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Nikon P520 vs Nikon S9100

Portability
66
Imaging
42
Features
51
Overall
45
Nikon Coolpix P520 front
 
Nikon Coolpix S9100 front
Portability
91
Imaging
35
Features
41
Overall
37

Nikon P520 vs Nikon S9100 Key Specs

Nikon P520
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1000mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
  • 550g - 125 x 84 x 102mm
  • Announced January 2013
  • Superseded the Nikon P510
  • Newer Model is Nikon P530
Nikon S9100
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 160 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-450mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 214g - 105 x 62 x 35mm
  • Announced July 2011
  • Replacement is Nikon S9300
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Nikon P520 vs Nikon S9100 Overview

Lets take a deeper look at the Nikon P520 vs Nikon S9100, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras and they are both sold by Nikon. There exists a considerable gap among the resolutions of the P520 (18MP) and S9100 (12MP) but both cameras have the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The P520 was introduced 19 months after the S9100 which makes them a generation away from one another. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Nikon P520 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Nikon S9100 being a Compact camera.

Before getting into a thorough comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the P520 grades vs the S9100 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon P520 over the Nikon S9100

 P520 S9100 
AnnouncedJanuary 2013July 2011More modern by 19 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen dimensions3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Nikon S9100 over the Nikon P520

 S9100 P520 

Common features in the Nikon P520 and Nikon S9100

 P520 S9100 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Screen resolution921k921kEqual screen resolution
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Nikon P520 vs Nikon S9100 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry around your camera often, you'll have to factor its weight and volume. The Nikon P520 enjoys outer measurements of 125mm x 84mm x 102mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 4.0") having a weight of 550 grams (1.21 lbs) and the Nikon S9100 has sizing of 105mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.4") having a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs).

See the Nikon P520 vs Nikon S9100 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are employing at that moment. The following is a front view measurements comparison of the P520 and the S9100.

Nikon P520 vs Nikon S9100 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the P520 and S9100 is 66 and 91 respectively.

Nikon P520 vs Nikon S9100 top view buttons comparison

Nikon P520 vs Nikon S9100 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is difficult to see the difference in sensor sizes just by going through specs. The image here should offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the P520 and S9100.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same megapixels. You can count on the Nikon P520 to produce extra detail using its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots more aggressively. The more modern P520 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Nikon P520 vs Nikon S9100 sensor size comparison

Nikon P520 vs Nikon S9100 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon P520 vs Nikon S9100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon P520 as a Portrait photography camera
Nikon S9100 as a Portrait photography camera
41
manual focus
good MP (18 megapixels)
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
32
manual focus
offers face detect focusing
no manual mode
can't use external flash
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon P520 Street photography information
Nikon S9100 Street photography information
51
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
more heavy than average (550 grams)
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (214 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Nikon P520 as a Sports photography camera
Nikon S9100 as a Sports photography camera
46
excellent zoom range (24-1000mm 41.7 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
bad battery power (200 shots)
does not have phase detect AF
36
excellent zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers tracking focus
no shutter priority
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (270 shots)
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Nikon P520 Travel photography highlights
Nikon S9100 Travel photography highlights
57
good MP (18MP)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
quite wide (24mm)
long zoom (1000mm)
no Timelapse mode
bad battery power (200 per charge)
more heavy than average (550 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
61
lighter than competition in class (214g)
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
very long zoom (450mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
not so great battery pack (270 CIPA)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon P520 Landscape photography details
Nikon S9100 Landscape photography details
46
manual focus
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3.2 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
bad battery power (200 per charge)
no Timelapse mode
39
manual focus
decently wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
no manual mode
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
not so great battery pack (270 shots)
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon P520
Vlogging with Nikon S9100
57
quite wide (24mm)
screen is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
no external microphone port
more heavy than average (550 grams)
34
decently wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (214g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have microphone support
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Nikon P520 vs Nikon S9100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon P520 and Nikon S9100
 Nikon Coolpix P520Nikon Coolpix S9100
General Information
Company Nikon Nikon
Model Nikon Coolpix P520 Nikon Coolpix S9100
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2013-01-29 2011-07-19
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Expeed C2
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.16 x 4.62mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Highest Possible resolution 4896 x 3672 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 160
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-1000mm (41.7x) 25-450mm (18.0x)
Max aperture f/3.0-5.9 f/3.5-5.9
Macro focus range 1cm 4cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 3.2" 3"
Resolution of display 921 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Features
Min shutter speed 8 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 7.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 4.00 m
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Optional None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB none USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 550 grams (1.21 pounds) 214 grams (0.47 pounds)
Physical dimensions 125 x 84 x 102mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 4.0") 105 x 62 x 35mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.4")
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 photographs 270 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL5 EN-EL12
Self timer - Yes (10 or 2 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $380 $329