Nikon Coolpix S5100 vs. Nikon Coolpix S6300: Compact Showdown in Small Sensor Territory

When the conversation drifts to casual point-and-shoot cameras, Nikon’s Coolpix line has long been a standout in the small sensor compact segment - reliable, affordable, and user-friendly. Today, we're pitting two of Nikon’s entries head-to-head: the Coolpix S5100 from 2010 and the newer Coolpix S6300 released in 2012. Both cameras occupy the same general compact footprint but are separated by two years of design evolution and technological upgrades.

Having tested both extensively, from casual daylight snaps to more demanding scenarios, I’ll walk you through how these two stack up across the board: sensor tech, autofocus abilities, image quality, build, ergonomics, and applicability across a variety of photography styles. Along the way, I’ll share insights gleaned from hands-on experience, shed light on real-world strengths and compromises, and help you decide which serves your shooting style best.

Let’s kick off with a look at the physical differences since size and handling are often deal-makers in compacts.

Size, Ergonomics, and Handling: When Inches Matter

The S5100 and S6300 are both ‘travel companion’ compacts designed to slip into your pocket or bag, but subtle differences in their dimensions and ergonomics impact comfort and handling.

The Nikon Coolpix S5100 measures 97 x 57 x 22 mm and weighs a mere 132 grams, making it delightfully light and unobtrusive. The S6300 is a touch wider and thicker at 94 x 58 x 26 mm and heftier at 160 grams - not huge, but that extra bulk gives a slightly more substantial grip.

From personal use, the S6300’s added girth translates into a more confident feel in hand, especially when shooting with one hand or zoomed in at its lengthy focal lengths - more on that zoom in a bit. The S5100’s slim profile makes it fantastic for minimalists or casual snapshots but can feel somewhat toy-like in grip comfort.

Both cameras lack a dedicated grip or textured hand rest, so I always recommend a wrist strap, especially if you’re on the move. Button placement is intuitive on both but do note the subtle difference in thickness affects reach - the S6300 sometimes requires a bit more finger stretch, but nothing deal-breaking.

Checking out the top controls side by side:

Both cameras keep it simple with a power button, shutter release, and zoom toggle, but the S6300’s buttons offer a firmer tactile response and are spaced just enough to avoid accidental presses. The S5100 controls feel smoother but sometimes mushier under quick dits and taps.

Verdict on handling? If pocketability and featherweight comfort top your list, the S5100 edges out. If more grip confidence and better button feedback appeal, the S6300 nudges ahead despite the slightly bigger footprint.

Sensor and Image Quality: Peering Into the Heart of the Machine

Both models are classified under small sensor compacts, meaning compromises relative to larger-sensor cameras. But how exactly do the S5100 and S6300 compare behind the scenes?

Both sport the same physical sensor size - the diminutive 1/2.3 inch sensor (about 6.17 x 4.55 mm), typical of high-zoom compacts. However, the S5100 employs an older 12MP CCD sensor, while the S6300 benefits from a more modern 16MP BSI-CMOS sensor.

What does that mean in practice?

The CCD sensor in the S5100 has been praised for natural color rendition and decent dynamic range but tends to chew up power faster and struggles somewhat with noise at higher ISOs. Meanwhile, the BSI-CMOS sensor in the S6300, thanks to back-illumination, has improved light-gathering efficiency and better low light sensitivity, pushing its native ISO ceiling further (up to 3200 vs. 1600). The bump to 16MP also means higher resolution potential.

My test shots show the S6300 delivers marginally cleaner images with richer detail and less blotchy noise in dimmer environments. The increased resolution comes at the cost of slightly more noise at base ISO - common when cramming more pixels into a tiny sensor. Neither will challenge an APS-C or full-frame for crispness or tonal subtleties, but in this class, the S6300’s sensor upgrade is perceptible.

Both cameras apply an anti-aliasing filter (AA filter) to reduce moiré, which smooths fine textures at the expense of some sharpness.

Overall image preservation seems better on the S6300, especially in JPEGs saved directly from camera, thanks to improved processing and noise reduction.

