Canon SD970 IS vs Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100 advantages over Canon SD970 IS

• Larger sensor
  APS-C vs 1/2.3 inch
  More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
• Eye-level viewfinder
  Eye-level vs Rear display only
  You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
• Bigger pixels
  ~ 5.01 vs 1.54 microns
  Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
• RAW file ability
  Yes vs No
  Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
• Fast startup
  ~0.40 vs 1.9 sec
  Faster startup lets you catch the moment
• Longer stills battery life
  More info

  Longer stills battery life

  Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

  Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

  550 vs 270 shots
  Capture more photos
• Manual focus
  Yes vs No
  AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
• Shoots 24p video
  Yes vs No
  Gives your movies a big-screen feel
• Hot shoe
  Hot shoe vs None
  Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
• Shoots 1080p video
  Yes vs No
  You'll want this if you shoot video
• Less shutter lag
  0.28 vs 0.40 sec
  Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
• More pixels
  14.2 vs 12.1 megapixels
  Higher resolution photos
• Longer exposure
  30 vs 15 sec
  Long exposures for night shots
• Bulb shutter
  Bulb vs No bulb
  Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
• Faster JPEG shooting
  2.9 fps vs 1.0 fps
  Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
• Faster shutter
  1/4000 vs 1/1600 sec
  Shoot wide open in bright light
• Higher extended ISO
  12800 vs 3200 ISO
  Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility