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Nikon L26 vs Sony HX5

Portability
93
Imaging
39
Features
24
Overall
33
Nikon Coolpix L26 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 front
Portability
92
Imaging
34
Features
30
Overall
32

Nikon L26 vs Sony HX5 Key Specs

Nikon L26
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-130mm (F3.2-6.5) lens
  • 164g - 96 x 60 x 29mm
  • Announced February 2012
Sony HX5
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 200g - 102 x 58 x 29mm
  • Released June 2010
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Nikon L26 vs Sony HX5 Overview

The following is a comprehensive analysis of the Nikon L26 versus Sony HX5, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by manufacturers Nikon and Sony. There exists a huge gap among the image resolutions of the L26 (16MP) and HX5 (10MP) and the L26 (1/2.3") and HX5 (1/2.4") enjoy different sensor sizes.

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The L26 was announced 20 months after the HX5 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Each of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going in to a thorough comparison, below is a simple summary of how the L26 grades against the HX5 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon L26 over the Sony HX5

 L26 HX5 
ReleasedFebruary 2012June 2010Newer by 20 months

Reasons to pick Sony HX5 over the Nikon L26

 HX5 L26 

Common features in the Nikon L26 and Sony HX5

 L26 HX5 
Focus manually No manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions
Screen resolution230k230kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither offers Touch friendly screen

Nikon L26 vs Sony HX5 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to travel with your camera, you are going to need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Nikon L26 offers external dimensions of 96mm x 60mm x 29mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.1") and a weight of 164 grams (0.36 lbs) while the Sony HX5 has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

Take a look at the Nikon L26 versus Sony HX5 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you select at that moment. The following is the front view physical size comparison of the L26 compared to the HX5.

Nikon L26 vs Sony HX5 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the L26 and HX5 is 93 and 92 respectively.

Nikon L26 vs Sony HX5 top view buttons comparison

Nikon L26 vs Sony HX5 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its tough to picture the difference in sensor dimensions purely by researching a spec sheet. The image underneath may give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the L26 and HX5.

Clearly, each of these cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The L26 having a bigger sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF easier and the Nikon L26 will render greater detail with its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The more modern L26 provides an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Nikon L26 vs Sony HX5 sensor size comparison

Nikon L26 vs Sony HX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon L26 vs Sony HX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon L26 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony HX5 as a Portrait photography camera
34
good resolution (16 megapixels)
comes with face detect focus
lack of manual focus
no manual mode
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
20
no manual focus
can't use external flash
low MP (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.4")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Nikon L26 Street photography details
Sony HX5 Street photography details
47
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
55
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.4")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Nikon L26 Sports photography features
Sony HX5 Sports photography features
27
good resolution (16 megapixels)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery life (200 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no shutter priority mode
low MP (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.4")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon L26 Travel photography features
Sony HX5 Travel photography features
62
good resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (26mm)
no Timelapse mode
low battery life (200 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.2)
60
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
long zoom (250mm)
missing Timelapse recording
low MP (10 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon L26 Landscape photography advice
Sony HX5 Landscape photography advice
37
relatively wide (26mm)
screen is a good size (3")
good resolution (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
no manual mode
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
low battery life (200 shots)
no Timelapse mode
37
really wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
low MP (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.4")
no RAW format
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon L26 Vlogging features
Sony HX5 Vlogging features
28
relatively wide (26mm)
comes with face detect focus
slow max aperture (f3.2)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no microphone socket
31
really wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
missing external microphone jack
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Nikon L26 vs Sony HX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon L26 and Sony HX5
 Nikon Coolpix L26Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
General Information
Make Nikon Sony
Model Nikon Coolpix L26 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2012-02-01 2010-06-16
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.4"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 3456 x 2592
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 125
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 26-130mm (5.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Max aperture f/3.2-6.5 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus range 10cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed - 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 3.80 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow-sync Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (60, 30fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4 AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 164 gr (0.36 lb) 200 gr (0.44 lb)
Dimensions 96 x 60 x 29mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.1") 102 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1")
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 200 shots -
Battery format AA -
Battery model 2 x AA NP-BG1
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait1/portrait2)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo/ PRO HG-Duo, optional SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Launch price $70 $275