Nikon 1 S1 vs Nikon P520

The following is a comprehensive assessment of the Nikon 1 S1 vs Nikon P520, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both sold by Nikon. There is a crucial difference among the image resolutions of the 1 S1 (10MP) and P520 (18MP) and the 1 S1 (1") and P520 (1/2.3") posses different sensor measurements.

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The 1 S1 was revealed 5 months after the P520 and they are of a similar generation. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Nikon 1 S1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Nikon P520 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going right into a in-depth comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the 1 S1 grades versus the P520 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Nikon 1 S1 and Nikon Coolpix P520. The full galleries are viewable at Nikon 1 S1 Gallery and Nikon P520 Gallery.

When you are looking to travel with your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Nikon 1 S1 enjoys physical dimensions of 102mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 1.2") along with a weight of 197 grams (0.43 lbs) whilst the Nikon P520 has dimensions of 125mm x 84mm x 102mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 4.0") accompanied by a weight of 550 grams (1.21 lbs).

See the Nikon 1 S1 vs Nikon P520 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are using during that time. Underneath is a front view physical size comparison of the 1 S1 vs the P520.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the 1 S1 and P520 is 92 and 66 respectively.

Often, it's hard to imagine the gap in sensor dimensions only by seeing specs. The pic below will give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the 1 S1 and P520.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The 1 S1 with its larger sensor is going to make shooting bokeh easier and the Nikon P520 will show greater detail because of its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos more aggressively.