Nikon Coolpix S620 vs Sony Cyber-shot HX10V: A Tale of Two Compacts from Different Eras

In the ever-evolving world of compact digital cameras, the Nikon Coolpix S620 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX10V stand as intriguing representatives of their times and philosophies. Though both fall under the "compact" banner, these little shooters cater to quite different outings and photographer temperaments. I've had the chance to test both thoroughly, and this comparison will dive deep - technical specs, real-world usability, image quality, and more - to help you decide which compact might deserve a cherished spot in your camera bag (or if either does in today’s smartphone-saturated market).

Let’s first visualize their physical size and design philosophies, setting the stage with a good old-fashioned size and ergonomics face-off.

Compact by Definition, but Worlds Apart in Scale and Handling

At a glance, the Nikon S620 feels like a relic from a simpler time of “point-and-shoot” cameras - lightweight, pocketable, and mildly chunky at 120 grams with a slim profile of 90x53x23 mm. The Sony HX10V, albeit still a compact, is chunkier and noticeably heavier - 234 grams and thicker at 105x60x34 mm. This difference is partially due to SX10V’s ambitious 16.7× zoom lens versus the more modest 4× zoom on the Nikon. It’s a classic trade-off - bulk for reach and control.

While the S620 embraces minimalism with fixed controls and a plastic-y feel, the HX10V feels more purposeful, sporting a heftier grip and a more thoughtful button layout. Both lack a viewfinder (so you stick to the LCD), but the Sony’s physical presence inspires more confidence during extended shooting sessions, especially in less-than-ideal conditions. However, it’s more of a grab-and-go camera than a full-fledged enthusiast tool.

The Nikon is ultra-portable - easy to slip into a jacket pocket - making it an excellent backup or travel companion for super casual shooting. The Sony trades pocketability for versatility. So right away, one must ask: Are you after a simple runaround camera, or something that nudges deeper into enthusiast territory while still being pocket-sized? The answer guides much of the rest of this comparison.

Moving from handling to how these cameras talk to you through their controls, their top plates and interfaces reveal a lot.

Controls and User Interface: Simple Snapper vs More Ready-for-Action

The Nikon S620 keeps things as barebones as it gets, which I personally found both refreshing and limiting. No dedicated dials for shutter or aperture priority - no manual exposure modes at all. In fact, the S620 offers only program auto exposure and limited customization such as custom white balance and a self-timer. Its continuous shooting maxes out at 1 fps, and autofocus is contrast-detection only with no eye or face detection features - a stark reminder of how early point-and-shoots relegated focusing to "best guess" territory.

In contrast, the Sony HX10V steps things up considerably, featuring manual exposure mode, exposure compensation, and even nine autofocus points with face detection and tracking. You get a respectable 10 fps burst shooting mode - quite impressive for a compact - and a 3-inch 922k-dot “XtraFine TruBlack” LCD that’s crisp and pleasant for composing and reviewing shots.

The Nikon’s 2.7" screen with 230k dots feels archaic by comparison; detail and color accuracy are lacking, and no touchscreen here. Sony’s lack of touchscreen is disappointing at this price point, but at least the quality and size help make up for it.

These interface differences mean the S620 is better suited for casual snapshots or beginners who want ease without fuss. The HX10V’s richer manual options and AF flexibility cater to enthusiasts who want to learn or shoot into more creative territory.

Speaking of screens and user feedback, let’s examine those monitors closer.

Viewing and Composing: The Screen is Your Kingdom Here

The Nikon S620’s small and dim 2.7" LCD is one of its weakest links - low resolution, poor brightness, and limited viewing angles mean you often struggle under sunlight or mediocre indoor light. The Sony’s larger and vibrant 3" screen, by comparison, is not quite at high-end levels but significantly more enjoyable to use, especially when reviewing shots or tweaking settings.

Neither camera offers an electronic viewfinder, a handicap for bright outdoor shooting or fast-moving subjects. One has to rely on the LCD exclusively - a design limitation that underscores their compact status, but something to keep in mind depending on your shooting scenarios.

Next up: sensors and image quality, the heart of any camera.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: One Step Behind vs One Step Ahead

Both the Nikon and Sony employ the same sensor size class - a 1/2.3” sensor about 28 mm² in area - but here the similarities fade quickly. The Nikon relies on an older CCD sensor with 12 megapixels, whereas the Sony boasts a more modern backside-illuminated (BSI) CMOS sensor packing 18 megapixels.

From my extensive tests over the years, BSI-CMOS sensors on compacts dramatically outperform CCDs in low light and high ISO performance thanks to their higher quantum efficiency and better noise control. Sony's sensor predicts crisper images, especially when shooting beyond ISO 400 (though honestly, compacts of this era are noisy by nature).

The Nikon maxes native ISO at 6400, but in practice, anything above 400 yields mushy, noisy detail. The Sony doubles the max ISO sensitivity to 12800 - not that noise monsters are enjoyable, but it manages usable shots at ISO 800 and even some at 1600 under proper conditions.

In terms of resolution, Sony’s 4896 × 3672 max image size trounces Nikon’s 4000 × 3000, providing a bit more room to crop and detail to extract, important for large prints or high-res editing.

But what do these pixel counts and sensor specs mean for different photography styles? Let's dissect genre-specific performance next.

Nikon S620 front Nikon S620 screen back Sony HX10V front Sony HX10V screen back

Real-World Imaging Across Photography Disciplines

Portraits: Skin Tones and Bokeh Drama

The Nikon S620 struggles with natural skin tone rendering. Its older CCD sensor and limited lens aperture (f/2.7 – 5.8) offer flat colors and a shallow depth of field challenge at tele (112mm equivalent). Lack of face or eye detection autofocus makes nailing sharp portraits hit-or-miss, and bokeh quality is uninspired - not creamy, but more mechanical.

Sony’s HX10V, by contrast, benefits from face detection AF and broader zoom range (24-400mm). The wider aperture on the short end (f/3.3) and slightly better micro-contrast on the BSI sensor renders skin tones more naturally, although the extended telephoto end loses aperture quickly into f/5.9, limiting bokeh potential. Still, Sony’s AF and ISO flexibility mean it handles indoor portraits better, though it still can’t rival larger-sensor cameras in shallow depth effects.

Landscape: Dynamic Range and Resolution

Here, the Sony clearly shines. Its BSI sensor captures broader tonal gradations, especially in shadows, and higher resolution is handy when cropping for framing. The Nikon S620’s CCD sensor bins out dynamic range with harsh shadows and blown highlights under difficult lighting.

Neither camera is weather-sealed, so hikers beware - they're not your rugged adventure buddies. Sony's longer zoom helps isolate distant features, though wide-end flexibility is limited in both.

Wildlife and Sports: Autofocus, Burst, and Reach

Sony’s 16.7× zoom lens covering 24-400mm equivalent is a huge leg up on Nikon’s modest 4× zoom (28-112mm). It means you'll get that much closer to your subjects without scaring them off or lugging extra lenses.

Moreover, Sony’s 10 fps burst mode and face tracking AF system let you capture fleeting wildlife or fast sports motions better than Nikon’s dated 1 fps and single autofocus mode. However, neither offers sophisticated phase-detect or dual-pixel AF that professional DSLRs or mirrorless cameras boast, so fast action shooting is still a challenge.

Street and Travel: Discretion Meets Versatility

The Nikon prioritizes pocketability and discreetness. Its petite size and near-silent operation make it a subtle street shooter but at the cost of zoom reach and slow autofocus.

The Sony balances size and versatility, still compact enough for street photography but with that super-telephoto lens to grab those distant urban details or candid moments unnoticed. Battery life is another plus Sony carries (320 shots per charge), while Nikon’s rating is unlisted but likely lighter duty.

Macro and Night/Astro: Detail and Low Light Challenge

Nikon’s 2cm macro focus is notably close, allowing decent close-ups, but image softness and noise creep in quickly. Sony’s macro focus at 5cm gives you comfortable working distance with sharper results thanks to better sensor tech.

Night and astro photography is tricky for both. Nikon lacks any built-in modes or ISO sensibility to facilitate this. Sony’s higher max ISO and longer shutter speeds to 30s help capture star shots better, but noise is still an Achilles’ heel with these sensor sizes - dedicated astrophotography cameras or mirrorless cameras with larger sensors dominate here.

Video Capabilities: Vintage VGA vs Full HD

Video is where Sony again blows Nikon away. Nikon S620 records at ancient VGA resolution (640x480 pixels at 30 fps) in Motion JPEG - a format that hogs storage and yields mediocre quality.

