Sony NEX-7 vs Sony S2100

On this page, we are looking at the Sony NEX-7 versus Sony S2100, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both sold by Sony. There exists a crucial gap between the sensor resolutions of the NEX-7 (24MP) and S2100 (12MP) and the NEX-7 (APS-C) and S2100 (1/2.3") posses different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The NEX-7 was unveiled 24 months after the S2100 making them a generation away from one another. The two cameras have different body design with the Sony NEX-7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony S2100 being a Compact camera.

Before going into a detailed comparison, here is a short introduction of how the NEX-7 grades versus the S2100 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Sony Alpha NEX-7 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100. The full galleries are provided at Sony NEX-7 Gallery and Sony S2100 Gallery.

If you are planning to carry around your camera regularly, you need to factor in its weight and size. The Sony NEX-7 features external measurements of 120mm x 67mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") along with a weight of 400 grams (0.88 lbs) whilst the Sony S2100 has specifications of 98mm x 61mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") and a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Examine the Sony NEX-7 versus Sony S2100 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are working with during that time. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the NEX-7 and the S2100.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the NEX-7 and S2100 is 84 and 93 respectively.

Typically, it is hard to imagine the difference between sensor sizes just by reading through a spec sheet. The image here should offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the NEX-7 and S2100.

As you can see, both of the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The NEX-7 having a larger sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF simpler and the Sony NEX-7 will give you greater detail having an extra 12MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop pics more aggressively. The newer NEX-7 provides an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.