Clicky

Nikon P310 vs Sony HX5

Portability
92
Imaging
40
Features
53
Overall
45
Nikon Coolpix P310 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 front
Portability
92
Imaging
34
Features
30
Overall
32

Nikon P310 vs Sony HX5 Key Specs

Nikon P310
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-100mm (F1.8-4.9) lens
  • 194g - 103 x 58 x 32mm
  • Launched June 2012
  • Previous Model is Nikon P300
  • Refreshed by Nikon P330
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
Peek Behind the Lens of 'Photographer' and Their Go-To Cameras

Nikon P310 vs Sony HX5 Overview

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.

Europe Approves Revolutionary AI Legislation

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.

Leica struggles with L-Mount camera sales, tougher than Q or M
	
	

Reasons to pick Nikon P310 over the Sony HX5

 P310 HX5 
AnnouncedJune 2012June 2010Newer by 25 months
Manual focus More exact focus
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony HX5 over the Nikon P310

 HX5 P310 

Common features in the Nikon P310 and Sony HX5

 P310 HX5 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither offers Touch friendly screen

Nikon P310 vs Sony HX5 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Nikon P310 vs Sony HX5 size comparison

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

Nikon P310 vs Sony HX5 top view buttons comparison

Nikon P310 vs Sony HX5 Sensor Comparison

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.

Nikon P310 vs Sony HX5 sensor size comparison

Nikon P310 vs Sony HX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon P310 vs Sony HX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Apple patent reveals improved iPhone camera durability

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon P310
Portrait photography with Sony HX5
44
focusing manually
good megapixels (16MP)
supports face detect focusing
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
20
no manual focus
external flash not possible
MP count low (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.4")
does not have RAW format
Nikon Coolpix camera search on Google skyrockets by 8,500%

Street Comparison

Nikon P310 Street photography information
Sony HX5 Street photography information
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
55
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
very small sensor (1/2.4")
does not have RAW format
AI-Powered Photo Editing Tools Could Be Added to WhatsApp

Sports Comparison

Nikon P310 as a Sports photography camera
Sony HX5 as a Sports photography camera
48
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
supports tracking focus
max frames per second low (6.0 frames/s)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
27
image stabilization (Optical)
no shutter priority
MP count low (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.4")
does not have phase detect autofocus
Ulanzi's Tripod Ensures Ultra Smooth Filming

Travel Comparison

Nikon P310 Travel photography highlights
Sony HX5 Travel photography highlights
71
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
lack of Timelapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
60
has built in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
long zoom (250mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
MP count low (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
Fujifilm accuses Eastman Kodak of patent violation in new lawsuit

Landscape Comparison

Nikon P310 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX5 as a Landscape photography camera
55
focusing manually
decently wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
lack of Timelapse mode
37
pretty wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.4")
does not have RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
TikTok Developing Photo App to Challenge Instagram's Dominance

Vlogging Comparison

Nikon P310 Vlogging factors
Sony HX5 Vlogging factors
36
decently wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of microphone socket
31
pretty wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic socket
Google AI Gemini Could Enhance iPhone Experience, Talks Suggest

Nikon P310 vs Sony HX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon P310 and Sony HX5
 Nikon Coolpix P310Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
General Information
Brand Name Nikon Sony
Model Nikon Coolpix P310 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2012-06-22 2010-06-16
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS 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 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 3456 x 2592
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 125
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 99 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-100mm (4.2x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Max aperture f/1.8-4.9 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus distance 2cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 921k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 6.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 3.80 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow-sync Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (120, 30fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (60, 30fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 194g (0.43 pounds) 200g (0.44 pounds)
Dimensions 103 x 58 x 32mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") 102 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 230 images -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model EN-EL12 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait1/portrait2)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo/ PRO HG-Duo, optional SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots One One
Price at launch $700 $275