Nikon L120 vs Canon ELPH 310 HS Comparison

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Nikon L120

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

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Canon ELPH 310 HS

12 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) BSI-CMOS Sensor

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Nikon L120 vs Canon ELPH 310 HS Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two Compact cameras from Nikon and Canon. Nikon L120 was introduced to market in February 2011 and Canon ELPH 310 HS was launched in August 2011. There is only 6 months difference between L120 and ELPH 310 HS so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and technology level.

Both cameras have 1/2.3-inch sensors but Nikon L120 has a 14.0 MP and Canon ELPH 310 HS has a 12.0 MP resolution.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Nikon L120 and Canon ELPH 310 HS before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Nikon L120 Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2011-02-09

14MP - 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor

ISO 80 - 6400

25-525 mm F3.1-5.8 Zoom Lens

Sensor-shift Image Stabilization

3" Fixed Type Screen

1 fps continuous shooting

HD - 1280 x 720 video resolution

431g. 110 x 77 x 78 mm

Replaced Nikon Coolpix L110 Compare

Canon ELPH 310 HS Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2011-08-23

12MP - 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS Sensor

ISO 100 - 3200

28-224 mm F3.0-5.9 Zoom Lens

Optical Image Stabilization

3" Fixed Type Screen

3 fps continuous shooting

Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution

240fps High-Speed Video

140g. 96 x 57 x 22 mm

Also known as IXUS 230 HS

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon L120 and Canon ELPH 310 HS compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Nikon Coolpix L120 over Canon ELPH 310 HS

Max Sensor Resolution	14 MP vs 12 MP	16% more pixels
Max ISO	6.400 vs 3.200	100% higher Max ISO
LCD Screen Resolution	921k dots vs 461k dots	99% higher resolution screen
Max Mech. Shutter	1/4000s vs 1/2000s	faster mechanical shutter
Battery Life	330 shots vs 210 shots	120 more frames with a single charge
Focal Length - Wide	25mm vs 28mm	3 mm wider coverage
Focal Length - Tele	525mm vs 224mm	301 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom	21× vs 8×	more flexible focal coverage
Max Aperture - Tele	5.80 vs 5.90	faster lens at tele
Flash Coverage	6.0m vs 4.0m	2m longer range

Reasons to choose Canon ELPH 310 HS over Nikon Coolpix L120

Continuous Shooting	3.0fps vs 1.0fps	2 fps faster
Weight	140 g vs 431 g	291 g lighter
Max Aperture - Wide	3.00 vs 3.10	faster lens at wide
Max Video Resolution	1920 x 1080 vs 1280 x 720	Higher Resolution Video

Common Strengths of Nikon Coolpix L120 and Canon ELPH 310 HS

Image Stabilization	Sensor-shift vs Optical	Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Built-in Flash	Yes vs Yes	Useful in low-light
Face Detection Focus	Yes vs Yes	very handy for portraits
Focal Length - Tele	525mm vs 224mm	Very good Telezoom

Common Weaknesses of Nikon Coolpix L120 and Canon ELPH 310 HS

Fixed Screen	Fixed Type vs No	No flexible viewing angles
External Flash Shoe	No vs No	Not suitable for flash photography
Viewfinder	None vs None	No eye-level shooting option
RAW Support	No vs No	Lower image quality
Manual Focusing	No vs No	No manual focusing modes
Manual Exposure	No vs No	No manual exposure control
Environmental Sealing	No vs No	not suitable for tough conditions
Max Aperture - Tele	5.80 vs 5.90	Slow lenses at tele

Nikon L120 vs Canon ELPH 310 HS: 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 Nikon L120 and Canon ELPH 310 HS side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Nikon L120 has external dimensions of 110 x 77 x 78 mm (4.33 x 3.03 x 3.07″) and weighs 431 g (0.95 lb / 15.20 oz) (including batteries). Canon ELPH 310 HS has external dimensions of 96 x 57 x 22 mm (3.78 x 2.24 x 0.87″) and weighs 140 g (0.31 lb / 4.94 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon L120 and Canon ELPH 310 HS. Canon ELPH 310 HS is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 14mm narrower, 20mm shorter and 56mm thinner than Nikon L120.

Comparison image of Nikon L120 and Canon ELPH 310 HS Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Nikon L120 and Canon ELPH 310 HS.

Comparison image of Nikon L120 and Canon ELPH 310 HS Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon L120 and Canon ELPH 310 HS.

Top View Comparison image of Nikon L120 and Canon ELPH 310 HS Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Canon ELPH 310 HS is significantly lighter (291g ) than the Nikon L120 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

L120

ELPH 310 HS

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

L120

ELPH 310 HS

Min

Average

Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Nikon Coolpix L120 nor Canon ELPH 310 HS (IXUS 230 HS) 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

LCD Screen Size and Features

Nikon L120 and Canon ELPH 310 HS's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 3".

