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Nikon L810 vs Sony HX5

Portability
74
Imaging
39
Features
38
Overall
38
Nikon Coolpix L810 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 front
Portability
92
Imaging
34
Features
30
Overall
32

Nikon L810 vs Sony HX5 Key Specs

Nikon L810
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 23-585mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 430g - 111 x 76 x 83mm
  • Announced February 2012
  • Successor is Nikon L820
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
  • Announced June 2010
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Nikon L810 vs Sony HX5 Overview

In this article, we will be looking at the Nikon L810 versus Sony HX5, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Nikon and Sony. There exists a substantial gap among the image resolutions of the L810 (16MP) and HX5 (10MP) and the L810 (1/2.3") and HX5 (1/2.4") possess different sensor sizes.

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The L810 was introduced 20 months after the HX5 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going through a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick overview of how the L810 scores against the HX5 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon L810 over the Sony HX5

 L810 HX5 
AnnouncedFebruary 2012June 2010Newer by 20 months
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony HX5 over the Nikon L810

 HX5 L810 

Common features in the Nikon L810 and Sony HX5

 L810 HX5 
Focus manually Lack of manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither contains Touch friendly screen

Nikon L810 vs Sony HX5 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to travel with your camera often, you should take into account its weight and size. The Nikon L810 has got physical dimensions of 111mm x 76mm x 83mm (4.4" x 3.0" x 3.3") having a weight of 430 grams (0.95 lbs) whilst the Sony HX5 has specifications of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

Look at the Nikon L810 versus Sony HX5 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are using at the time. Below is the front view over all size comparison of the L810 against the HX5.

Nikon L810 vs Sony HX5 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the L810 and HX5 is 74 and 92 respectively.

Nikon L810 vs Sony HX5 top view buttons comparison

Nikon L810 vs Sony HX5 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its difficult to visualize the difference in sensor dimensions just by checking out specs. The pic underneath may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the L810 and HX5.

All in all, the two cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The L810 using its bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF less difficult and the Nikon L810 will provide extra detail using its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots a little more aggressively. The newer L810 should have an edge in sensor innovation.

Nikon L810 vs Sony HX5 sensor size comparison

Nikon L810 vs Sony HX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon L810 vs Sony HX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon L810 Portrait photography advice
Sony HX5 Portrait photography advice
34
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
20
manual focus not available
no external flash support
low MP (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.4")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon L810
Street photography with Sony HX5
48
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
55
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.4")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Nikon L810 Sports photography information
Sony HX5 Sports photography information
44
amazing zoom range (23-585mm 25.4 x zoom)
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
slow frames per second (1.2 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
27
image stabilization (Optical)
no shutter priority
low MP (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.4")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon L810 Travel photography info
Sony HX5 Travel photography info
60
megapixel count good (16MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (23mm)
long zoom (585mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
60
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
long zoom (250mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
low MP (10 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon L810 Landscape photography factors
Sony HX5 Landscape photography factors
41
fairly wide (23mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
does not have Time Lapse recording
37
rather wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
low MP (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.4")
does not have RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon L810 Vlogging details
Sony HX5 Vlogging details
27
fairly wide (23mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect focusing
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have mic jack
31
rather wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
doesn't have mic socket
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Nikon L810 vs Sony HX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon L810 and Sony HX5
 Nikon Coolpix L810Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
General Information
Make Nikon Sony
Model Nikon Coolpix L810 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2012-02-01 2010-06-16
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.4"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 3456 x 2592
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 125
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
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 23-585mm (25.4x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Max aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus range 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 921 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 1.2fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change 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
AEB
WB 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)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4 AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 430g (0.95 lbs) 200g (0.44 lbs)
Dimensions 111 x 76 x 83mm (4.4" x 3.0" x 3.3") 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 300 photos -
Style of battery AA -
Battery model 4 x AA NP-BG1
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait1/portrait2)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo/ PRO HG-Duo, optional SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots One One
Launch cost $280 $275