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Nikon S5100 vs Nikon S9900

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
21
Overall
29
Nikon Coolpix S5100 front
 
Nikon Coolpix S9900 front
Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
60
Overall
48

Nikon S5100 vs Nikon S9900 Key Specs

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
Nikon S9900
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-750mm (F3.7-6.4) lens
  • 289g - 112 x 66 x 40mm
  • Introduced February 2015
  • Replaced the Nikon S9700
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Nikon S5100 vs Nikon S9900 Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Nikon S5100 vs Nikon S9900, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are built by Nikon. There is a significant difference between the image resolutions of the S5100 (12MP) and S9900 (16MP) but both cameras boast the identical sensor sizing (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The S5100 was announced 5 years earlier than the S9900 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before we go into a full comparison, here is a quick view of how the S5100 scores against the S9900 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon S5100 over the Nikon S9900

 S5100 S9900 

Reasons to pick Nikon S9900 over the Nikon S5100

 S9900 S5100 
IntroducedFebruary 2015August 2010More recent by 54 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Nikon S5100 and Nikon S9900

 S5100 S9900 
Manually focus No manual focusing
Touch display Missing Touch display

Nikon S5100 vs Nikon S9900 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to lug around your camera, you'll have to think about its weight and measurements. The Nikon S5100 enjoys outer measurements of 97mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs) while the Nikon S9900 has proportions of 112mm x 66mm x 40mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.6") and a weight of 289 grams (0.64 lbs).

Look at the Nikon S5100 vs Nikon S9900 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have at that time. The following is a front view measurements comparison of the S5100 and the S9900.

Nikon S5100 vs Nikon S9900 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the S5100 and S9900 is 95 and 88 respectively.

Nikon S5100 vs Nikon S9900 top view buttons comparison

Nikon S5100 vs Nikon S9900 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is difficult to imagine the contrast between sensor measurements only by looking at technical specs. The visual here should give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the S5100 and S9900.

As you can tell, each of these cameras come with the identical sensor size but different megapixels. You should anticipate the Nikon S9900 to resolve greater detail with its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will help you crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The older S5100 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Nikon S5100 vs Nikon S9900 sensor size comparison

Nikon S5100 vs Nikon S9900 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon S5100 vs Nikon S9900 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon S5100 as a Portrait photography camera
Nikon S9900 as a Portrait photography camera
21
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
37
good MP (16MP)
features face detect focusing
no manual focus
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon S5100 Street photography highlights
Nikon S9900 Street photography highlights
62
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (132g)
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
68
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (289g)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Nikon S5100 Sports photography info
Nikon S9900 Sports photography info
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no shutter priority
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
53
amazing zoom range (25-750mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
features tracking focus
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon S5100
Travel photography with Nikon S9900
62
lighter than average in class (132 grams)
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
resolution not great (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.7)
77
lighter than competitors in class (289 grams)
good MP (16MP)
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
quite wide (25mm)
very long reach (750mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon S5100 Landscape photography information
Nikon S9900 Landscape photography information
32
quite wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.7)
small screen (2.7 inch)
lack of manual exposure
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
47
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.7)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon S5100 as a Vlogging camera
Nikon S9900 as a Vlogging camera
31
quite wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (132g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.7)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external mic socket
73
quite wide (25mm)
selfie friendly display
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors in class (289g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.7)
doesn't have mic socket
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Nikon S5100 vs Nikon S9900 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon S5100 and Nikon S9900
 Nikon Coolpix S5100Nikon Coolpix S9900
General Information
Brand Nikon Nikon
Model type Nikon Coolpix S5100 Nikon Coolpix S9900
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2010-08-17 2015-02-10
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Expeed C2 -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) 25-750mm (30.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.7-6.6 f/3.7-6.4
Macro focusing range 2cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 8 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1500 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate - 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 6.00 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, Slow Syncro -
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 132 gr (0.29 lb) 289 gr (0.64 lb)
Physical dimensions 97 x 57 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") 112 x 66 x 40mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 300 photos
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL10 EN-EL19
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $200 $300