CameraDecision
  • CAMERAS
    • All Cameras
    • Cameras by Brand
      • Sony Cameras
      • Canon Cameras
      • Nikon Cameras
      • Pentax Cameras
      • Fujifilm Cameras
      • Olympus Cameras
      • OM-System Cameras
      • Panasonic Cameras
      • Leica Cameras
    • Cameras by Body Type
      • Mirrorless Cameras
      • DSLR Cameras
      • Compact Cameras
      • Bridge Cameras
      • Waterproof Cameras
    • Cameras by Lens Mount
      • Sony E Mount Cameras
      • Canon RF Mount Cameras
      • Nikon Z Mount Cameras
      • Micro Four Thirds Mount Cameras
      • Fujifilm X Mount Cameras
      • Leica L Mount Cameras
      • Nikon F Mount Cameras
      • Canon EF Mount Cameras
      • Canon EF M Mount Cameras
      • Canon EF S Mount Cameras
      • Pentax KAF Mount Cameras
      • Sony Alpha Mount Cameras
      • Fujifilm G Mount Cameras
      • Sigma SA Mount Cameras
      • Nikon 1 Mount Cameras
  • LENSES
    • All Lenses
    • Lenses by Mount
      • Sony E Mount Lenses
      • Canon RF Mount Lenses
      • Nikon Z Mount Lenses
      • Canon EF Mount Lenses
      • Canon EF M Mount Lenses
      • Canon EF S Mount Lenses
      • Nikon F Mount Lenses
      • Fujifilm X Mount Lenses
      • Micro Four Thirds Mount Lenses
      • Leica L Mount Lenses
      • Pentax KAF Mount Lenses
      • Fujifilm G Mount Lenses
      • Sigma SA Mount Lenses
      • Sony Alpha Mount Lenses
    • Teleconverters
  • TOOLS
    • Cameras
      • Smart Find
      • 1-on-1 Comparison
    • Lenses
      • Smart Find
      • 1-on-1 Comparison
  • BLOG

Canon ELPH 150 IS vs Nikon 1 J3 Comparison

x
Camera to replace
Change

Canon ELPH 150 IS

20 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) CCD Sensor

Canon ELPH 150 IS
CHECK PRICE
CHECK PRICE
Change

Nikon 1 J3

14 MP | 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) CMOS Sensor

Nikon 1 J3
CHECK PRICE
CHECK PRICE
Canon ELPH 150 IS vs Nikon 1 J3 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two cameras with different body types: Canon ELPH 150 IS, which was introduced in February 2014 is a Ultracompact camera with a 20.0MP 1/2.3' sensor whereas Nikon 1 J3, which was introduced in November 2013 is a Entry-Level Mirrorless camera with a 14.0MP 1-inch sensor. There is only 2 months difference between ELPH 150 IS and 1 J3 so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and technology level.

Comparing an interchangeble lens camera to a fixed lens camera is a bit tricky but we will do our best to make this a fair comparison.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Canon ELPH 150 IS and Nikon 1 J3 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Canon ELPH 150 IS Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2014-02-12
  • 20MP - 1/2.3' CCD Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • 24-240 mm F3.0-6.9 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 2.70" Fixed Type Screen
  • 1.0fps continuous shooting
  • HD - 1280 x 720 video resolution
  • 142g. 95 x 57 x 24 mm
  • Also known as IXUS 155

Nikon 1 J3 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2013-11-30
  • 14MP - 1-inch CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 160 - 6400
  • Nikon 1 Mount
  • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
  • 15.0fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 1200fps High-Speed Video
  • 201g. 101 x 61 x 29 mm
  • Replaced Nikon 1 J2 Compare

Nikon 1 J3 was replaced by Nikon 1 J4. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Nikon 1 J4 vs Nikon 1 J3
Nikon 1 J4 vs Canon PowerShot ELPH 150 IS (IXUS 155)

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Canon ELPH 150 IS and Nikon 1 J3 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


Related Blog Posts

Nikon NIKKOR Z 40mm f/2 SE Lens is in Stock
Readers Vote: Which is the Best Flagship Camera?
Nikon Z50 Firmware brings Eye-detection AF during Video and more
Canon RF Lens Discounts
Daily Deals: I am just a Messenger Bag
Daily Deals: A Travel tripod, an affordable UHS-II card and more
Canon RF 135mm f/1.8L IS will start shipping on January 25th
Nikon Firmware Updates Released for Nikkor Z 400mm f4/5, Z 400mm F2.8, Z 600mm F4 TC and Z 800mm F6.3 lenses


**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Canon PowerShot ELPH 150 IS over Nikon 1 J3
In-built Image Stabilization
Optical vs None Sharper images at longer focal lengths and slow shutter speeds
Sensor Resolution
20 MP vs 14 MP 42% more pixels
Battery Life
230 shots vs 220 shots 10 more frames with a single charge
Weight
142 g vs 201 g 59 g lighter
CHECK ELPH 150 IS PRICE


