Nikon Coolpix S6500 vs. Sony Cyber-shot HX20V: A Hands-On Small-Sensor Superzoom Showdown

When I first got my hands on the Nikon Coolpix S6500 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V, I was eager to put these compact superzooms through their paces. Announced only months apart in 2012 and 2013, these cameras target enthusiasts looking for versatile pocket-sized options that offer substantial zoom ranges and built-in GPS. Over the years, I have tested hundreds of superzoom compacts but these two stand out for slightly different reasons - the Nikon impresses with its intuitive controls and wide aperture at short focal lengths, while the Sony boasts a longer zoom and higher resolution.

In this detailed comparison, I’ll walk you through their design, image quality, autofocus performance, and suitability for a wide range of photographic pursuits - from landscapes to wildlife, street to video. I’ll share my findings based on extensive field trials, backed with technical insights, so you can figure out which fits your style and budget best.

Feel, Handling, and Build: Compact Comfort with Distinct Personalities

From the outset, both cameras call to the traveler seeking something smaller than a DSLR or mirrorless body but capable of capturing a range of subjects without changing lenses. The Nikon S6500 measures 95 x 58 x 26 mm and weighs a light 250 g, whereas the Sony HX20V is a touch chunkier at 107 x 62 x 35 mm and 254 g including battery.

Despite their similar weight, the Sony’s extra girth and a slightly larger grip area made it feel more secure in my hand during prolonged outings, especially when reaching out to its remarkable 500 mm zoom. The Nikon’s smaller body fits more discreetly in pockets and easier to slip in a jacket. Both have fixed lenses that retract well for transport.

Looking at the top controls - check out the layout in this side-by-side - the Nikon opts for a classic, compact approach with dedicated exposure controls like shutter and aperture priority modes, ideal for the enthusiast who wants creative exposure control without fuss. The Sony, while no slouch, skips shutter priority but still offers manual exposure mode for full creative freedom.

The screen on the Nikon is a 3-inch AMOLED with 460k dots that pops in sunny conditions but isn’t super sharp. The Sony gets a higher-resolution 3-inch XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD - doubling the pixel count to a crisp 922k dots. I found Sony’s screen a pleasure for reviewing photos on the go, especially under fluctuating light.

Neither camera offers an electronic viewfinder, which limits bright daylight composing options but is typical for this class. Both have built-in GPS, which are perfect for travel diaries and geo-tagging adventures. Battery life is somewhat better on the Sony with 320 shots per charge, a benefit during extended excursions; the Nikon doesn’t publish official stats but I found it slightly less enduring based on my testing.

Neither model is weather sealed or ruggedized, so I’d approach challenging environments with caution or use protective covers.

Sensor and Image Quality: Small Sensors but Distinct Output

Both cameras share the same sensor size - a 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS measuring 6.17 x 4.55 mm and an area of about 28 mm² - typical for compact superzooms targeting convenience over professional-grade noise control. But there’s a subtle difference in pixel count and signal processing.

The Nikon S6500 shoots 16 MP images with a maximum resolution of 4608 x 3456 pixels, while the Sony HX20V edges ahead with an 18 MP resolution (4896 x 3672). Though only a modest difference, the Sony’s sharper sensor makes a visible difference in fine detail capture, especially when cropping or printing larger.

Both cameras employ antialiasing filters to reduce moiré, which slightly softens images but is standard for this camera tier.

The Nikon applies an AMOLED display technology that delivers vibrant previews but the raw sensor output feels more “painterly” with slightly smoother gradations. The Sony leverages its BIONZ processor to squeeze more dynamic range and maintain excellent color fidelity, especially in greens and blues. I noticed the Sony better preserved highlight detail in bright morning landscapes, while the Nikon sometimes clipped highlights more readily.

Neither camera supports RAW, which limits post-processing flexibility - something serious enthusiasts will want to consider.

ISO sensitivity ranges are broadly comparable - Nikon maxes out at ISO 3200, Sony extends to ISO 12800 in boosted modes. However, practical usability at the higher ISOs is limited on both due to noise. I found images at ISO 800 and below quite clean on both, but the Sony exhibited better noise suppression and detail retention at ISO 1600, making it a more reliable low-light performer.

Zoom Performance and Lens Characteristics: Versatility at a Price

Of course, the biggest draw here is the zoom range. The Nikon’s 25-300 mm equivalent lens (12x zoom) with apertures from f/2.8 to f/5.9 covers most basics from wide-angle landscapes to distant shots. The Sony, meanwhile, boasts a 25-500 mm equivalent (20x zoom), a clear advantage for wildlife and long-distance subjects, though with a slightly narrower max aperture f/3.2-5.8 that may challenge low-light handheld shooting at the telephoto end.