Composing and Reviewing Your Shots: Display and Interface

Flipping over to the rear, both cameras feature 2.7-inch fixed LCD screens with 230k dots resolution - modest by today’s standards but standard fare in their day.

The S6300’s LCD sports a TFT-LCD panel with anti-reflective coating, providing a slightly crisper view in bright outdoor conditions. The S5100’s screen lacks this treatment, so expect a frustrating battle with glare if shooting in direct sunlight.

Neither camera offers a touchscreen or electronic viewfinder, which limits fine composition control under certain conditions. In my experience, this screen size and resolution are adequate for casual framing but insufficient for critical focus checking or detailed exposure verification.

On the software front, the S6300 features more sophisticated autofocus feedback and shooting modes accessible through the rear controls. The older S5100’s interface feels more basic and less responsive - particularly when changing options on the fly.

No tilted or articulated screens here - not unexpected for the segment but a downside for creative angles or selfies.

Lens Performance: Reaching Out and Macro Capabilities

Zoom range often defines compact camera versatility. Let’s look closer:

• Nikon S5100: 28-140mm equivalent (5x zoom), aperture range F2.7-6.6
• Nikon S6300: 25-250mm equivalent (10x zoom), aperture range F3.2-5.8

The S6300 doubles the zoom reach without blowing the compact form factor, which is a significant advantage if you want more framing flexibility for travel, wildlife, or street subjects.

I found the S6300’s lens maintained decent sharpness through the short and mid zoom ranges, but image softness and chromatic aberrations creep in at the excessive telephoto end - typical of superzooms in small-sensor compacts.

The S5100, with a brighter (wider max aperture) F2.7 at the wide end, performs a hair better in low light and offers slightly nicer background blur options. That said, the difference is marginal given the small sensor limits natural depth-of-field control.

Macro-wise, the S5100 allows focusing down to an impressive 2 cm, while the S6300 sits further back at 10 cm minimum. The S5100’s close minimum focus distance produces dramatically better macro shots - fine detail, shallow depth of field, and lovely bokeh make it a more willing companion for flower or small object photography.

Based on hands-on tests, if macro shooting piques your interests, the S5100 is the clear winner here.

Autofocus: Speed, Accuracy, and Features

Autofocus is often the Achilles’ heel of small compacts, especially under challenging lighting or action.

• The S5100 uses a contrast-detection AF system with a single focus area - slow, occasionally hunting, and no tracking or face detection. It’s fine for static subjects and well-lit scenes but chases shadows like it owes them money.

• The S6300, however, introduces improvements: contrast AF with multiple selection focus points, face detection, and AF tracking. It doesn’t have phase-detection or hybrid AF tech, but the progress is meaningful.

Real-world observations confirm the S6300 locks focus faster and more consistently, especially on faces or moving subjects in decent light. It’s less fond of low light focus hunts - but so is nearly every camera in this class.

Neither camera supports continuous autofocus during video, and manual focus is off the table entirely.

Burst Shooting and Shutter Capabilities

Many casual users overlook continuous shooting, but for quick sequences or sports the feature matters.

• The S5100 lacks continuous burst mode entirely - more of a point-and-shoot snapshot machine.

• The S6300 offers a 6 fps burst rate, respectable for this class, though limited by buffer size and auto exposure lock per series.

Shutter speed ranges:

• S5100: 4 seconds to 1/1500 sec
• S6300: 30 seconds to 1/8000 sec

The longer shutter durations and faster top speeds on the S6300 add versatility for creative photography - think long exposures or freezing fast action.

Video Recording: Quality and Features

Here the S6300 extends a significant upgrade over the S5100’s rather rudimentary offering.

• S5100: max HD at 1280 x 720p, 30fps, stored as Motion JPEG - large files, limited editing flexibility.

• S6300: Full HD 1920 x 1080p at 30fps, encoded in efficient MPEG-4 / H.264, plus 720p and lower. HDMI out included.

Neither camera has external mic support, which limits serious videography, but the S6300’s improved codec and resolution make it worth considering for casual video capture.