Reasons to choose Nikon 1 J3 over Canon PowerShot ELPH 150 IS
RAW Support
Yes vs No Better image quality
Max ISO
6.400 vs 1.600 300% higher Max ISO
Number of Focus Points
135 vs 9 126 more focus points
LCD Screen Size
3" vs 2.7" 0.3 inches larger display
LCD Resolution
921k dots vs 230k dots 300% higher resolution screen
Max Mech. Shutter
1/4000s vs 1/2000s faster mechanical shutter
Continuous Shooting
15.0fps vs 1.0fps 14 fps faster
Manual Exposure
Yes vs No better exposure control
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs No creative shooting
Flash Coverage
5.0m vs 4.0m 1m longer range
Sensor Pixel Area
8.20µm2 vs 1.41µm2 481% larger pixel area
Max Video Resolution
1920 x 1080 vs 1280 x 720 Higher Resolution Video
CHECK 1 J3 PRICE

Common Strengths of Canon PowerShot ELPH 150 IS and Nikon 1 J3
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
Common Weaknesses of Canon PowerShot ELPH 150 IS and Nikon 1 J3
Fixed Screen
Fixed Type vs No Screen tilts or Flips out independently, perfect for both stills and video
External Flash Shoe
No vs No Not suitable for flash photography
Viewfinder
None vs None No eye-level shooting option
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
AE Bracketing
No vs No Not good for multi-exposure HDR
Canon ELPH 150 IS vs Nikon 1 J3: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Canon ELPH 150 IS and Nikon 1 J3 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Canon ELPH 150 IS has external dimensions of 95 x 57 x 24 mm (3.74 x 2.24 x 0.94″) and weighs 142 g (0.31 lb / 5.01 oz) (including batteries). Nikon 1 J3 has external dimensions of 101 x 61 x 29 mm (3.98 x 2.4 x 1.14″) and weighs 201 g (0.44 lb / 7.09 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Canon ELPH 150 IS and Nikon 1 J3. Canon ELPH 150 IS is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 6mm narrower, 4mm shorter and 5mm thinner than Nikon 1 J3. As you can tell, actually this is not a fair size comparison since Canon ELPH 150 IS has a built-in lens but Nikon 1 J3 doesn't. Once you put a lens on 1 J3, its thickness will increase significantly.

Canon ELPH 150 IS vs Nikon 1 J3 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Canon ELPH 150 IS and Nikon 1 J3 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Canon ELPH 150 IS and Nikon 1 J3.
Canon ELPH 150 IS vs Nikon 1 J3 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Canon ELPH 150 IS and Nikon 1 J3 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Canon ELPH 150 IS is significantly lighter (59g ) than the Nikon 1 J3 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Again, this comparison may not be very useful in real life as we are comparing the weight of a camera with a built-in lens to the body-only weight of an interchangeable lens camera. Once you put a lens on 1 J3, the total kit will weigh much higher.

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Canon PowerShot ELPH 150 IS (IXUS 155) nor Nikon 1 J3 provides any type of weather sealing in their body, so you have to give extra care especially when you are shooting outdoors. If weather sealing is a must-have feature for you, check these sections:
Top Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing
Top Mirrorless Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Nikon 1 J3's 3.00" LCD screen is slightly larger than Canon ELPH 150 IS's 2.7" screen.

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.
Canon ELPH 150 IS vs Nikon 1 J3: Sensor Comparison

Canon ELPH 150 IS has a 20.0MP 1/2.3' (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CCD sensor and features Digic 4+ processor. On the other hand, Nikon 1 J3 has a 14.0MP 1-inch (13.2 x 8.8 mm ) sized CMOS sensor .

Canon ELPH 150 IS's sensor provides 6MP more than Nikon 1 J3's sensor, which gives a significant advantage in real life. You can print your images larger or crop more freely. On the other hand, please keep in mind that Max sensor resolution is not the only determinant of resolving power. Factors such as the optical elements, low pass filter, pixel size and sensor technology also affects the final resolution of the captured image.

Below you can see the ELPH 150 IS and 1 J3 sensor size comparison.

Canon ELPH 150 IS vs Nikon 1 J3 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Canon ELPH 150 IS and Nikon 1 J3 Cameras


As seen above, Nikon 1 J3 has a 4.1x Larger sensor area than Canon ELPH 150 IS. Larger sensors give photographer more control on the depth of field and blurry background compared to smaller sensor when shot in same focal length and aperture.

