Both Nikon D3000 and Canon G11 have 10.0 MP resolution sensors but Nikon D3000's sensor is APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm ) and Canon G11's sensor is 1/1.7-inch (7.44 x 5.58 mm ).
Since Nikon D3000's has a larger sensor area with the same resolution, this means that it also has a larger pixel area hence better light collecting capacity for a given aperture compared to Canon G11.
Below you can see the D3000 and G11 sensor size comparison.
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon D3000 and Canon G11 Cameras
As seen above, Nikon D3000 has a 9.0x Larger sensor area than Canon G11. 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.
DxOMark Sensor Scores
Both Nikon D3000 and Canon G11 sensors have been tested by DxoMark. DxoMark scores camera sensors for color depth (DXO Portrait), dynamic range (DXO Landscape) and low-light sensitivity (DXO Sports), and also gives them an overall score. Of the two cameras that we are comparing, D3000 has scored 62, 15 points higher than G11.
Model
Overall
Color Depth
Dynamic Range
Low-light ISO
Nikon D3000
62
22.3 bits
11.1 Evs
563 ISO
Canon G11
47
20.4 bits
11.1 Evs
169 ISO
Sensor size sets the circle of confusion, so it drives how much depth of field each
of these bodies gives you at a given aperture. You can calculate it exactly for the
Nikon D3000
or the
Canon G11 ,
including hyperfocal distance.
One thing to watch when comparing these two: they have different sensor sizes
(APS-C versus 1/1.7-inch),
so compare them at the same framing rather than the same focal length.
Put the same focal length on the smaller sensor and it will show less depth of
field, not more, because it also crops tighter. The calculator shows the
full frame equivalent focal length for each body so you can match the framing.
