Canon S100 vs Sony NEX-5N
93 Imaging
36 Features
48 Overall
40


89 Imaging
56 Features
69 Overall
61
Canon S100 vs Sony NEX-5N Key Specs
(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
(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

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.

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.

Canon S100 vs Sony NEX-5N Gallery
Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Canon PowerShot S100 and Sony Alpha NEX-5N. The complete galleries are provided at Canon S100 Gallery and Sony NEX-5N Gallery.
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 type | Tilting | ![]() | Fixed | Tilting display |
Display resolution | 920k | ![]() | 461k | Clearer display (+459k dot) |
Touch display | ![]() | Easily navigate |
Common features in the Canon S100 and Sony NEX-5N
S100 | NEX-5N | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Introduced | December 2011 | ![]() | October 2011 | Similar generation |
Focus manually | ![]() | More exact focusing | ||
Display dimension | 3" | ![]() | 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.
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.

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 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 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Canon S100 vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications
Canon PowerShot S100 | Sony 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 |