Nikon S5100 vs Nikon S9700

Let's take a closer look at the Nikon S5100 vs Nikon S9700, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both sold by Nikon. There is a huge difference among the sensor resolutions of the S5100 (12MP) and S9700 (16MP) but they come with the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The S5100 was released 4 years earlier than the S9700 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before going straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the S5100 grades vs the S9700 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Nikon Coolpix S5100 and Nikon Coolpix S9700. The complete galleries are provided at Nikon S5100 Gallery and Nikon S9700 Gallery.

When you are looking to travel with your camera frequently, you need to take into account its weight and volume. The Nikon S5100 enjoys physical measurements of 97mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs) and the Nikon S9700 has sizing of 110mm x 64mm x 35mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") and a weight of 232 grams (0.51 lbs).

See the Nikon S5100 vs Nikon S9700 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Here is the front view dimension comparison of the S5100 versus the S9700.

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the S5100 and S9700 is 95 and 90 respectively.

Oftentimes, its difficult to see the gap in sensor dimensions simply by going through technical specs. The picture underneath should provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the S5100 and S9700.

As you have seen, both of these cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but not the same resolution. You should expect to see the Nikon S9700 to show more detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop images somewhat more aggressively. The more aged S5100 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.