon A480 vs Nikon S3100 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A480 vs Nikon S3100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A480 Portrait photography features
Nikon S3100 Portrait photography features
25
great flash sync speed (1/500 seconds)
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
MP count low (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
33
decent MP (14 megapixels)
comes with face detection autofocus
no manual focus
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon A480
Street photography with Nikon S3100
47
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
48
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon A480 Sports photography features
Nikon S3100 Sports photography features
16
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
32
decent MP (14 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon A480 as a Travel photography camera
Nikon S3100 as a Travel photography camera
50
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse mode
MP count low (10MP)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
wide angle not the best (37mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
65
decent MP (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (26mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
does not contain selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A480 Landscape photography info
Nikon S3100 Landscape photography info
22
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (37mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
tiny screen (2.5 inch)
manual mode not available
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
missing Time Lapse mode
33
rather wide (26mm)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
tiny screen (2.7")
manual exposure not possible
no image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon A480 Vlogging advice
Nikon S3100 Vlogging advice
22
wide angle not the best (37mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
video resolution low (640 x 480 pxls)
missing mic socket
28
rather wide (26mm)
comes with face detection autofocus
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external microphone jack
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Canon A480 vs Nikon S3100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A480 and Nikon S3100
 Canon PowerShot A480Nikon Coolpix S3100
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Nikon
Model type Canon PowerShot A480 Nikon Coolpix S3100
Category Ultracompact Ultracompact
Revealed 2009-01-15 2011-02-09
Body design Ultracompact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Expeed C2
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 -
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 5 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 37-122mm (3.3x) 26-130mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-5.8 f/3.2-6.5
Macro focusing distance 1cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.5" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 115 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.00 m 4.50 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/500s -
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) 1280 x 720p (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video format - Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 140 gr (0.31 lbs) 118 gr (0.26 lbs)
Dimensions 92 x 62 x 31mm (3.6" x 2.4" x 1.2") 94 x 58 x 18mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 220 shots
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery ID 2 x AA EN-EL19
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom) Yes (10 or 2 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus, internal SD / SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Launch cost $210 $139