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.

Nikon L120 vs Canon ELPH 310 HS: Sensor Comparison

Nikon L120 has a 14.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CCD sensor and features Expeed C2 processor. On the other hand, Canon ELPH 310 HS has a 12.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor .

Below you can see the L120 and ELPH 310 HS sensor size comparison.

Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon L120 and Canon ELPH 310 HS Cameras

Nikon L120 and Canon ELPH 310 HS have sensor sizes so they will provide same level of control over the depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

Nikon L120 vs Canon ELPH 310 HS Lens Specs Comparison

Nikon L120 features a 25-525 mm F3.1-5.8 21× zoom lens whereas Canon ELPH 310 HS features a 28-224 mm F3.0-5.9 8× zoom lens.

Nikon L120 has 3mm wider coverage than the Canon ELPH 310 HS. On the other hand, with a max aperture of f3.00, Canon ELPH 310 HS is faster at widest end. On the tele end, Nikon L120 has 301mm longer reach than the Canon ELPH 310 HS. At f5.80, it is also faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

L120

ELPH 310 HS

Widest - Ricoh WG-M1

Average

Telezoom

Compact Cameras

L120

ELPH 310 HS

Longest - Canon SX520 HS

Average

Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

L120

ELPH 310 HS

Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV

Average

Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

L120

ELPH 310 HS

Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6

Average

What types of Photography are Nikon L120 and Canon ELPH 310 HS Good for?

In this section, we rank and compare Nikon L120 and Canon ELPH 310 HS 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.

Nikon L120 for Portrait Photography

POOR

Canon ELPH 310 HS for Portrait Photography

POOR

Image Stabilization
Average Resolution Sensor: 14.0MP
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

Image Stabilization
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
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

Nikon L120 for Street Photography

GOOD

Canon ELPH 310 HS for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Image Stabilization
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
25 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

Image Stabilization
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
28 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

Nikon L120 for Sports Photography

POOR

Canon ELPH 310 HS for Sports Photography

POOR

Image Stabilization
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
525 mm Tele Lens
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
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.80
Read the details

Image Stabilization
224 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: 3.0fps
Environmental Sealings
9 Focus Points
Poor Battery Life: 210 shots
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.90
Read the details

Nikon L120 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Canon ELPH 310 HS for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Compact Body
21.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
431g
Body Thickness 78mm
Read the details

Compact Body
140g
Body Thickness 22mm
8.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details

Nikon L120 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Canon ELPH 310 HS for Landscape Photography

POOR

25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 14.0MP
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

28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
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

Nikon L120 vs Canon ELPH 310 HS: 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 Nikon L120 and Canon ELPH 310 HS, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 63 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 Nikon L120 and Canon ELPH 310 HS scores compare:

Nikon L120

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #216 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #792 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Canon ELPH 310 HS

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #35 out of 155 in Ultracompact cameras
Ranked #873 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Nikon L120 is the overall winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Canon ELPH 310 HS in all criteria except one: Portability. Canon ELPH 310 HS is significantly smaller than Nikon L120. If small size and light body is a big priority for you, choose Canon ELPH 310 HS. Otherwise, Nikon L120 is the better camera overall.

Canon ELPH 310 HS vs Nikon L120 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Nikon Coolpix L120	Canon ELPH 310 HS
Brand	Nikon	Canon
Announced	2011-02-09	2011-08-23
Body Type	Compact	Ultracompact
Sensor
Type	CCD	BSI-CMOS
Size	1/2.3-inch	1/2.3-inch
Dimensions	6.17 x 4.55 mm	6.17 x 4.55 mm
Area	28.07mm²	28.07mm²
Megapixels	14 megapixels	12 megapixels
Max Resolution	4320 x 3240	4000 x 3000
Max Native Light sensitivity	6,400 ISO	3,200 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity	80 ISO	100 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	9
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	fixed lens	fixed lens
Lens Focal Range	25-525 mm (21×)	28-224 mm (8×)
Max Aperture	F3.1-5.8	F3.0-5.9
Macro Focus Range	1cm	1cm
Screen
Type	Fixed type	Fixed type
Size	3"	3"
Resolution	921k dots	461k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	None	None
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter	1/4000s	1/2000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization	Sensor-shift	Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	6.00 m	4.00 m
External Flash
Continuous Shooting	1.0 fps	3.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution	1280 x 720	1920 x 1080
Video Formats	Motion JPEG	H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	None	None
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight	431g	140g
Dimensions	110 x 77 x 78mm	96 x 57 x 22mm
Battery Life	330 shots	210 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None	None
DxO Sensor Scores
	Report a correction	Report a correction