Nikon P310 vs Sony HX5

The following is a complete analysis of the Nikon P310 and Sony HX5, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by companies Nikon and Sony. There is a noticeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the P310 (16MP) and HX5 (10MP) and the P310 (1/2.3") and HX5 (1/2.4") use different sensor dimensions.

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The P310 was unveiled 2 years after the HX5 which is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a quick overview of how the P310 matches up versus the HX5 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Nikon Coolpix P310 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5. The full galleries are viewable at Nikon P310 Gallery & Sony HX5 Gallery.

If you are aiming to travel with your camera, you will need to think about its weight and proportions. The Nikon P310 offers outer dimensions of 103mm x 58mm x 32mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") having a weight of 194 grams (0.43 lbs) while the Sony HX5 has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

See the Nikon P310 and Sony HX5 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have attached during that time. The following is the front view dimension comparison of the P310 and the HX5.

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the P310 and HX5 is 92 and 92 respectively.

Often, it's difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor dimensions purely by going over a spec sheet. The image underneath may give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the P310 and HX5.

Clearly, each of the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The P310 with its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF simpler and the Nikon P310 will offer you more detail having an extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The newer P310 should have an advantage in sensor innovation.