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Nikon S5100 vs Sony WX500

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
21
Overall
29
Nikon Coolpix S5100 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500 front
Portability
91
Imaging
43
Features
56
Overall
48

Nikon S5100 vs Sony WX500 Key Specs

Nikon S5100
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F2.7-6.6) lens
  • 132g - 97 x 57 x 22mm
  • Announced August 2010
Sony WX500
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 236g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Announced April 2015
  • Replaced the Sony WX350
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Nikon S5100 vs Sony WX500 Overview

Below is a complete review of the Nikon S5100 versus Sony WX500, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Nikon and Sony. There exists a sizeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the S5100 (12MP) and WX500 (18MP) but both cameras posses the identical sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The S5100 was released 5 years before the WX500 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before getting right into a in-depth comparison, here is a brief summation of how the S5100 matches up versus the WX500 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon S5100 over the Sony WX500

 S5100 WX500 

Reasons to pick Sony WX500 over the Nikon S5100

 WX500 S5100 
AnnouncedApril 2015August 2010More recent by 56 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Nikon S5100 and Sony WX500

 S5100 WX500 
Manual focus No manual focusing
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither contains Touch friendly screen

Nikon S5100 vs Sony WX500 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to lug around your camera, you're going to have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Nikon S5100 has got physical measurements of 97mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs) while the Sony WX500 has dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") and a weight of 236 grams (0.52 lbs).

Check out the Nikon S5100 versus Sony WX500 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are using during that time. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the S5100 against the WX500.

Nikon S5100 vs Sony WX500 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the S5100 and WX500 is 95 and 91 respectively.

Nikon S5100 vs Sony WX500 top view buttons comparison

Nikon S5100 vs Sony WX500 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's tough to picture the contrast in sensor measurements merely by seeing specs. The visual here may provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the S5100 and WX500.

All in all, the 2 cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit different resolution. You should expect the Sony WX500 to provide extra detail as a result of its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The older S5100 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Nikon S5100 vs Sony WX500 sensor size comparison

Nikon S5100 vs Sony WX500 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon S5100 vs Sony WX500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon S5100 Portrait photography features
Sony WX500 Portrait photography features
21
manual focus not available
no manual control
can't use external flash
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
39
decent megapixels (18MP)
includes face detection focus
no manual focus
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Nikon S5100 Street photography advice
Sony WX500 Street photography advice
62
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (132 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
69
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (236 grams)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Nikon S5100 Sports photography highlights
Sony WX500 Sports photography highlights
27
image stabilization (Optical)
no shutter priority mode
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
57
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
great battery power (360 CIPA)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon S5100
Travel photography with Sony WX500
62
lighter than competition in class (132g)
built-in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse function
MP count low (12MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
71
great battery power (360 shots)
lighter than others in class (236g)
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
really wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
does not have Timelapse function
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon S5100 Landscape photography features
Sony WX500 Landscape photography features
32
fairly wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
small screen (2.7")
no manual control
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
lack of Timelapse function
49
really wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (18MP)
great battery power (360 shots)
no manual focus
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon S5100 Vlogging info
Sony WX500 Vlogging info
31
fairly wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (132 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of microphone jack
35
really wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others in class (236 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
does not have external microphone port
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Nikon S5100 vs Sony WX500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon S5100 and Sony WX500
 Nikon Coolpix S5100Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
General Information
Company Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon Coolpix S5100 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2010-08-17 2015-04-14
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed C2 Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 18MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.7-6.6 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focusing distance 2cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1500 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed - 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, Slow Syncro Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 132 gr (0.29 lbs) 236 gr (0.52 lbs)
Physical dimensions 97 x 57 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
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 - 360 photos
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL10 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes Yes
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $200 $348