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Canon SX280 HS vs Nikon S5100

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
43
Overall
38
Canon PowerShot SX280 HS front
 
Nikon Coolpix S5100 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
21
Overall
29

Canon SX280 HS vs Nikon S5100 Key Specs

Canon SX280 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.5-6.8) lens
  • 233g - 106 x 63 x 33mm
  • Revealed March 2013
  • Old Model is Canon SX270 HS
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
  • Released August 2010
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Canon SX280 HS vs Nikon S5100 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Canon SX280 HS vs Nikon S5100, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Canon and Nikon. The sensor resolution of the SX280 HS (12MP) and the S5100 (12MP) is very well matched and both cameras boast the identical sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SX280 HS was manufactured 2 years after the S5100 which is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before we go straight to a complete comparison, here is a brief overview of how the SX280 HS scores vs the S5100 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX280 HS over the Nikon S5100

 SX280 HS S5100 
ReleasedMarch 2013August 2010Newer by 32 months
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution461k230kSharper display (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Nikon S5100 over the Canon SX280 HS

 S5100 SX280 HS 

Common features in the Canon SX280 HS and Nikon S5100

 SX280 HS S5100 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Canon SX280 HS vs Nikon S5100 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to travel with your camera frequently, you will want to factor its weight and size. The Canon SX280 HS enjoys exterior measurements of 106mm x 63mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 233 grams (0.51 lbs) whilst the Nikon S5100 has specifications of 97mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs).

See the Canon SX280 HS vs Nikon S5100 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are using during that time. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the SX280 HS compared to the S5100.

Canon SX280 HS vs Nikon S5100 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the SX280 HS and S5100 is 91 and 95 respectively.

Canon SX280 HS vs Nikon S5100 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX280 HS vs Nikon S5100 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by reading through specs. The pic below will help give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the SX280 HS and S5100.

All in all, the 2 cameras feature the identical sensor size and the same exact MP so you should expect similar quality of images however you need to take the release date of the products into consideration. The fresher SX280 HS provides an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Canon SX280 HS vs Nikon S5100 sensor size comparison

Canon SX280 HS vs Nikon S5100 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX280 HS vs Nikon S5100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Portrait photography highlights
Nikon S5100 Portrait photography highlights
34
manual focus
provides face detect focus
can't use external flash
low MP (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
21
lack of manual focus
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
low MP (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Street photography highlights
Nikon S5100 Street photography highlights
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (233 grams)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
62
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (132 grams)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Sports photography features
Nikon S5100 Sports photography features
36
long zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking focus
low fps (4.0 frames per second)
low MP (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (210 per charge)
no phase detect auto focus
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lack of shutter priority mode
low MP (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Travel photography information
Nikon S5100 Travel photography information
61
lighter than average (233 grams)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
long zoom (500mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
bad battery pack (210 per charge)
low MP (12 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
62
lighter than competitors (132g)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse mode
low MP (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Landscape photography highlights
Nikon S5100 Landscape photography highlights
41
manual focus
relatively wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
low MP (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
bad battery pack (210 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
32
reasonably wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
manual mode not available
low MP (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Vlogging information
Nikon S5100 Vlogging information
34
relatively wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average (233 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not offer selfie friendly display
doesn't have mic support
31
reasonably wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (132 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no mic support
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Canon SX280 HS vs Nikon S5100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX280 HS and Nikon S5100
 Canon PowerShot SX280 HSNikon Coolpix S5100
General Information
Brand Canon Nikon
Model Canon PowerShot SX280 HS Nikon Coolpix S5100
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2013-03-21 2010-08-17
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 6 Expeed C2
Sensor type BSI-CMOS 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 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 1600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-500mm (20.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.5-6.8 f/2.7-6.6
Macro focus range 5cm 2cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 461 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 seconds 4 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/3200 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 4.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.50 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, Slow Syncro
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 240 (240 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 233 grams (0.51 lbs) 132 grams (0.29 lbs)
Physical dimensions 106 x 63 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3") 97 x 57 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 210 photographs -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model NB-6L EN-EL10
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch cost $325 $200