Canon Powershot
S100
 vs
Sony
NEX-5N

Updated (September, 2012): Compare the Canon PowerShot S110 vs Sony NEX-5R

Canon Powershot S100

69

  
Sony NEX-5N

62

  

Reasons to buy the Canon Powershot S100

Wide angle
 Wide angle lens
24 mm
High-speed framerate
 High speed movies
240 fps
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Lens
GPS
 Built-in GPS
Great for travel
Built-in flash
 Built-in flash
Usually standard
 
Runner-up

Sony NEX-5N

Reasons to buy the Sony NEX-5N

Overall image quality
 Great image quality
77.0
Light sensitivity
 High ISO
25,600 ISO
Touch screen
 Touch screen
Less buttons
Color depth
 Great color depth
23.6 bits
Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
1,079 ISO
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
 

differences

Advantages of the Canon S100
Image stabilization Image stabilization Lens vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies 240 fps vs None
Help
 Capture events too fast for the naked eye and play them back in super-slow motion
GPS Has a GPS Yes vs No
Help
 Automatically geotags your photos when traveling
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
 A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Size Slightly smaller 99x60x28 mm vs 111x59x38 mm
Help
 More than 30% smaller
Thickness Thinner 1.1" vs 1.5"
Help
 Around 30% thinner
Weight Lighter 198 g vs 269 g
Help
 Around 30% lighter
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $309.99 vs $649.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $340 cheaper (2.1x less)
Canon Powershot S100 Learn more about
the Canon S100

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5N
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 77.0 vs 50.0
Help
 More than 50% better image quality
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 25,600 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The NEX-5N's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
 Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
Touch screen Has a touch screen Yes vs No
Help
 Fewer buttons to worry about and direct interaction with camera menus
Color depth Better color depth 23.6 bits vs 20.7 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 2.9 more bits of color
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
 Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor APS-C 23.4x15.6mm vs 1/1.8" 7.5x5.5mm
Help
 Around 9x larger sensor
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 1,079 ISO vs 153 ISO
Help
 The NEX-5N has excellent image quality 2.8 f-stops higher ISO than the S100
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
 Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.7 EV vs 11.6 EV
Help
 1.1 f-stops more dynamic range
Battery life Longer battery life 460 shots vs 200 shots
Help
 Around 2.5x more shots per battery charge
True resolution Higher true resolution 16 MP vs 12 MP
Help
 Capture more than 30% more detail in your photos
Startup delay Less startup delay 1900 ms vs 2400 ms
Help
 More than 20% less delay when turning on
Focus points More focus points 25 vs 9
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
External flash Supports an external flash Yes vs No
Help
 An external flash often produces better looking flash images
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/2000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Longest exposure Longer exposures 30s vs 15s
Help
 2x longer exposures
Sony NEX-5N Learn more about
the Sony NEX-5N
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon Powershot S100 Canon Powershot S100
69 vs 62
Explain scores
Sony NEX-5N Sony NEX-5N
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon Powershot S100. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a pro digicam with a mirrorless interchangeable-lens.

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Supports 24p Both support 24p, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
For that film look
HDR In-camera HDR Help
Combines multiple exposures
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Viewfinder No viewfinders Help
Can only preview photos on the screen

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony Cybershot DSC-RX100

Sony Cybershot DSC-RX100

Pro digicam

$648 - $760
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Macro focus Slightly worse macro focusing
Compare the Cybershot DSC-RX100 vs the Powershot S100
Compare the Cybershot DSC-RX100 vs the NEX-5N
Canon PowerShot G1X

Canon PowerShot G1X

Boutique

$649 - $699
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the PowerShot G1X vs the Powershot S100
Compare the PowerShot G1X vs the NEX-5N
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$379 - $497 with 10-30mm lens
High-speed framerate Records even higher-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
Supports 24p Doesn't record movies in 24p
Compare the 1 J1 vs the Powershot S100
Compare the 1 J1 vs the NEX-5N

Canon Powershot S100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon PowerShot S110

Canon PowerShot S110

Pro digicam

$399
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Startup delay Much less startup delay
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
High-speed framerate Doesn't record high-speed movies
Compare the PowerShot S110 vs the Powershot S100
Canon PowerShot S95

Canon PowerShot S95

Pro digicam

$461 - $602
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Wide angle Worse wide angle
Compare the PowerShot S95 vs the Powershot S100
Canon PowerShot SX260 HS

Canon PowerShot SX260 HS

Travel zoom

$238 - $269
Zoom More zoom
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera
Aperture Much narrower aperture
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Compare the PowerShot SX260 HS vs the Powershot S100
Nikon Coolpix P310

Nikon Coolpix P310

Pro digicam

$159 - $179
Focus points Many more focus points
3D Takes 3D photos
Supports 24p No 24p support
High-speed framerate Doesn't record high-speed movies
Compare the Coolpix P310 vs the Powershot S100
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7

Pro digicam

$398
Aperture Wider aperture
3D Takes 3D photos
Supports 24p No 24p support
High-speed framerate Doesn't record high-speed movies
Compare the Lumix DMC-LX7 vs the Powershot S100

Sony NEX-5N Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony NEX-5R

Sony NEX-5R

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$498 body only

$598 with 18-55mm lens
Autofocus Faster autofocus
Focus points Many more focus points
Battery life Shorter battery life
Low light performance Slightly more noise at high ISO
Compare the NEX-5R vs the NEX-5N
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$656 with 18-55mm lens
Startup delay Less startup delay
Supports 24p No 24p support
Touch screen No touch screen
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the NEX-5N
Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$948 body only

$1,098 with 18-55mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Touch screen No touch screen
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Compare the NEX-7 vs the NEX-5N
Sony Alpha NEX-3N

Sony Alpha NEX-3N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$448 with 16-50mm lens
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Built-in flash Built-in flash
Touch screen No touch screen
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Compare the Alpha NEX-3N vs the NEX-5N
Sony NEX-F3

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$379 - $730 with 18-55mm lens
Built-in flash Built-in flash
Startup delay Less startup delay
Touch screen No touch screen
Movie continuous focus Doesn't focus continuously recording movies
Compare the NEX-F3 vs the NEX-5N

appearance

Canon Powershot S100 Sony NEX-5N
Canon Powershot S100 Sony NEX-5N
Canon Powershot S100 Sony NEX-5N

discussion

Showing 1 comments

Patrizia Ferri (11:40 AM, February 27, 2012)
aiutatemi vi prego ho appena acquistato la canon s100 ma ora penso che avrei fatto bene ha comprare la sony hx9v. Faccio in tempo a cambiarla oppure ho fatto la scelta giusta,lo zoom della canon sembra scarso mentre quello di sony è eccezzionale