Canon ELPH 300 HS vs Nikon AW120

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Canon ELPH 300 HS vs Nikon AW120

1/2.3 inch 28.1mm²
12.1 megapixels
24.00mm - 120.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Canon ELPH 300 HS Review.
See real-world photos taken with the ELPH 300 HS.

1/2.3 inch 28.1mm²
16.0 megapixels
24.00mm - 120.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Nikon AW120 Review.

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Differences

Canon ELPH 300 HS advantages over Nikon AW120

Less expensive
$250 vs $350 (MSRP)
Save money for lenses or accessories
Bigger pixels
~ 1.54 vs 1.34 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Thinner
19 mm vs 25 mm
Thinner
Shoots 24p video
Yes vs No
Gives your movies a big-screen feel
Lighter weight
141g vs 213g
Lighter weight
Longer exposure
15 vs 4 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos

Nikon AW120 advantages over Canon ELPH 300 HS

Waterproof
Yes vs No
Take photos underwater without destroying your camera!
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
Built-in GPS
GPS vs None
Geotag your photos
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

350 vs 220 shots
Capture more photos
More dots on screen
921k vs 230k dots
Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
More pixels
16.0 vs 12.1 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Faster JPEG shooting
6.9 fps vs 3.4 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Higher extended ISO
6400 vs 3200 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Both provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video

Common Weaknesses

Focus peaking
Neither provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Eye-level viewfinder
Neither provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Touchscreen
Neither provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Tiltable Screen
Neither provide
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
RAW file ability
Neither provide
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Manual focus
Neither provide
AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
Integrated ND filter
Neither provide
Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
External Mic Jack
Neither provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Hot shoe
Neither provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Bulb shutter
Neither provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

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Buy the Canon ELPH 300 HS

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Nikon AW120

Nikon AW120

Review Excerpt

Read our Canon ELPH 300 HS Express Review

We haven’t reviewed the Nikon AW120.
Read our Nikon AW120 Preview

The Competition

Compared to Panasonic DMC-FX48S

Canon ELPH 300 HS

Panasonic DMC-FX48S

$235
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
HDMI out

$259
1/2.33 inch

Longer stills battery life
Longer exposure

Compare Canon ELPH 300 HS vs Panasonic DMC-FX48S

Nikon AW120

Panasonic DMC-FX48S

$219
1/2.3 inch

Waterproof
Built-in Wi-Fi

$259
1/2.33 inch

Lighter weight
Longer exposure

Compare Nikon AW120 vs Panasonic DMC-FX48S

Compared to Canon SD980 IS

Canon ELPH 300 HS

Canon SD980 IS

$235
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Shoots 24p video

$249
1/2.3 inch

Faster shutter

Compare Canon ELPH 300 HS vs Canon SD980 IS

Nikon AW120

Canon SD980 IS

$219
1/2.3 inch

Waterproof
Built-in Wi-Fi

$249
1/2.3 inch

Bigger pixels
Lighter weight

Compare Nikon AW120 vs Canon SD980 IS

Compared to Canon 320 HS

Canon ELPH 300 HS

Canon 320 HS

$235
1/2.3 inch

Bigger pixels
Longer stills battery life

$231
1/2.3 inch

Built-in Wi-Fi
More dots on screen

Compare Canon ELPH 300 HS vs Canon 320 HS

Nikon AW120

Canon 320 HS

$219
1/2.3 inch

Waterproof
Built-in GPS

$231
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Shoots 24p video

Compare Nikon AW120 vs Canon 320 HS

Compared to Canon A1400

Canon ELPH 300 HS

Canon A1400

$235
1/2.3 inch

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Bigger pixels

$336
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Canon ELPH 300 HS vs Canon A1400

Nikon AW120

Canon A1400

$219
1/2.3 inch

Waterproof
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$336
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Nikon AW120 vs Canon A1400

Compared to Nikon AW130

Canon ELPH 300 HS

Nikon AW130

$235
1/2.3 inch

Slower slow-motion
Bigger pixels

$299
1/2.3 inch

Waterproof
In-camera panoramas

Compare Canon ELPH 300 HS vs Nikon AW130

Nikon AW120

Nikon AW130

$219
1/2.3 inch

$299
1/2.3 inch

In-camera panoramas
Slow-motion videos

Compare Nikon AW120 vs Nikon AW130

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