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Nikon S3500 vs Nikon S5100

Portability
95
Imaging
45
Features
25
Overall
37
Nikon Coolpix S3500 front
 
Nikon Coolpix S5100 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
21
Overall
29

Nikon S3500 vs Nikon S5100 Key Specs

Nikon S3500
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-182mm (F3.4-6.4) lens
  • 129g - 97 x 58 x 21mm
  • Revealed February 2013
Nikon S5100
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F2.7-6.6) lens
  • 132g - 97 x 57 x 22mm
  • Revealed August 2010
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Nikon S3500 vs Nikon S5100 Overview

Below is a extended comparison of the Nikon S3500 vs Nikon S5100, both Small Sensor Compact cameras and they are both produced by Nikon. There is a sizeable difference among the resolutions of the S3500 (20MP) and S5100 (12MP) but they use the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The S3500 was introduced 2 years later than the S5100 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting straight into a thorough comparison, below is a concise view of how the S3500 matches up vs the S5100 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon S3500 over the Nikon S5100

 S3500 S5100 
RevealedFebruary 2013August 2010More recent by 31 months

Reasons to pick Nikon S5100 over the Nikon S3500

 S5100 S3500 

Common features in the Nikon S3500 and Nikon S5100

 S3500 S5100 
Focus manually No manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing2.7"2.7"Equivalent display measurements
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Nikon S3500 vs Nikon S5100 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Nikon S3500 provides external measurements of 97mm x 58mm x 21mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.8") having a weight of 129 grams (0.28 lbs) whilst the Nikon S5100 has dimensions of 97mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs).

See the Nikon S3500 vs Nikon S5100 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the S3500 vs the S5100.

Nikon S3500 vs Nikon S5100 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the S3500 and S5100 is 95 and 95 respectively.

Nikon S3500 vs Nikon S5100 top view buttons comparison

Nikon S3500 vs Nikon S5100 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very tough to visualise the contrast in sensor measurements purely by seeing a spec sheet. The visual below will help give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the S3500 and S5100.

As you can see, each of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same megapixels. You should expect to see the Nikon S3500 to show greater detail using its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop photos far more aggressively. The younger S3500 will have a benefit in sensor tech.

Nikon S3500 vs Nikon S5100 sensor size comparison

Nikon S3500 vs Nikon S5100 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon S3500 vs Nikon S5100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon S3500
Portrait photography with Nikon S5100
33
resolution is good (20MP)
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
21
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Nikon S3500 Street photography details
Nikon S5100 Street photography details
64
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (129 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
62
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (132g)
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Nikon S3500 Sports photography factors
Nikon S5100 Sports photography factors
42
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (20MP)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
27
image stabilization (Optical)
no shutter priority
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon S3500 Travel photography advice
Nikon S5100 Travel photography advice
69
lighter than competition (129g)
resolution is good (20MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (26mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
62
lighter than others (132 grams)
built-in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse function
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon S3500 as a Landscape photography camera
Nikon S5100 as a Landscape photography camera
41
decently wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
no manual focus
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
manual mode not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse recording
32
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.7)
small screen (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not possible
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon S3500 Vlogging highlights
Nikon S5100 Vlogging highlights
32
decently wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (129g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have microphone support
31
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (132 grams)
slow max aperture (f2.7)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no mic jack
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Nikon S3500 vs Nikon S5100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon S3500 and Nikon S5100
 Nikon Coolpix S3500Nikon Coolpix S5100
General Information
Manufacturer Nikon Nikon
Model Nikon Coolpix S3500 Nikon Coolpix S5100
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2013-02-21 2010-08-17
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Expeed C2
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.16 x 4.62mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 5152 x 3864 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 3200 1600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 26-182mm (7.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.4-6.4 f/2.7-6.6
Macro focus distance - 2cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology TFT-LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1500s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash modes - Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, Slow Syncro
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format - Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 129 grams (0.28 lbs) 132 grams (0.29 lbs)
Dimensions 97 x 58 x 21mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.8") 97 x 57 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9")
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 model - EN-EL10
Self timer - Yes
Time lapse feature
Type of storage - SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $85 $200