Nikon S30 vs Sony HX5
90 Imaging
33 Features
18 Overall
27


92 Imaging
33 Features
30 Overall
31
Nikon S30 vs Sony HX5 Key Specs
(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
(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

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.

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.

Nikon S30 vs Sony HX5 Gallery
The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Nikon Coolpix S30 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5. The full galleries are provided at Nikon S30 Gallery & Sony HX5 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Nikon S30 over the Sony HX5
S30 | HX5 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Launched | February 2012 | ![]() | June 2010 | More modern by 20 months |
Reasons to pick Sony HX5 over the Nikon S30
HX5 | S30 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display sizing | 3" | ![]() | 2.7" | Larger display (+0.3") |
Common features in the Nikon S30 and Sony HX5
S30 | HX5 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Focus manually | ![]() | No manual focus | ||
Display type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed display |
Display resolution | 230k | ![]() | 230k | Same 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.
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.

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

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 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Nikon S30 vs Sony HX5 Specifications
Nikon Coolpix S30 | Sony 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 |