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Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon S5100

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
41
Overall
40
Canon PowerShot SX170 IS front
 
Nikon Coolpix S5100 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
21
Overall
29

Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon S5100 Key Specs

Canon SX170 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-448mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 251g - 108 x 71 x 44mm
  • Introduced August 2013
  • Superseded the Canon SX160 IS
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
  • Revealed August 2010
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Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon S5100 Overview

Below is a in depth analysis of the Canon SX170 IS versus Nikon S5100, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Canon and Nikon. There is a considerable difference among the resolutions of the SX170 IS (16MP) and S5100 (12MP) but they come with the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SX170 IS was manufactured 3 years later than the S5100 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving through a detailed comparison, below is a short summary of how the SX170 IS scores versus the S5100 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX170 IS over the Nikon S5100

 SX170 IS S5100 
RevealedAugust 2013August 2010More recent by 37 months
Manual focus More precise focusing
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Nikon S5100 over the Canon SX170 IS

 S5100 SX170 IS 

Common features in the Canon SX170 IS and Nikon S5100

 SX170 IS S5100 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kThe same display resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon S5100 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to lug around your camera regularly, you have to think about its weight and size. The Canon SX170 IS features outer measurements of 108mm x 71mm x 44mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.7") and a weight of 251 grams (0.55 lbs) and the Nikon S5100 has specifications of 97mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs).

Look at the Canon SX170 IS versus Nikon S5100 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilising during that time. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the SX170 IS and the S5100.

Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon S5100 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the SX170 IS and S5100 is 88 and 95 respectively.

Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon S5100 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon S5100 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its hard to see the gap in sensor measurements only by checking out technical specs. The photograph below should give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the SX170 IS and S5100.

As you have seen, each of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same MP. You can expect to see the Canon SX170 IS to show extra detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics a little more aggressively. The more recent SX170 IS will have an advantage in sensor technology.

Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon S5100 sensor size comparison

Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon S5100 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon S5100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX170 IS as a Portrait photography camera
Nikon S5100 as a Portrait photography camera
44
you can focus manually
decent MP (16MP)
offers face detect focus
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
21
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
external flash not possible
low megapixels (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon SX170 IS as a Street photography camera
Nikon S5100 as a Street photography camera
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (251 grams)
screen does not articulate
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
62
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (132 grams)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SX170 IS
Sports photography with Nikon S5100
48
excellent zoom range (28-448mm 16.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
low frames per second (1.0 fps)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
27
has image stabilization (Optical)
no shutter priority mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Travel photography features
Nikon S5100 Travel photography features
68
lighter than competition in class (251g)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (28mm)
great zoom (448mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
does not posses selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.5)
62
lighter than competition (132g)
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Landscape photography info
Nikon S5100 Landscape photography info
49
you can focus manually
rather wide (28mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse recording
32
quite wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
no manual mode
low megapixels (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Vlogging features
Nikon S5100 Vlogging features
31
rather wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focus
lighter than competition in class (251g)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have microphone support
31
quite wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (132g)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic support
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Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon S5100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX170 IS and Nikon S5100
 Canon PowerShot SX170 ISNikon Coolpix S5100
General Information
Brand Name Canon Nikon
Model type Canon PowerShot SX170 IS Nikon Coolpix S5100
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2013-08-22 2010-08-17
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 4 Expeed C2
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 1600 1600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-448mm (16.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.5-5.9 f/2.7-6.6
Macro focusing range 1cm 2cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 2.7"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/3200 secs 1/1500 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.00 m -
Flash options Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Flash Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, Slow Syncro
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 251 grams (0.55 lb) 132 grams (0.29 lb)
Dimensions 108 x 71 x 44mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.7") 97 x 57 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 300 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 Single Single
Retail pricing $0 $200