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Nikon S30 vs Sony HX5

Portability
90
Imaging
33
Features
18
Overall
27
Nikon Coolpix S30 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 front
Portability
92
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Nikon S30 vs Sony HX5 Key Specs

Nikon S30
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 29-87mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 214g - 102 x 65 x 40mm
  • Introduced February 2012
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
  • Launched June 2010
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Nikon S30 vs Sony HX5 Overview

Following is a extensive overview of the Nikon S30 versus Sony HX5, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by manufacturers Nikon and Sony. The resolution of the S30 (10MP) and the HX5 (10MP) is very comparable but the S30 (1/3") and HX5 (1/2.4") possess different sensor size.

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The S30 was unveiled 20 months after the HX5 making the cameras a generation away from one another. Each of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise view of how the S30 matches up against the HX5 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon S30 over the Sony HX5

 S30 HX5 
LaunchedFebruary 2012June 2010More modern by 20 months

Reasons to pick Sony HX5 over the Nikon S30

 HX5 S30 
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Common features in the Nikon S30 and Sony HX5

 S30 HX5 
Focus manually No manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Nikon S30 vs Sony HX5 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry around your camera often, you'll need to factor its weight and volume. The Nikon S30 comes with physical dimensions of 102mm x 65mm x 40mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.6") along with a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs) and the Sony HX5 has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

Contrast the Nikon S30 versus Sony HX5 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you choose at the time. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the S30 compared to the HX5.

Nikon S30 vs Sony HX5 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the S30 and HX5 is 90 and 92 respectively.

Nikon S30 vs Sony HX5 top view buttons comparison

Nikon S30 vs Sony HX5 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's difficult to picture the gap in sensor sizes merely by going through specifications. The picture below should provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the S30 and HX5.

Plainly, both the cameras offer the same exact megapixels but different sensor sizes. The S30 has the smaller sensor which will make obtaining shallower DOF more challenging. The newer S30 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Nikon S30 vs Sony HX5 sensor size comparison

Nikon S30 vs Sony HX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon S30 vs Sony HX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon S30 Portrait photography information
Sony HX5 Portrait photography information
25
offers face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
low resolution sensor (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/3")
does not have RAW format
19
manual focus not available
can't use external flash
low megapixels (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.4")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Nikon S30 Street photography details
Sony HX5 Street photography details
51
weather proof
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/3")
does not have RAW format
heavier than competition (214 grams)
55
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.4")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Nikon S30 Sports photography advice
Sony HX5 Sports photography advice
29
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
weather proof
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.5 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
low resolution sensor (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
26
has image stabilization (Optical)
no shutter priority mode
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.4")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon S30
Travel photography with Sony HX5
52
weather proof
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse function
heavier than competition (214 grams)
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
wide angle not the best (29mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
60
built-in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
long zoom (250mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
low megapixels (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon S30 Landscape photography information
Sony HX5 Landscape photography information
26
weather proof
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (29mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
manual mode not available
does not have image stabilization
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/3")
does not have RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse function
37
pretty wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.4")
has no RAW support
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon S30 Vlogging information
Sony HX5 Vlogging information
23
offers face detection focus
wide angle not the best (29mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external mic socket
heavier than competition (214g)
31
pretty wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of external microphone jack
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Nikon S30 vs Sony HX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon S30 and Sony HX5
 Nikon Coolpix S30Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
General Information
Brand Nikon Sony
Model Nikon Coolpix S30 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2012-02-01 2010-06-16
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/3" 1/2.4"
Sensor measurements 4.8 x 3.6mm 6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor surface area 17.3mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 3456 x 2592
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 125
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 29-87mm (3.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Max aperture f/3.3-5.9 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus range 5cm 5cm
Crop factor 7.5 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech TFT-LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.5fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 3.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow-sync Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (60, 30fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4 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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 214 gr (0.47 pounds) 200 gr (0.44 pounds)
Dimensions 102 x 65 x 40mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.6") 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 240 pictures -
Battery format AA -
Battery model 2 x AA NP-BG1
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait1/portrait2)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo/ PRO HG-Duo, optional SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $119 $275