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Sony NEX-5 vs Sony S2100

Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
58
Overall
55
Sony Alpha NEX-5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100 front
Portability
93
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Sony NEX-5 vs Sony S2100 Key Specs

Sony NEX-5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 287g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Released June 2010
  • Renewed by Sony NEX-5N
Sony S2100
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-105mm (F3.1-5.6) lens
  • 167g - 98 x 61 x 27mm
  • Revealed January 2010
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Sony NEX-5 vs Sony S2100 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Sony NEX-5 and Sony S2100, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both are manufactured by Sony. The image resolution of the NEX-5 (14MP) and the S2100 (12MP) is very similar but the NEX-5 (APS-C) and S2100 (1/2.3") boast different sensor dimensions.

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The NEX-5 was brought out 6 months after the S2100 and they are of a similar generation. Both cameras feature different body design with the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony S2100 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a complete comparison, here is a short highlight of how the NEX-5 grades versus the S2100 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5 over the Sony S2100

 NEX-5 S2100 
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k230kCrisper display (+690k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony S2100 over the Sony NEX-5

 S2100 NEX-5 

Common features in the Sony NEX-5 and Sony S2100

 NEX-5 S2100 
RevealedJune 2010January 2010Similar generation
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither comes with Touch friendly display

Sony NEX-5 vs Sony S2100 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry around your camera frequently, you will have to consider its weight and volume. The Sony NEX-5 comes with physical dimensions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") and a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs) and the Sony S2100 has sizing 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 Sony NEX-5 and Sony S2100 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have during that time. Here is a front view sizing comparison of the NEX-5 and the S2100.

Sony NEX-5 vs Sony S2100 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the NEX-5 and S2100 is 89 and 93 respectively.

Sony NEX-5 vs Sony S2100 top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-5 vs Sony S2100 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be difficult to imagine the difference between sensor sizes simply by going over specs. The image underneath will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the NEX-5 and S2100.

All in all, the two cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The NEX-5 featuring a larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF simpler and the Sony NEX-5 will offer you more detail having its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos a good deal more aggressively.

Sony NEX-5 vs Sony S2100 sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-5 vs Sony S2100 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-5 vs Sony S2100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony NEX-5 Portrait photography highlights
Sony S2100 Portrait photography highlights
72
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
21
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sony NEX-5 Street photography features
Sony S2100 Street photography features
76
has a tilting screen
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
46
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sony NEX-5 Sports photography factors
Sony S2100 Sports photography factors
52
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
does not have image stabilization
lack of phase detect autofocus
17
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,200 seconds)
max fps low (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-5 Travel photography information
Sony S2100 Travel photography information
59
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
does not have Time Lapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
50
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse function
sensor resolution low (12MP)
does not contain selfie friendly display
wide angle not the best (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony NEX-5
Landscape photography with Sony S2100
68
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is decent (3")
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse function
27
screen is a good size (3 inches)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual exposure
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony NEX-5 Vlogging info
Sony S2100 Vlogging info
28
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
does not have mic support
22
wide angle not the best (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not contain selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
low video resolution (640 x 480 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone port
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Sony NEX-5 vs Sony S2100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-5 and Sony S2100
 Sony Alpha NEX-5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha NEX-5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2010-06-07 2010-01-07
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.4 x 15.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 365.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4592 x 3056 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 12800 3200
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens support Sony E fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 33-105mm (3.2x)
Highest aperture - f/3.1-5.6
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Amount of lenses 121 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 920 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 1 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1200 secs
Continuous shutter speed 7.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 3.30 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video file format AVCHD Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 287 grams (0.63 lbs) 167 grams (0.37 lbs)
Physical dimensions 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") 98 x 61 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 69 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.2 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.2 not tested
DXO Low light rating 796 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 shots -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery ID NPFW50 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, optional SD, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $599 $0