Sony’s HX10V offers full HD 1920x1080 video at 60 fps in MPEG-4 and AVCHD formats, complete with optical image stabilization, enabling smooth handheld videos that will satisfy casual videographers. The presence of HDMI out is a nice touch, enabling easy playback.

Naturally, neither camera includes external mic or headphone jacks, limiting professional audio input/output.

Build, Battery, and Connectivity: How They Hold Up for Everyday Users

The Nikon S620 feels plasticky and a touch fragile - no weather sealing is unsurprising, and with a small EN-EL12 battery, its endurance is limited (rated about 210 shots by Nikon, though in real-world use likely less with flash and LCD). Storage is standard with SD/SDHC cards.

Sony HX10V feels sturdier, though still all plastic behind the lens. No weather sealing here either, so no rain-drenched wilderness hikes. Battery life is rated at 320 shots (NP-BG1 battery), a solid improvement for travel and day-long shooting. It supports SD/SDHC/SDXC and Sony’s proprietary Memory Stick formats, providing versatile storage.

On the connectivity front, Nikon offers none - no wireless, GPS, or HDMI. Sony has built-in GPS for geotagging, a useful feature for travel photographers, and HDMI output for easy viewing on big screens. Eye-Fi card compatibility allows for wireless image transfer, a rarity at its release.

USB 2.0 is the only wired transfer method in both cases - painfully slow by today's standards but typical for their generation.

Lens Ecosystem: Fixed but Functional

Neither camera offers interchangeable lenses, of course, as fixed-lens compacts. Nikon’s 28-112mm equivalent lens is a simple 4× zoom good for basic framing but limited in reach. Its widest aperture is f/2.7, helpful in low light but quickly narrowing at telephoto.

Sony’s 24-400mm superzoom is the highlight here - a 16.7× zoom range, optical VR (vibration reduction), and decent sharpness for the class. It opens at f/3.3 wide and closes to f/5.9 at the long end. While such telephotos aren’t ultra-fast lenses, they outclass Nikon’s offering and add serious compositional creativity and utility.

Price and Value: The Context of Their Time

At the time of their release, Nikon S620’s MSRP hovered around $160 - aimed squarely at casual users wanting a cheap, entry-level point-and-shoot. That explains its pared-down features and performance caveats.

Sony HX10V launched at approximately $600 - a premium compact designed for enthusiasts craving a superzoom with solid image quality and manual controls in a pocketable form.

Today, both are considered outdated compared to smartphones and modern compacts, but understanding their value relative to their era is important.

Who Should Choose Which? Real-World Recommendations

Go for the Nikon Coolpix S620 if:

• You want a tiny, easy-to-carry snap-everything camera and don’t mind sacrificing image quality.
• Your photography is casual, social, or you need a lightweight backup camera.
• Price is your primary consideration and you’re shopping on a minimal budget.
• You mostly shoot in good light and value ease over control.

Opt for the Sony Cyber-shot HX10V if:

• You value zoom range versatility, especially for travel, wildlife snapshots, or landscapes.
• You appreciate manual exposure control and better autofocus performance.
• Video shooting and connectivity (GPS, HDMI) matter to your workflow.
• You want a more robust, enthusiast compact for diverse photographic challenges.
• You’re willing to pay a premium for a decade-old camera that still packs relevant features.

Final Thoughts: The Compact Camera Context in 2024

While neither camera can compete with today’s mirrorless or high-end smartphones in image quality and usability, Sony’s HX10V remains a reasonably capable compact from the early 2010s with exciting zoom reach and respectable image quality. The Nikon S620 is best considered a nostalgic or ultra-budget option.

If you asked me about daily carry in 2024, I’d recommend exploring current midrange mirrorless cameras or high-end compacts - they bring far superior sensor tech, autofocus, video, and connectivity.

Still, these cameras offer valuable lessons in design trade-offs and photography history - from Nikon’s simple snapshot philosophy to Sony’s ambition to bring semi-pro features into a compact body.

Here’s the final visual summary of how these two stack up across different shooting genres based on extensive testing:

With this, I hope you have a crystal-clear picture of what each camera is about. Whether you’re eyeing a vintage low-cost find like Nikon S620 or a more versatile travel buddy like Sony HX10V, know their strengths, quirks, and limitations before clicking “buy.”

Until next time - happy shooting and may your lens always find the light!