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Canon M5 vs Nikon S5100

Portability
77
Imaging
67
Features
84
Overall
73
Canon EOS M5 front
 
Nikon Coolpix S5100 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
21
Overall
29

Canon M5 vs Nikon S5100 Key Specs

Canon M5
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF-M Mount
  • 427g - 116 x 89 x 61mm
  • Introduced September 2016
Nikon S5100
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F2.7-6.6) lens
  • 132g - 97 x 57 x 22mm
  • Released August 2010
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Canon M5 vs Nikon S5100 Overview

Following is a complete analysis of the Canon M5 vs Nikon S5100, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Canon and Nikon. There is a crucial difference between the image resolutions of the M5 (24MP) and S5100 (12MP) and the M5 (APS-C) and S5100 (1/2.3") provide different sensor dimensions.

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The M5 was announced 6 years after the S5100 which is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Canon M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Nikon S5100 being a Compact camera.

Before we go into a thorough comparison, here is a simple view of how the M5 scores against the S5100 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon M5 over the Nikon S5100

 M5 S5100 
ReleasedSeptember 2016August 2010More modern by 75 months
Manually focus Very precise focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3.2"2.7"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1620k230kSharper display (+1390k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Nikon S5100 over the Canon M5

 S5100 M5 

Common features in the Canon M5 and Nikon S5100

 M5 S5100 

Canon M5 vs Nikon S5100 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry around your camera frequently, you need to factor its weight and size. The Canon M5 enjoys outer dimensions of 116mm x 89mm x 61mm (4.6" x 3.5" x 2.4") along with a weight of 427 grams (0.94 lbs) and the Nikon S5100 has specifications of 97mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs).

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Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you select at the time. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the M5 compared to the S5100.

Canon M5 vs Nikon S5100 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the M5 and S5100 is 77 and 95 respectively.

Canon M5 vs Nikon S5100 top view buttons comparison

Canon M5 vs Nikon S5100 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be hard to picture the gap between sensor sizes simply by reading through specifications. The pic here will help give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the M5 and S5100.

To sum up, both the cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The M5 with its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Canon M5 will give extra detail with its extra 12MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The more recent M5 should have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Canon M5 vs Nikon S5100 sensor size comparison

Canon M5 vs Nikon S5100 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon M5 vs Nikon S5100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon M5 Portrait photography info
Nikon S5100 Portrait photography info
80
you can focus manually
good resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports face detect focus
supports RAW files
21
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon M5
Street photography with Nikon S5100
77
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
boasts touch to focus
very good ISO range (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
62
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (132 grams)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon M5
Sports photography with Nikon S5100
66
good resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports tracking focus
sensor has phase detect auto focus
does not have image stabilization
not so great battery pack (295 per charge)
27
image stabilization (Optical)
no shutter priority
resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon M5 Travel photography features
Nikon S5100 Travel photography features
77
connects via bluetooth
boasts touch to focus
good resolution (24 megapixels)
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
not so great battery pack (295 CIPA)
62
lighter than competition (132g)
has built in flash
decently wide (28mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon M5 Landscape photography information
Nikon S5100 Landscape photography information
73
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Canon EF-M mount)
nice screen size (3.2 inch)
good resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
very good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
not so great battery pack (295 per charge)
32
decently wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.7)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
lack of manual exposure
resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon M5 Vlogging info
Nikon S5100 Vlogging info
77
selfie friendly display
screen is touchscreen
supports face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes mic port
does not have image stabilization
31
decently wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (132 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.7)
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external mic port
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Canon M5 vs Nikon S5100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon M5 and Nikon S5100
 Canon EOS M5Nikon Coolpix S5100
General Information
Brand Canon Nikon
Model type Canon EOS M5 Nikon Coolpix S5100
Category Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2016-09-15 2010-08-17
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 7 Expeed C2
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 22.3 x 14.9mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 332.3mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 24MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 6000 x 4000 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 25600 1600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 49 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support Canon EF-M fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture - f/2.7-6.6
Macro focusing distance - 2cm
Number of lenses 23 -
Focal length multiplier 1.6 5.8
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3.2 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 1,620k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 4 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1500 secs
Continuous shooting speed 9.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.00 m (at ISO 100) -
Flash settings - Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/200 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 35 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MP4, H.264, AAC Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 427 grams (0.94 lb) 132 grams (0.29 lb)
Physical dimensions 116 x 89 x 61mm (4.6" x 3.5" x 2.4") 97 x 57 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 77 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 1262 not tested
Other
Battery life 295 shots -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID - EN-EL10
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom, remote) Yes
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $680 $200