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Nikon S5100 vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
21
Overall
29
Nikon Coolpix S5100 front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Nikon S5100 vs Pentax MX-1 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
  • Introduced August 2010
Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Announced July 2013
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Nikon S5100 vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

On this page, we are comparing the Nikon S5100 and Pentax MX-1, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by rivals Nikon and Pentax. The image resolution of the S5100 (12MP) and the MX-1 (12MP) is fairly well matched but the S5100 (1/2.3") and MX-1 (1/1.7") provide different sensor sizes.

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The S5100 was unveiled 3 years before the MX-1 and that is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going right into a complete comparison, here is a simple overview of how the S5100 grades versus the MX-1 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon S5100 over the Pentax MX-1

 S5100 MX-1 

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Nikon S5100

 MX-1 S5100 
AnnouncedJuly 2013August 2010More recent by 34 months
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kCrisper display (+690k dot)

Common features in the Nikon S5100 and Pentax MX-1

 S5100 MX-1 
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Nikon S5100 vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to lug around your camera often, you will need to consider its weight and proportions. The Nikon S5100 comes with external 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 Pentax MX-1 has measurements of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") accompanied by a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Take a look at the Nikon S5100 and Pentax MX-1 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have during that time. Below is a front view physical size comparison of the S5100 compared to the MX-1.

Nikon S5100 vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the S5100 and MX-1 is 95 and 84 respectively.

Nikon S5100 vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Nikon S5100 vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very difficult to picture the contrast between sensor measurements only by reading through technical specs. The visual below will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the S5100 and MX-1.

As you can tell, the two cameras provide the same megapixel count but different sensor measurements. The S5100 contains the tinier sensor which will make getting bokeh more difficult. The older S5100 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Nikon S5100 vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Nikon S5100 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon S5100 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon S5100
Portrait photography with Pentax MX-1
21
manual focus not available
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
42
you can focus manually
includes face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
no external flash support
low MP (12MP)
small sensor (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Nikon S5100 Street photography details
Pentax MX-1 Street photography details
62
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (132 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
65
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
small sensor (1/1.7")
heavier than average (391 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon S5100 Sports photography advice
Pentax MX-1 Sports photography advice
27
has image stabilization (Optical)
no shutter priority
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
43
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes tracking focus
better than average battery life (290 CIPA)
max fps low (1.0 frames/s)
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/1.7")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon S5100
Travel photography with Pentax MX-1
62
lighter than others (132 grams)
has built in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.7)
61
better than average battery life (290 shots)
flash built-in
relatively wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
missing Time Lapse recording
heavier than average (391g)
low MP (12MP)
does not offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon S5100 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Landscape photography camera
32
pretty wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.7)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
lack of manual mode
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
no Time Lapse mode
55
you can focus manually
relatively wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
better than average battery life (290 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/1.7")
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon S5100 Vlogging advice
Pentax MX-1 Vlogging advice
31
pretty wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (132 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.7)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic support
33
relatively wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not offer selfie friendly display
missing mic support
heavier than average (391 grams)
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Nikon S5100 vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon S5100 and Pentax MX-1
 Nikon Coolpix S5100Pentax MX-1
General Information
Company Nikon Pentax
Model type Nikon Coolpix S5100 Pentax MX-1
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2010-08-17 2013-07-01
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Expeed C2 -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 25
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.7-6.6 f/1.8-2.5
Macro focusing distance 2cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 4.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology - TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1500s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter rate - 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
External flash
AEB
WB 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 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 132 gr (0.29 lb) 391 gr (0.86 lb)
Physical dimensions 97 x 57 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 49
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 20.4
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 208
Other
Battery life - 290 shots
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL10 D-Li-106
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Retail price $200 $400