Nikon 1 S2 vs Sony a5100

Let's take a more detailed look at the Nikon 1 S2 vs Sony a5100, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by companies Nikon and Sony. There is a sizeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the 1 S2 (14.2MP) and a5100 (24MP) and the 1 S2 (1") and a5100 (APS-C) come with different sensor sizes.

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The 1 S2 was revealed 2 months before the a5100 so they are both of a similar generation. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before going in to a thorough comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the 1 S2 matches up vs the a5100 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Nikon 1 S2 and Sony Alpha a5100. The full galleries are available at Nikon 1 S2 Gallery and Sony a5100 Gallery.

When you are intending to lug around your camera regularly, you are going to need to consider its weight and proportions. The Nikon 1 S2 offers physical measurements of 101mm x 61mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 190 grams (0.42 lbs) while the Sony a5100 has measurements of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 283 grams (0.62 lbs).

Contrast the Nikon 1 S2 vs Sony a5100 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you select at the time. Underneath is the front view physical size comparison of the 1 S2 against the a5100.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the 1 S2 and a5100 is 93 and 89 respectively.

Oftentimes, it is difficult to imagine the contrast in sensor measurements merely by going through technical specs. The visual here may give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the 1 S2 and a5100.

As you can tell, the two cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The 1 S2 using its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF trickier and the Sony a5100 will show more detail because of its extra 9.8MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop images far more aggressively.