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Canon S100 vs Sony NEX-5N

Portability
93
Imaging
36
Features
48
Overall
40
Canon PowerShot S100 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
Portability
89
Imaging
56
Features
69
Overall
61

Canon S100 vs Sony NEX-5N Key Specs

Canon S100
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.0-5.9) lens
  • 198g - 99 x 60 x 28mm
  • Released December 2011
  • Earlier Model is Canon S95
  • Replacement is Canon S110
Sony NEX-5N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Introduced October 2011
  • Previous Model is Sony NEX-5
  • Successor is Sony NEX-5R
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Canon S100 vs Sony NEX-5N Overview

Below, we are reviewing the Canon S100 versus Sony NEX-5N, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Canon and Sony. There is a big difference between the resolutions of the S100 (12MP) and NEX-5N (16MP) and the S100 (1/1.7") and NEX-5N (APS-C) feature different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The S100 was released 3 months after the NEX-5N so they are of a similar generation. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Canon S100 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the S100 scores vs the NEX-5N with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon S100 over the Sony NEX-5N

 S100 NEX-5N 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Canon S100

 NEX-5N S100 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k461kClearer display (+459k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Canon S100 and Sony NEX-5N

 S100 NEX-5N 
IntroducedDecember 2011October 2011Similar generation
Focus manually More exact focusing
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Canon S100 vs Sony NEX-5N Physical Comparison

If you're intending to travel with your camera regularly, you're going to have to take into account its weight and volume. The Canon S100 has got outer dimensions of 99mm x 60mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") with a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5N has sizing of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") and a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Look at the Canon S100 versus Sony NEX-5N in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you choose at that time. Here is the front view size comparison of the S100 compared to the NEX-5N.

Canon S100 vs Sony NEX-5N size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the S100 and NEX-5N is 93 and 89 respectively.

Canon S100 vs Sony NEX-5N top view buttons comparison

Canon S100 vs Sony NEX-5N Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be hard to imagine the contrast between sensor dimensions only by reviewing specifications. The picture below will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the S100 and NEX-5N.

Plainly, the 2 cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The S100 due to its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF more difficult and the Sony NEX-5N will offer you extra detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images much more aggressively.

Canon S100 vs Sony NEX-5N sensor size comparison

Canon S100 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and ViewFinder

Canon S100 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon S100
Portrait photography with Sony NEX-5N
44
focusing manually
high flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
has face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
73
has manual focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Canon S100 Street photography features
Sony NEX-5N Street photography features
65
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
80
screen tilts
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
offers focus via touch
good ISO range (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Canon S100 as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Sports photography camera
32
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking focus
low frames per second (2.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
terrible battery power (200 CIPA)
no phase detect autofocus
58
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
better than average battery (460 shots)
no image stabilization
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon S100 Travel photography info
Sony NEX-5N Travel photography info
61
built-in flash
decently wide (24mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
missing Timelapse recording
terrible battery power (200 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
70
better than average battery (460 per charge)
offers focus via touch
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon S100
Landscape photography with Sony NEX-5N
50
focusing manually
decently wide (24mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
terrible battery power (200 per charge)
missing Timelapse recording
71
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
better than average battery (460 per charge)
no image stabilization
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon S100 Vlogging details
Sony NEX-5N Vlogging details
36
decently wide (24mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
missing microphone support
33
has touchscreen
offers face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
doesn't have external mic jack
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Canon S100 vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon S100 and Sony NEX-5N
 Canon PowerShot S100Sony Alpha NEX-5N
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Sony
Model type Canon PowerShot S100 Sony Alpha NEX-5N
Class Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2011-12-22 2011-10-03
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 5 Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.7" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.0-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 3cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 4.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 461 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology - Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 2.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.00 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/2000 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (120, 30 fps), 320 x 240 (240, 30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 198 gr (0.44 pounds) 269 gr (0.59 pounds)
Dimensions 99 x 60 x 28mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 50 77
DXO Color Depth rating 20.7 23.6
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.6 12.7
DXO Low light rating 153 1079
Other
Battery life 200 shots 460 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-5L NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $429 $550