What types of Photography are Canon ELPH 150 IS and Nikon 1 J3 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Canon ELPH 150 IS and Nikon 1 J3 for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Canon ELPH 150 IS for Portrait Photography

POOR

Nikon 1 J3 for Portrait Photography

POOR
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
Image Stabilization
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Average Resolution Sensor: 14.0MP
Average Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details

Canon ELPH 150 IS for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Nikon 1 J3 for Street Photography

AVERAGE
Image Stabilization
Small Body
Live-view
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
Read the details
Live-view
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Medium sized Body
No Image Stabilization
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details

Canon ELPH 150 IS for Sports Photography

POOR

Nikon 1 J3 for Sports Photography

AVERAGE
Image Stabilization
240 mm Tele Lens
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Slow Continuous Shooting: 1.0fps
Environmental Sealings
9 Focus Points
Poor Battery Life: 230 shots
Slow Lens at Tele: f6.90
Read the details
Fast Continuous Shooting: 15.0fps
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
41 Cross Type Focus sensors
135 Focus Points
Average Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
No Built-in Viewfinder
Environmental Sealings
Poor Battery Life: 220 shots
Read the details

Canon ELPH 150 IS for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Nikon 1 J3 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE
Compact Body
142g
10.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details
201g
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Medium size Body
Read the details

Canon ELPH 150 IS for Landscape Photography

POOR

Nikon 1 J3 for Landscape Photography

POOR
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details
Live-view
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Average Resolution Sensor: 14.0MP
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Canon ELPH 150 IS vs Nikon 1 J3: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Canon ELPH 150 IS and Nikon 1 J3, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 69 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Canon ELPH 150 IS and Nikon 1 J3 scores compare:

Canon ELPH 150 IS
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #95 out of 155 in Ultracompact cameras
Ranked #1099 out of 1257 in all Cameras
Nikon 1 J3
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #111 out of 134 in Rangefinder-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #479 out of 1257 in all Cameras

Nikon 1 J3 is the overall winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Canon ELPH 150 IS in all criteria except one: Portability.
If small size and light body is a big priority for you, choose Canon ELPH 150 IS. Otherwise, Nikon 1 J3 is the better camera overall.

Canon ELPH 150 IS
Canon ELPH 150 IS
CHECK PRICE

CHECK PRICE

Nikon 1 J3
Nikon 1 J3
CHECK PRICE

CHECK PRICE

Nikon 1 J3 vs Canon ELPH 150 IS Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Canon PowerShot ELPH 150 IS Nikon 1 J3
Brand Canon Nikon
Announced 2014-02-12 2013-11-30
Body Type Ultracompact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor
Type CCD CMOS
Size 1/2.3' 1-inch
Dimensions 6.17 x 4.55 mm 13.2 x 8.8 mm
Area 28.07mm2 116.16mm2
Megapixels 20 megapixels 14 megapixels
Max Resolution 5152 x 3864 4608 x 3072
Max Native Light sensitivity 1,600 ISO 6,400 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 100 ISO 160 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 9 135
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens Nikon 1
Lens Focal Range 24-240 mm (10×) no lens
Max Aperture F3.0-6.9 no lens
Macro Focus Range 1cm no lens
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 2.70" 3.00"
Resolution 230k dots 921k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder None None
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/2000s 1/4000s
Max Electronic Shutter n/a 1/16000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization Optical No
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 4.00 m 5.00 m
Max Flash Sync n/a 1/60s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 1.0 fps 15.0 fps
Multi-Segment Metering
Average Metering
Spot Metering
Partial Metering
AF-Area Metering
Center Weighted Metering
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 1280 x 720 1920 x 1080
Video Formats H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity None Optional
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 142g 201g
Dimensions 95 x 57 x 24mm 101 x 61 x 29mm
Battery Life 230 shots 220 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score not tested 52
DxO Color Depth not tested 20.4
DxO Dynamic Range not tested 11.0
DxO Low Light ISO not tested 420
Report a correction Report a correction


FOLLOW US


Most Popular Cameras
Sony A7 IV
33 MP | Full frame Sensor | Sony E Mount
Sony A7R IV
61 MP | Full frame Sensor | Sony E Mount
Canon R3
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Canon RF Mount
Canon M50 II
24 MP | APS-C Sensor | Canon EF-M Mount
Nikon Z9
46 MP | Full frame Sensor | Nikon Z Mount
Fujifilm X-T30 II
26 MP | APS-C Sensor | Fujifilm X Mount
Fujifilm GFX 100
102 MP | Medium format Sensor | Fujifilm G Mount
Nikon Z5
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Nikon Z Mount
Latest Cameras
Panasonic S5 II X
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Leica L Mount
Panasonic S5 II
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Leica L Mount
Pentax KF
24 MP | APS-C Sensor | Pentax KAF2 Mount
Fujifilm X-T5
40 MP | APS-C Sensor | Fujifilm X Mount
Canon R6 II
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Canon RF Mount
Sony A7R V
61 MP | Full frame Sensor | Sony E Mount
OM System OM-5
20 MP | Four Thirds Sensor | Micro Four Thirds Mount
Sony ZV-1F
20 MP | 1″ Sensor | 20 mm
Copyright © 2023 by CameraDecision
Privacy About Contact Us SpeakerDecision

Report a Correction