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Canon SX510 HS vs Nikon S3100

Portability
80
Imaging
37
Features
41
Overall
38
Canon PowerShot SX510 HS front
 
Nikon Coolpix S3100 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
23
Overall
31

Canon SX510 HS vs Nikon S3100 Key Specs

Canon SX510 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.4-5.8) lens
  • 349g - 104 x 70 x 80mm
  • Launched August 2013
  • Succeeded the Canon SX500 IS
  • Updated by Canon SX520 HS
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
  • Introduced February 2011
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Canon SX510 HS vs Nikon S3100 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Canon SX510 HS vs Nikon S3100, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Ultracompact by rivals Canon and Nikon. The sensor resolution of the SX510 HS (12MP) and the S3100 (14MP) is very similar and both cameras provide the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SX510 HS was released 2 years after the S3100 which is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Canon SX510 HS being a Compact camera and the Nikon S3100 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go into a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the SX510 HS scores against the S3100 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX510 HS over the Nikon S3100

 SX510 HS S3100 
IntroducedAugust 2013February 2011More modern by 31 months
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution461k230kClearer display (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Nikon S3100 over the Canon SX510 HS

 S3100 SX510 HS 

Common features in the Canon SX510 HS and Nikon S3100

 SX510 HS S3100 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch display Neither offers Touch display

Canon SX510 HS vs Nikon S3100 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry around your camera frequently, you are going to need to take into account its weight and volume. The Canon SX510 HS offers external measurements of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") and a weight of 349 grams (0.77 lbs) whilst the Nikon S3100 has sizing 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 SX510 HS vs Nikon S3100 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are working with at the time. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the SX510 HS versus the S3100.

Canon SX510 HS vs Nikon S3100 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the SX510 HS and S3100 is 80 and 96 respectively.

Canon SX510 HS vs Nikon S3100 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX510 HS vs Nikon S3100 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its tough to visualize the difference between sensor sizes merely by reading technical specs. The image below might provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the SX510 HS and S3100.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different resolution. You should expect to see the Nikon S3100 to offer extra detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop photos a bit more aggressively. The younger SX510 HS should have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon SX510 HS vs Nikon S3100 sensor size comparison

Canon SX510 HS vs Nikon S3100 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX510 HS vs Nikon S3100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX510 HS as a Portrait photography camera
Nikon S3100 as a Portrait photography camera
35
manual focus
includes face detect focusing
can't use external flash
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
33
good resolution (14 megapixels)
comes with face detect focus
lack of manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX510 HS as a Street photography camera
Nikon S3100 as a Street photography camera
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
48
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX510 HS as a Sports photography camera
Nikon S3100 as a Sports photography camera
37
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery power (250 shots)
has no phase detect AF
32
good resolution (14 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
slow fps (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX510 HS as a Travel photography camera
Nikon S3100 as a Travel photography camera
54
flash built-in
rather wide (24mm)
great zoom (720mm)
no Time Lapse recording
bad battery power (250 CIPA)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
65
good resolution (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (26mm)
missing Timelapse mode
does not feature selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SX510 HS
Landscape photography with Nikon S3100
40
manual focus
rather wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
bad battery power (250 per charge)
no Time Lapse recording
33
relatively wide (26mm)
good resolution (14MP)
lack of manual focus
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
small screen (2.7")
no manual control
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX510 HS Vlogging information
Nikon S3100 Vlogging information
31
rather wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
no mic support
28
relatively wide (26mm)
comes with face detect focus
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
does not feature selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing microphone port
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Canon SX510 HS vs Nikon S3100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX510 HS and Nikon S3100
 Canon PowerShot SX510 HSNikon Coolpix S3100
General Information
Brand Canon Nikon
Model Canon PowerShot SX510 HS Nikon Coolpix S3100
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Launched 2013-08-22 2011-02-09
Body design Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 4 Expeed C2
Sensor type CMOS 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 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 1 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-720mm (30.0x) 26-130mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.4-5.8 f/3.2-6.5
Macro focus distance 0cm 10cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 461 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech TFT Color LCD TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 seconds 4 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.00 m 4.50 m
Flash settings Auto, on, slow synchro, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye
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
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720p (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 349 grams (0.77 lb) 118 grams (0.26 lb)
Physical dimensions 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") 94 x 58 x 18mm (3.7" x 2.3" 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 images 220 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-6LH EN-EL19
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (10 or 2 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD / SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $249 $139