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Nikon D300S vs Sony S2100

Portability
55
Imaging
52
Features
65
Overall
57
Nikon D300S front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100 front
Portability
93
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Nikon D300S vs Sony S2100 Key Specs

Nikon D300S
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Raise to 6400)
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 938g - 147 x 114 x 74mm
  • Released November 2009
  • Previous Model is Nikon D300
  • Successor is Nikon D600
Sony S2100
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-105mm (F3.1-5.6) lens
  • 167g - 98 x 61 x 27mm
  • Released January 2010
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Nikon D300S vs Sony S2100 Overview

Let's take a closer look at the Nikon D300S vs Sony S2100, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Nikon and Sony. The image resolution of the D300S (12MP) and the S2100 (12MP) is pretty comparable but the D300S (APS-C) and S2100 (1/2.3") boast different sensor measurements.

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The D300S was released within a month of the S2100 which means that they are of a similar age. The two cameras have different body design with the Nikon D300S being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony S2100 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the D300S grades vs the S2100 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D300S over the Sony S2100

 D300S S2100 
Focus manually More precise focusing
Screen resolution920k230kCrisper screen (+690k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony S2100 over the Nikon D300S

 S2100 D300S 

Common features in the Nikon D300S and Sony S2100

 D300S S2100 
ReleasedNovember 2009January 2010Same age
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Nikon D300S vs Sony S2100 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera frequently, you need to consider its weight and size. The Nikon D300S offers external measurements of 147mm x 114mm x 74mm (5.8" x 4.5" x 2.9") with a weight of 938 grams (2.07 lbs) while the Sony S2100 has specifications of 98mm x 61mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

See the Nikon D300S vs Sony S2100 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are utilising at that time. Following is a front view size comparison of the D300S compared to the S2100.

Nikon D300S vs Sony S2100 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the D300S and S2100 is 55 and 93 respectively.

Nikon D300S vs Sony S2100 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D300S vs Sony S2100 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very tough to visualize the gap in sensor dimensions merely by going through technical specs. The image below may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the D300S and S2100.

As you have seen, both of the cameras have the same resolution albeit different sensor dimensions. The D300S has the bigger sensor which is going to make obtaining bokeh easier.

Nikon D300S vs Sony S2100 sensor size comparison

Nikon D300S vs Sony S2100 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D300S vs Sony S2100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D300S Portrait photography information
Sony S2100 Portrait photography information
63
manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides face detect focus
supports RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
21
lack of manual focus
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon D300S Street photography factors
Sony S2100 Street photography factors
52
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
environment proof
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (938g)
46
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D300S Sports photography features
Sony S2100 Sports photography features
59
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
environment proof
has phase detect auto focus
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
17
low max shutter speed (1/1,200s)
slow frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D300S Travel photography features
Sony S2100 Travel photography features
48
environment proof
flash built-in
more heavy than competition in class (938g)
low megapixels (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
50
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
wide angle not great (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D300S as a Landscape photography camera
Sony S2100 as a Landscape photography camera
65
manual focus
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
environment proof
two card slots
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
27
pretty good screen size (3")
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not available
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon D300S
Vlogging with Sony S2100
22
provides face detect focus
has microphone socket
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
more heavy than competition in class (938 grams)
22
wide angle not great (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 pxls)
missing mic support
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Nikon D300S vs Sony S2100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D300S and Sony S2100
 Nikon D300SSony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100
General Information
Company Nikon Sony
Model Nikon D300S Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Released 2009-11-16 2010-01-07
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Expeed Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.6 x 15.8mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 372.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4288 x 2848 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Max enhanced ISO 6400 -
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Min enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 51 9
Lens
Lens mount Nikon F fixed lens
Lens focal range - 33-105mm (3.2x)
Highest aperture - f/3.1-5.6
Macro focus range - 5cm
Available lenses 309 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 920 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology Super Density TFT color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.63x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 1s
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/1200s
Continuous shutter rate 7.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.30 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 480 (24 fps), 320 x 240 (24 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 938 gr (2.07 lb) 167 gr (0.37 lb)
Physical dimensions 147 x 114 x 74mm (5.8" x 4.5" x 2.9") 98 x 61 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 70 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.2 not tested
DXO Low light score 787 not tested
Other
Battery life 950 photographs -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery model EN-EL3e 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash Type I/SD/SDHC Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, optional SD, Internal
Card slots Two Single
Launch pricing $1,630 $0