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Canon S120 vs Nikon S5100

Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
57
Overall
45
Canon PowerShot S120 front
 
Nikon Coolpix S5100 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
21
Overall
29

Canon S120 vs Nikon S5100 Key Specs

Canon S120
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F1.8-5.7) lens
  • 217g - 100 x 59 x 29mm
  • Introduced November 2013
  • Earlier Model is Canon S110
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
  • Launched August 2010
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Canon S120 vs Nikon S5100 Overview

Lets examine more closely at the Canon S120 and Nikon S5100, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by rivals Canon and Nikon. The image resolution of the S120 (12MP) and the S5100 (12MP) is very well matched but the S120 (1/1.7") and S5100 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor measurements.

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The S120 was released 3 years after the S5100 which is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before going in to a more detailed comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the S120 matches up against the S5100 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon S120 over the Nikon S5100

 S120 S5100 
LaunchedNovember 2013August 2010Newer by 40 months
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kCrisper display (+692k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Nikon S5100 over the Canon S120

 S5100 S120 

Common features in the Canon S120 and Nikon S5100

 S120 S5100 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Canon S120 vs Nikon S5100 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to travel with your camera regularly, you will want to think about its weight and dimensions. The Canon S120 provides outside dimensions of 100mm x 59mm x 29mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 217 grams (0.48 lbs) while the Nikon S5100 has dimensions of 97mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs).

Check out the Canon S120 and Nikon S5100 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have attached during that time. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the S120 against the S5100.

Canon S120 vs Nikon S5100 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the S120 and S5100 is 92 and 95 respectively.

Canon S120 vs Nikon S5100 top view buttons comparison

Canon S120 vs Nikon S5100 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very difficult to picture the difference between sensor dimensions purely by checking specs. The pic underneath will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the S120 and S5100.

As you can plainly see, both cameras have got the exact same MP but different sensor dimensions. The S120 provides the larger sensor which is going to make getting shallower DOF easier. The more modern S120 provides an advantage in sensor technology.

Canon S120 vs Nikon S5100 sensor size comparison

Canon S120 vs Nikon S5100 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon S120 vs Nikon S5100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon S120
Portrait photography with Nikon S5100
42
manual focus
has face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
21
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
low MP (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon S120
Street photography with Nikon S5100
65
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
boasts touch to focus
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
heavier than average in class (217 grams)
62
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (132 grams)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon S120 Sports photography details
Nikon S5100 Sports photography details
39
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking autofocus
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
does not have phase detect auto focus
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no shutter priority mode
low MP (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon S120 Travel photography information
Nikon S5100 Travel photography information
67
boasts touch to focus
flash built-in
fairly wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
heavier than average in class (217 grams)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly display
62
lighter than competition (132 grams)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (28mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
low MP (12MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon S120 Landscape photography features
Nikon S5100 Landscape photography features
57
manual focus
fairly wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
32
reasonably wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
small screen (2.7 inches)
no manual mode
low MP (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon S120 as a Vlogging camera
Nikon S5100 as a Vlogging camera
35
fairly wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not feature selfie friendly display
no external mic jack
heavier than average in class (217 grams)
31
reasonably wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (132g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have mic socket
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Canon S120 vs Nikon S5100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon S120 and Nikon S5100
 Canon PowerShot S120Nikon Coolpix S5100
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Nikon
Model type Canon PowerShot S120 Nikon Coolpix S5100
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2013-11-26 2010-08-17
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 6 Expeed C2
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 41.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 12800 1600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 9 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture f/1.8-5.7 f/2.7-6.6
Macro focusing range 3cm 2cm
Focal length multiplier 4.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 922k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology TFT PureColor II G Touch screen LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 secs 4 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1500 secs
Continuous shooting rate 12.0 frames per second -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 7.00 m -
Flash modes Auto, on, slow synchro, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 or 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 217 grams (0.48 lbs) 132 grams (0.29 lbs)
Dimensions 100 x 59 x 29mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.1") 97 x 57 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.3 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.9 not tested
DXO Low light rating 246 not tested
Other
Battery life 230 images -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID NB-6LH EN-EL10
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $449 $200