Canon S90 vs Nikon S5100

On this page, we are reviewing the Canon S90 vs Nikon S5100, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by companies Canon and Nikon. The sensor resolution of the S90 (10MP) and the S5100 (12MP) is very comparable but the S90 (1/1.7") and S5100 (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor dimensions.

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The S90 was manufactured 4 months prior to the S5100 so they are of a similar generation. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before getting straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise view of how the S90 grades vs the S5100 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Canon PowerShot S90 and Nikon Coolpix S5100. The entire galleries are available at Canon S90 Gallery and Nikon S5100 Gallery.

For anyone who is looking to carry around your camera regularly, you'll need to think about its weight and proportions. The Canon S90 provides physical measurements of 100mm x 58mm x 31mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.2") along with a weight of 195 grams (0.43 lbs) and the Nikon S5100 has measurements of 97mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs).

Analyze the Canon S90 vs Nikon S5100 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are employing at that time. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the S90 and the S5100.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the S90 and S5100 is 92 and 95 respectively.

Sometimes, it is tough to visualise the gap in sensor sizes simply by seeing specs. The picture underneath will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the S90 and S5100.

As you can plainly see, both cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The S90 because of its larger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF simpler and the Nikon S5100 will produce extra detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics a bit more aggressively.