Nikon P520 vs Nikon S5100

Following is a complete assessment of the Nikon P520 versus Nikon S5100, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both are produced by Nikon. There is a huge difference between the sensor resolutions of the P520 (18MP) and S5100 (12MP) but they feature the exact same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The P520 was brought out 2 years after the S5100 which is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Nikon P520 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Nikon S5100 being a Compact camera.

Before diving in to a detailed comparison, below is a concise summary of how the P520 matches up against the S5100 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a preview of the gallery images for Nikon Coolpix P520 and Nikon Coolpix S5100. The entire galleries are viewable at Nikon P520 Gallery and Nikon S5100 Gallery.

In case you're aiming to carry around your camera, you are going to need to think about its weight and measurements. The Nikon P520 comes with physical dimensions of 125mm x 84mm x 102mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 4.0") with a weight of 550 grams (1.21 lbs) whilst the Nikon S5100 has proportions of 97mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs).

Take a look at the Nikon P520 versus Nikon S5100 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you use during that time. Following is the front view size comparison of the P520 versus the S5100.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the P520 and S5100 is 66 and 95 respectively.

Generally, it is very difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor sizes purely by going over specs. The picture below should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the P520 and S5100.

As you can plainly see, both cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit different resolution. You should expect the Nikon P520 to deliver greater detail having its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop pictures much more aggressively. The fresher P520 should have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.