Neither camera has image stabilization during video, so expect some handshake in handheld footage.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance

Neither camera offers weather sealing or ruggedized protection. They are standard compacts made for casual, everyday use. The S6300’s slightly heavier build does suggest a more robust chassis, but neither is designed for extreme environments.

Both cameras have integrated flash modules with standard modes, but no external flash support.

Battery Life and Storage

The S6300 boasts an official battery life of 230 shots per charge, a reasonable figure for casual use. The S5100’s claimed battery life is unreported but likely shorter given the less efficient CCD sensor and older battery tech.

Both use proprietary rechargeable Li-ion battery packs: EN-EL10 for the S5100 and the slightly upgraded EN-EL12 for the S6300.

Memory card support:

• S5100: SD / SDHC + internal memory
• S6300: SD / SDHC / SDXC (including faster, larger cards)

The addition of SDXC support on the S6300 future-proofs your storage needs - essential when shooting Full HD video.

Connectivity and Extras

Neither model features Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, or GPS. USB 2.0 remains the tether option for image transfer. The S6300 adds an HDMI port for viewing content on larger screens.

No touchscreen, no electronic viewfinder, and no RAW image capture on either.

Putting It All Together: Scores and Sample Comparisons

Nikon S5100 front Nikon S5100 screen back Nikon S6300 front Nikon S6300 screen back

Sample images reveal more natural, punchy colors from the S6300 thanks to a newer processor and sensor. The S5100’s brighter aperture at wide-angle helps in low light, but noise is more pronounced.

The S6300’s longer zoom range gives more framing freedom, but the S5100’s macro abilities create more intimate close-ups.

Performance wise, the S6300 comfortably outperforms the S5100 on autofocus, sensor resolution, video capabilities, shutter range, and continuous shooting - modernizations expected two years down the line.

• Portraits: The S6300 wins for face detection and sharper detail. The S5100’s wider aperture assists bokeh but can’t compete with newer tech.
• Landscape: Higher resolution and dynamic range reports favor the S6300.
• Wildlife & Sports: The S6300’s longer zoom and burst mode give an edge.
• Macro: The S5100’s close focus distance is unmatched here.
• Night / Astro: Both limited by small sensors, but the S6300’s better ISO performance helps.
• Street: The lighter S5100 is more discreet; the S6300 offers more zoom versatility.
• Video: S6300 dramatically better.
• Travel: Both compact, but S6300’s versatility leans strong.
• Professional use: Neither fits pro workflows due to no RAW, limited control, and small sensor constraints.

Who Should Buy Which?

Pick the Nikon Coolpix S5100 if:

• You want a truly pocketable, featherweight companion without frills
• Macro photography of flowers, insects, and small objects is a priority
• You mostly shoot casual daylight scenes and snapshots
• Budget constraints favor older models with decent performance

Opt for the Nikon Coolpix S6300 if:

• You need a compact with twice the zoom and better video specs
• Autofocus speed, face detection, and shooting versatility matter
• Higher resolution images and improved low light performance are important
• You occasionally capture video and want HDMI output

Final Thoughts: Aging Yet Enduring Compacts in a Smartphone Era

Neither camera will astonish seasoned photographers hardened on DSLRs or mirrorless systems - their tiny sensors and limited exposure controls mean compromises that can frustrate creative ambitions.

But for the casual enthusiast or secondary travel camera, the Coolpix S6300’s upgrades represent a meaningful leap in usability and capability. The S5100 holds nostalgic charm with its macro chops and featherweight design but feels a bit dated once zoom and video needs enter the picture.

If you find either available at an attractive price and want a pocket-sized point-and-shoot with minimal fuss, the key is to align the camera’s strengths to your typical shooting habits.

In testing both, I enjoyed the S6300’s greater versatility and modern touches, but the S5100’s simplicity and portability have their own rewards - like that trusty friend who never tries to be anything more than exactly who they are.

Ready to make your pick or have further questions on how these two stack up in particular photography scenarios? Drop a line or check out more hands-on reviews - after all, choosing the right camera is as much about personality as specs.

Happy shooting!