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Nikon S3600 vs Sony HX20V

Portability
96
Imaging
45
Features
29
Overall
38
Nikon Coolpix S3600 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Nikon S3600 vs Sony HX20V Key Specs

Nikon S3600
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-200mm (F3.7-6.6) lens
  • 125g - 97 x 58 x 20mm
  • Introduced January 2014
Sony HX20V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Announced July 2012
  • Previous Model is Sony HX10V
  • New Model is Sony HX30V
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Nikon S3600 vs Sony HX20V Overview

In this article, we are contrasting the Nikon S3600 vs Sony HX20V, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Nikon and Sony. The image resolution of the S3600 (20MP) and the HX20V (18MP) is fairly close and they come with the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The S3600 was manufactured 18 months after the HX20V making the cameras a generation away from each other. Each of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise summation of how the S3600 scores against the HX20V in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Nikon S3600 over the Sony HX20V

 S3600 HX20V 
AnnouncedJanuary 2014July 2012Newer by 18 months

Reasons to pick Sony HX20V over the Nikon S3600

 HX20V S3600 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kSharper display (+692k dot)

Common features in the Nikon S3600 and Sony HX20V

 S3600 HX20V 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch display Neither includes Touch display

Nikon S3600 vs Sony HX20V Physical Comparison

In case you're going to travel with your camera frequently, you have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Nikon S3600 features external measurements of 97mm x 58mm x 20mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.8") and a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs) whilst the Sony HX20V has measurements of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") having a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Look at the Nikon S3600 vs Sony HX20V in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are utilising at the time. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the S3600 compared to the HX20V.

Nikon S3600 vs Sony HX20V size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the S3600 and HX20V is 96 and 90 respectively.

Nikon S3600 vs Sony HX20V top view buttons comparison

Nikon S3600 vs Sony HX20V Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is difficult to visualise the gap in sensor dimensions simply by viewing specifications. The picture underneath will help offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the S3600 and HX20V.

To sum up, both of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same resolution. You should anticipate the Nikon S3600 to provide you with more detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images a little more aggressively. The younger S3600 will have an advantage in sensor innovation.

Nikon S3600 vs Sony HX20V sensor size comparison

Nikon S3600 vs Sony HX20V Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon S3600 vs Sony HX20V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon S3600
Portrait photography with Sony HX20V
38
good MP (20MP)
provides face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
45
manual focus
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
features face detect autofocus
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon S3600
Street photography with Sony HX20V
65
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (125g)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (254 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Nikon S3600 as a Sports photography camera
Sony HX20V as a Sports photography camera
43
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20MP)
provides tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
49
incredible zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
features tracking focus
no shutter priority
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon S3600
Travel photography with Sony HX20V
70
lighter than competition in class (125 grams)
good MP (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.7)
69
lighter than others in class (254g)
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
long zoom (500mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
does not have selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon S3600 Landscape photography information
Sony HX20V Landscape photography information
41
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.7)
screen is small (2.7")
lack of manual mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse mode
50
manual focus
fairly wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon S3600 as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX20V as a Vlogging camera
33
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focus
lighter than competition in class (125g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.7)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have microphone port
34
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others in class (254 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
does not have selfie friendly display
doesn't have microphone port
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Nikon S3600 vs Sony HX20V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon S3600 and Sony HX20V
 Nikon Coolpix S3600Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
General Information
Company Nikon Sony
Model Nikon Coolpix S3600 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2014-01-07 2012-07-20
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - BIONZ
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 5152 x 3864 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 99 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-200mm (8.0x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.7-6.6 f/3.2-5.8
Macro focus range 2cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1500 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.50 m 7.10 m
Flash settings - Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280x720p (30fps) , 1280x720 (25p), 640x480 (30fps ) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 125 gr (0.28 lbs) 254 gr (0.56 lbs)
Dimensions 97 x 58 x 20mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.8") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 230 shots 320 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL19 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (10 or 2 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Price at release $200 $397