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Canon SX30 IS vs Nikon S9100

Portability
64
Imaging
37
Features
42
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot SX30 IS front
 
Nikon Coolpix S9100 front
Portability
91
Imaging
35
Features
41
Overall
37

Canon SX30 IS vs Nikon S9100 Key Specs

Canon SX30 IS
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-840mm (F2.7-5.8) lens
  • 601g - 123 x 92 x 108mm
  • Announced September 2010
  • Succeeded the Canon SX20 IS
  • New Model is Canon SX40 HS
Nikon S9100
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 160 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-450mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 214g - 105 x 62 x 35mm
  • Launched July 2011
  • New Model is Nikon S9300
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Canon SX30 IS vs Nikon S9100 Overview

Its time to take a closer look at the Canon SX30 IS vs Nikon S9100, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by manufacturers Canon and Nikon. The sensor resolution of the SX30 IS (14MP) and the S9100 (12MP) is pretty similar and both cameras boast the identical sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SX30 IS was announced 10 months before the S9100 and they are both of a similar generation. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Canon SX30 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Nikon S9100 being a Compact camera.

Before going right into a in depth comparison, here is a quick overview of how the SX30 IS matches up vs the S9100 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX30 IS over the Nikon S9100

 SX30 IS S9100 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Nikon S9100 over the Canon SX30 IS

 S9100 SX30 IS 
LaunchedJuly 2011September 2010Fresher by 10 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX30 IS and Nikon S9100

 SX30 IS S9100 
Manually focus Very precise focus
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Canon SX30 IS vs Nikon S9100 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry your camera regularly, you'll have to take into account its weight and volume. The Canon SX30 IS has outside measurements of 123mm x 92mm x 108mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 4.3") along with a weight of 601 grams (1.32 lbs) and the Nikon S9100 has sizing of 105mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs).

Contrast the Canon SX30 IS vs Nikon S9100 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you use at the time. Below is a front view physical size comparison of the SX30 IS and the S9100.

Canon SX30 IS vs Nikon S9100 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the SX30 IS and S9100 is 64 and 91 respectively.

Canon SX30 IS vs Nikon S9100 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX30 IS vs Nikon S9100 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its difficult to envision the gap between sensor sizing merely by reading a spec sheet. The graphic underneath might give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the SX30 IS and S9100.

As you can see, both cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit not the same MP. You should expect the Canon SX30 IS to offer you greater detail with its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The older SX30 IS is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Canon SX30 IS vs Nikon S9100 sensor size comparison

Canon SX30 IS vs Nikon S9100 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX30 IS vs Nikon S9100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX30 IS as a Portrait photography camera
Nikon S9100 as a Portrait photography camera
42
has manual focus
good MP (14 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
32
has manual focus
comes with face detect focusing
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon SX30 IS Street photography highlights
Nikon S9100 Street photography highlights
49
screen articulates
image stabilization (Optical)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
more heavy than others (601g)
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (214g)
no moving screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX30 IS Sports photography highlights
Nikon S9100 Sports photography highlights
43
great zoom range (24-840mm 35.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14MP)
slow fps (1.0 frames/s)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
36
excellent zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
bad battery power (270 per charge)
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX30 IS Travel photography information
Nikon S9100 Travel photography information
58
good MP (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
quite wide (24mm)
very long zoom (840mm)
no Timelapse function
more heavy than others (601g)
slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
61
lighter than competitors in class (214g)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
very long reach (450mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
bad battery power (270 per charge)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX30 IS Landscape photography info
Nikon S9100 Landscape photography info
41
has manual focus
quite wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14 megapixels)
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
no Timelapse function
39
has manual focus
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
bad battery power (270 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon SX30 IS
Vlogging with Nikon S9100
50
quite wide (24mm)
display is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
no microphone port
more heavy than others (601g)
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors in class (214g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
lack of mic support
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Canon SX30 IS vs Nikon S9100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX30 IS and Nikon S9100
 Canon PowerShot SX30 ISNikon Coolpix S9100
General Information
Brand Canon Nikon
Model type Canon PowerShot SX30 IS Nikon Coolpix S9100
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2010-09-14 2011-07-19
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 Expeed C2
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 area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 -
Full resolution 4320 x 3240 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 80 160
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-840mm (35.0x) 25-450mm (18.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.7-5.8 f/3.5-5.9
Macro focusing range 0cm 4cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/3200 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.80 m 4.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 601 grams (1.32 lb) 214 grams (0.47 lb)
Physical dimensions 123 x 92 x 108mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 4.3") 105 x 62 x 35mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 - 270 photos
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-7L EN-EL12
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (10 or 2 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Cost at launch $400 $329