The Nikon lens starts wider at f/2.8, providing more breathing room for background separation and achieving shallow depth of field in portrait shots. While not producing DSLR-level bokeh, I found the Nikon quite capable of isolating subjects in well-lit situations.

The Sony’s longer zoom is impressive, but image quality at full 500mm slows down - with noticeable softness and chromatic aberrations creeping in, especially at f/5.8. That said, for casual wildlife or sports snapshots where reach matters most, it’s a great fit.

Both lenses use optical image stabilization that I personally found effective - handheld shots at longer zooms stayed impressively sharp.

Autofocus Systems: Accuracy vs. Speed in Real Life

Both cameras employ contrast-detection autofocus systems with no phase-detection hybrid. In my use, Nikon’s S6500 offers a reliable autofocus that locks quickly in good light, focusing on a single point or face detection depending on your settings. It supports center-weighted and multi-area AF modes but no touch-to-focus. It has face detection but no animal eye autofocus.

Sony’s HX20V features a 9-point AF system, which provides more frame coverage and helps track moving subjects better. Its autofocus accuracy and tracking in daylight were solid in my trials, though I noticed minor hunting in lower light conditions.

Neither camera includes continuous autofocus or Eye-AF for dynamic portrait or wildlife shooting. Burst shooting is comparable at 10 fps, but again, buffer depth is limited so expect only a few continuous shots before slowing.

For sports or wildlife applications, both cameras are modest performers best suited for casual enthusiasts rather than fast-action pros.

Portraits and Bokeh: Which Camera Creates Better Subject Separation?

Shooting portraits in natural light highlights important distinctions. Nikon’s wider aperture at the wide end (f/2.8) allows for more pronounced subject-background separation, which I appreciated in outdoor portraits with softly defocused backgrounds. Skin tones rendered by the Nikon come across as warm and pleasing - likely favored by those shooting family or travel portraits.

Sony’s slightly narrower lens aperture and higher resolution sensor produce very sharp facial details but the subject-background separation is less pronounced. However, the Sony’s higher resolution means cropping tightly for headshots retains detail well.

Neither camera offers eye-detection autofocus, so getting tack-sharp portraits demands careful focusing and steady handholding.

Landscape Photography: Detail, Dynamic Range, and Stability

Landscape enthusiasts often hunger for high resolution, broad dynamic range, and weather resistance. Both cameras are limited by their compact sensor size and lack any environmental sealing, so caution in wet or dusty scenes is warranted.

Between the two, Sony’s HX20V shines in resolution and dynamic range, recording more details and retrieving shadow details better. The BIONZ processor again plays a role here, yielding more natural-looking JPEGs right out of camera.

The Nikon’s lens is slightly wider at 25 mm and appears marginally sharper in the center of the frame, though softness creeps in towards edges at widest aperture, typical for superzoom lenses.

On tripods, I found both effective at capturing crisp landscape images at low ISO, with the Nikon’s Optical Stabilizer less relevant here but useful for handheld panoramas.

Wildlife and Sports: Zoom Reach and Autofocus in Action

I took these cameras out on a hike and local sports event to see how they handled fast-moving subjects. Sony’s 20x zoom gave a clear edge for distant wildlife spotting, capturing animals a good distance away in decent detail, albeit not with professional speed. Its autofocus kept up well with predictable subjects - birds perched or players on the sidelines.

Nikon’s 12x zoom limited reach somewhat but offered a tactile advantage with exposure modes and faster aperture at telephoto’s short end, helping pull in subjects with background blur when conditions brightened.

Neither is a serious competitor against prosumer cameras for sports photography due to autofocus speed, buffer depth, and low-light limitations. But casual shooters will appreciate their versatility for weekend sports or local outings.

Street and Travel Photography: Discretion, Size, and Practical Features

For street photography, I valued the Nikon S6500’s compactness and quiet operation. Its fixed aperture lens and quick start-up made it a low-profile companion during city walks. The AMOLED screen was bright enough for framing but somewhat lacking in direct sunlight.

Sony’s HX20V, though larger, incorporates a higher resolution screen and longer zoom but at a visibility trade-off in sunlit environments. Both cameras are somewhat conspicuous compared to mirrorless or advanced compacts designed for street stealth but far better than DSLRs.

The Nikon’s built-in GPS was reliable, enabling metadata tagging for travel logs, while the Sony’s Eye-Fi compatibility offers wireless image transfer options, albeit requiring compatible cards.

Battery life favored Sony at around 320 shots per charge, helpful for travelers without easy charging options.

Macro Photography: Focusing Distance and Detail Capture

Nikon offers a 5cm minimum focusing distance in macro mode, whereas Sony impressively focuses as close as 1cm. Clearly, Sony pulls ahead here for detailed macro shots of flowers, insects, or textures. The finer resolution sensor also helps render intricate subjects with more clarity.

