Nikon S5100 vs Nikon S6500

On this page, we will be reviewing the Nikon S5100 and Nikon S6500, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are built by Nikon. There is a large difference between the resolutions of the S5100 (12MP) and S6500 (16MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The S5100 was revealed 3 years before the S6500 and that is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving right into a full comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the S5100 grades versus the S6500 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

This is a preview of the gallery images for Nikon Coolpix S5100 & Nikon Coolpix S6500. The full galleries are available at Nikon S5100 Gallery & Nikon S6500 Gallery.

For anyone who is looking to carry your camera often, you're going to have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Nikon S5100 comes with external dimensions of 97mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs) whilst the Nikon S6500 has dimensions of 95mm x 58mm x 26mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 1.0") accompanied by a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs).

Examine the Nikon S5100 and Nikon S6500 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are using at that time. Here is a front view dimensions comparison of the S5100 vs the S6500.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the S5100 and S6500 is 95 and 92 respectively.

Often, it is very tough to envision the gap between sensor sizing only by reading specifications. The visual here will give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the S5100 and S6500.

Plainly, both of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same megapixels. You can expect the Nikon S6500 to offer you extra detail because of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The older S5100 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.