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Nikon S100 vs Sony HX5

Portability
94
Imaging
39
Features
40
Overall
39
Nikon Coolpix S100 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 front
Portability
92
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Nikon S100 vs Sony HX5 Key Specs

Nikon S100
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.9-4.8) lens
  • 175g - 99 x 65 x 18mm
  • Launched August 2011
Sony HX5
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 200g - 102 x 58 x 29mm
  • Introduced June 2010
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Nikon S100 vs Sony HX5 Overview

Following is a complete comparison of the Nikon S100 and Sony HX5, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by manufacturers Nikon and Sony. There is a sizeable difference among the resolutions of the S100 (16MP) and HX5 (10MP) and the S100 (1/2.3") and HX5 (1/2.4") enjoy different sensor sizes.

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The S100 was brought out 15 months after the HX5 making the cameras a generation away from each other. The two cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting through a step-by-step comparison, below is a short overview of how the S100 grades against the HX5 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon S100 over the Sony HX5

 S100 HX5 
IntroducedAugust 2011June 2010More modern by 15 months
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Display dimension3.5"3"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution820k230kCrisper display (+590k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony HX5 over the Nikon S100

 HX5 S100 

Common features in the Nikon S100 and Sony HX5

 S100 HX5 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Nikon S100 vs Sony HX5 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry around your camera often, you will want to consider its weight and size. The Nikon S100 provides external dimensions of 99mm x 65mm x 18mm (3.9" x 2.6" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 175 grams (0.39 lbs) while the Sony HX5 has specifications 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 S100 and Sony HX5 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are employing at that time. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the S100 versus the HX5.

Nikon S100 vs Sony HX5 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the S100 and HX5 is 94 and 92 respectively.

Nikon S100 vs Sony HX5 top view buttons comparison

Nikon S100 vs Sony HX5 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be tough to visualize the gap in sensor sizes merely by seeing technical specs. The picture below will give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the S100 and HX5.

As you have seen, both the cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The S100 because of its larger sensor is going to make getting bokeh simpler and the Nikon S100 will show greater detail having its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics much more aggressively. The newer S100 should have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Nikon S100 vs Sony HX5 sensor size comparison

Nikon S100 vs Sony HX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon S100 vs Sony HX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon S100 Portrait photography advice
Sony HX5 Portrait photography advice
40
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
provides face detect focusing
manual mode not available
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
19
manual focus not available
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.4")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Nikon S100 Street photography factors
Sony HX5 Street photography factors
63
image stabilization (Optical)
features focus by touch
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
55
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor size is small (1/2.4")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Nikon S100 as a Sports photography camera
Sony HX5 as a Sports photography camera
38
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
provides tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
terrible battery (150 per charge)
no phase detect AF
26
has image stabilization (Optical)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.4")
lacks phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Nikon S100 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX5 as a Travel photography camera
65
features focus by touch
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse recording
terrible battery (150 per charge)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.9)
60
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
great reach (250mm)
no Timelapse mode
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon S100 Landscape photography details
Sony HX5 Landscape photography details
45
manual focus
really wide (28mm)
very good size screen (3.5 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.9)
manual mode not available
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
terrible battery (150 CIPA)
missing Timelapse recording
37
really wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.4")
lacks RAW format
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon S100 Vlogging features
Sony HX5 Vlogging features
35
really wide (28mm)
touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow max aperture (f3.9)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
missing microphone support
31
really wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
no microphone jack
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Nikon S100 vs Sony HX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon S100 and Sony HX5
 Nikon Coolpix S100Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
General Information
Manufacturer Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon Coolpix S100 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2011-08-24 2010-06-16
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Expeed C2 Bionz
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.4"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 3456 x 2592
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 125 125
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Max aperture f/3.9-4.8 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3.5" 3"
Screen resolution 820 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech Organic LED monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 6.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 3.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro
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, 1280 x 720p (30fps), 640 x 480 (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 format MPEG-4, Motion JPEG AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 175 grams (0.39 pounds) 200 grams (0.44 pounds)
Dimensions 99 x 65 x 18mm (3.9" x 2.6" x 0.7") 102 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 150 pictures -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID EN-EL12 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait1/portrait2)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo/ PRO HG-Duo, optional SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $240 $275