However, both cameras require steady hands or a tripod to maximize sharpness at these close distances - optical stabilization aids, but cannot fully compensate for small movements.

Night and Astrophotography: Low Light Usability and Noise Performance

Low light testing revealed the Nikon works well up to ISO 800 with tolerable noise levels. At higher ISOs, grain increases rapidly, limiting usefulness. Its maximum shutter speed of 1/2000 sec is adequate, but no electronic shutter limits silent shooting options.

Sony, with max ISO 12800 and a max shutter speed of 1/1600 sec, extends flexibility, especially with manual exposure control and AVCHD video recording. Yet, noise at higher ISOs remains a challenge common to small sensors. Still, the Sony’s superior ISO 1600 and 3200 performance make it marginally better for night scenes and casual astrophotography.

Neither camera offers bulb mode or manual exposure durations longer than 8 seconds, limiting long-exposure astrophotography seriously.

Video Capabilities: Full HD and Frame Rate Choices

Both shoot Full HD video at 1920x1080. Nikon caps out at 30fps using MPEG-4 and H.264 codecs, while Sony goes further with 60fps option in AVCHD, yielding smoother motion capture, an advantage for action scenes.

Neither includes microphone or headphone jacks, so external audio recording is impossible. Stabilization during video is optical on both, which helps handheld footage remain steady.

For casual video use on vacations or family moments, both are competent but far from professional video tools.

Storage, Connectivity, and Other Practical Details

Nikon uses SD/SDHC/SDXC cards; Sony adds Sony’s proprietary Memory Stick Duo compatibility. Both cameras feature USB 2.0 and HDMI ports for data transfer and external display.

Wireless-wise, Nikon offers built-in Wi-Fi for quick image sharing, very convenient for social media upload on the go. Sony has Eye-Fi connectivity support, which is effective but requires specific cards and may limit flexibility.

Neither model supports NFC or Bluetooth, which today would be considered basic connectivity on entry-level compacts.

Putting it All Together: Performance Scores and Genre-Based Analysis

Here's a comprehensive look at performance metrics based on my hands-on tests combined with bench measures.

The Sony HX20V scores higher overall thanks to resolution, zoom reach, and low-light capabilities. However, Nikon’s S6500 impresses with better lens speed and easier manual control access.

Breaking it down by photography type:

• Portraits: Nikon’s faster lens and pleasant color tone edge out the Sony.
• Landscapes: Sony’s resolution and dynamic range win.
• Wildlife: Sony’s zoom and AF coverage pull ahead.
• Sports: Both limited but Sony slightly better due to frame rate options.
• Street: Nikon’s compactness is preferable.
• Macro: Sony excels with its 1cm focus distance.
• Night/Astro: Sony’s higher native ISO wins.
• Video: Sony’s 60fps AVCHD beats Nikon’s 30fps MPEG-4.
• Travel: Nikon compact size favors packing, Sony’s battery life a plus.
• Professional: Neither is a pro tool, but Sony’s image quality slightly more usable.

Nikon S6500 front Nikon S6500 screen back Sony HX20V front Sony HX20V screen back

The image gallery shows Nikon’s warmer, contrasty portraits versus Sony’s sharper, cooler renders with more detail. Landscapes favor Sony’s depth and clarity, while macro shots are noticeably crisper on the Sony.

Who Should Pick Which Camera?

• Choose the Nikon Coolpix S6500 if you want a pocket-friendly, user-friendly compact with fast lens wide open for portraits, casual travel, and street photography. Its exposure controls and GPS are a big plus for enthusiasts who crave some creative control without added bulk.

• Choose the Sony Cyber-shot HX20V if you need a longer zoom range for wildlife and sports play, higher resolution for cropping or large prints, better low-light performance, and richer video options. It’s a bit bulkier but packs more versatility for outdoor shooting scenarios.

If price matters, the Nikon often retails at about half the Sony’s price, making it an excellent value for beginners or casual shooters. Sony’s premium fits users willing to invest more for zoom reach and image fidelity gains.

Final Takeaways

Both the Nikon Coolpix S6500 and Sony Cyber-shot HX20V are solid compact superzoom cameras that deliver easy all-in-one shooting solutions. My real-world experience shows that while neither replaces higher-end DSLRs or mirrorless systems, they excel as do-it-all cameras for travelers, amateur photographers, and families constrained by luggage space or budget.

The Nikon is a gem for simplicity and portrait warmth, perfect for those prioritizing size and handling. Meanwhile, the Sony HX20V offers the image quality and zoom reach to satisfy adventurous picture makers chasing wildlife, sports action, or detailed landscapes.

In the end, your choice hinges on what suits your photographic style and priorities. Both cameras taught me that despite sensor size and price limits, there’s plenty of fun and creativity to be found in these compact superzooms.

Happy shooting, and here’s to always capturing the right moment wherever you roam!