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Nikon S30 vs Sony HX9V

Portability
90
Imaging
32
Features
18
Overall
26
Nikon Coolpix S30 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V front
Portability
91
Imaging
38
Features
46
Overall
41

Nikon S30 vs Sony HX9V Key Specs

Nikon S30
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 29-87mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 214g - 102 x 65 x 40mm
  • Launched February 2012
Sony HX9V
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 245g - 105 x 59 x 34mm
  • Released July 2011
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Nikon S30 vs Sony HX9V Overview

Lets look a little more in depth at the Nikon S30 and Sony HX9V, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Nikon and Sony. There is a large difference among the sensor resolutions of the S30 (10MP) and HX9V (16MP) and the S30 (1/3") and HX9V (1/2.3") boast different sensor sizes.

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The S30 was manufactured 7 months after the HX9V which means that they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before diving straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple summation of how the S30 matches up versus the HX9V when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon S30 over the Sony HX9V

 S30 HX9V 
ReleasedFebruary 2012July 2011Newer by 7 months

Reasons to pick Sony HX9V over the Nikon S30

 HX9V S30 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Nikon S30 and Sony HX9V

 S30 HX9V 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Nikon S30 vs Sony HX9V Physical Comparison

When you are looking to travel with your camera frequently, you'll have to consider its weight and proportions. The Nikon S30 has got outside measurements of 102mm x 65mm x 40mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.6") with a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs) while the Sony HX9V has measurements of 105mm x 59mm x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") having a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs).

Examine the Nikon S30 and Sony HX9V in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you use at the time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the S30 vs the HX9V.

Nikon S30 vs Sony HX9V size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the S30 and HX9V is 90 and 91 respectively.

Nikon S30 vs Sony HX9V top view buttons comparison

Nikon S30 vs Sony HX9V Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is hard to visualize the difference in sensor dimensions merely by checking out specs. The pic here might provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the S30 and HX9V.

All in all, both the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The S30 because of its smaller sensor is going to make getting bokeh more difficult and the Sony HX9V will show extra detail due to its extra 6MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The younger S30 provides an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Nikon S30 vs Sony HX9V sensor size comparison

Nikon S30 vs Sony HX9V Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon S30 vs Sony HX9V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon S30 Portrait photography advice
Sony HX9V Portrait photography advice
24
provides face detect focusing
no manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (10MP)
small sensor (1/3")
lack of RAW format
38
has manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon S30
Street photography with Sony HX9V
51
environment proofing
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/3")
lack of RAW format
heavier than competition in class (214 grams)
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (245g)
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Nikon S30 Sports photography information
Sony HX9V Sports photography information
28
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
environment proofing
continuous shooting slow (1.5 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/3")
lack of phase detect AF
44
incredible zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Nikon S30 Travel photography advice
Sony HX9V Travel photography advice
52
environment proofing
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse function
heavier than competition in class (214g)
low megapixels (10MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
wide angle not the best (29mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
69
lighter than competition in class (245 grams)
good MP (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
very long reach (384mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon S30 Landscape photography features
Sony HX9V Landscape photography features
25
environment proofing
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (29mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7")
no manual control
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/3")
lack of RAW format
does not have Time Lapse function
49
has manual focus
relatively wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon S30
Vlogging with Sony HX9V
23
provides face detect focusing
wide angle not the best (29mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic socket
heavier than competition in class (214 grams)
33
relatively wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (245 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of external microphone support
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Nikon S30 vs Sony HX9V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon S30 and Sony HX9V
 Nikon Coolpix S30Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V
General Information
Make Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon Coolpix S30 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2012-02-01 2011-07-19
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - BIONZ
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 4.8 x 3.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 17.3mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 29-87mm (3.0x) 24-384mm (16.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.3-5.9 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Crop factor 7.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech TFT-LCD XtraFine LCD display with TruBlack technology
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 1.5fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 4.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow-sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (60fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 214 grams (0.47 lbs) 245 grams (0.54 lbs)
Physical dimensions 102 x 65 x 40mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.6") 105 x 59 x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 240 photographs -
Battery style AA -
Battery ID 2 x AA NP-BG1
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $119 $328