Nikon P900 vs Sony a5100

In this article, we will be evaluating the Nikon P900 and Sony a5100, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Nikon and Sony. There exists a significant gap among the image resolutions of the P900 (16MP) and a5100 (24MP) and the P900 (1/2.3") and a5100 (APS-C) come with different sensor sizes.

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The P900 was brought out 7 months later than the a5100 so they are both of a similar generation. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Nikon P900 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony a5100 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go in to a detailed comparison, below is a simple summary of how the P900 matches up vs the a5100 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Nikon Coolpix P900 and Sony Alpha a5100. The entire galleries are provided at Nikon P900 Gallery and Sony a5100 Gallery.

For anyone who is looking to carry your camera frequently, you will need to factor its weight and size. The Nikon P900 has external dimensions of 140mm x 103mm x 137mm (5.5" x 4.1" x 5.4") accompanied by a weight of 899 grams (1.98 lbs) whilst the Sony a5100 has specifications of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") along with a weight of 283 grams (0.62 lbs).

Take a look at the Nikon P900 and Sony a5100 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are using during that time. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the P900 vs the a5100.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the P900 and a5100 is 52 and 89 respectively.

Typically, it is very hard to picture the gap in sensor sizing merely by going through technical specs. The photograph below will give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the P900 and a5100.

As you can tell, both of these cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The P900 due to its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field harder and the Sony a5100 will show greater detail having its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots a little more aggressively. The fresher P900 should have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.