Nikon Coolpix
P100
 vs
Pentax
X90

Updated (February, 2011): Compare the Nikon Coolpix P500 vs Pentax X90

Nikon Coolpix P100

67
"Good high ISO performance"
digitalcamerareview.com | talking about the P100's iso-noise
"Materials, fit, and finish are typical for the class and price point."
digitalcamerareview.com | talking about the P100's build-quality

Reasons to buy the Nikon Coolpix P100

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
Screen size
 Large screen
3.0"
High-speed framerate
 High speed movies
240 fps
True resolution
 High true resolution
9.8 MP
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
10 fps
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Pentax X90

60
Runner-up

Pentax X90

Reasons to buy the Pentax X90

True resolution
 High true resolution
9.8 MP
Light sensitivity
 High ISO
6,400 ISO
Viewfinder
 Great viewfinder
Digital
Fastest shutter speed
 Fast shutter speed
1/4000 of a second

differences

Advantages of the Nikon P100
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
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
 More than 10% larger screen
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
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
 CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 10 fps vs 1.1 fps
Help
 Around 9x faster continuous shooting
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 460k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 2x higher resolution screen
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 190 ms vs 430 ms
Help
 2.3x less delay when taking photos
True resolution Slightly higher true resolution 9.8 MP vs 9.8 MP
Help
 Almost the same
Longest exposure Slightly longer exposures 8s vs 4s
Help
 2x longer exposures
Nikon Coolpix P100 Learn more about
the Nikon P100

Advantages of the Pentax X90
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The X90's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Size Slightly smaller 112x81x99 mm vs 114x83x99 mm
Help
 Almost the same
Weight Lighter 428 g vs 481 g
Help
 More than 10% lighter
Fastest shutter speed Significantly faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/2000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Pentax X90 Learn more about
the Pentax X90
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent super zooms, and ignoring price

Nikon Coolpix P100 Nikon Coolpix P100
67 vs 60
Explain scores
Pentax X90 Pentax X90
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon Coolpix P100.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent digicams

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Zoom Incredible zoom Help
P100:26.1x
X90:26x
Aperture Wide aperture Help
f/2.8
Macro focus Good macro capabilities Help
P100:1 cm
X90:0.9 cm
Viewfinder Both have digital viewfinders Help
Digital
Thickness Quite thick Help
3.9"
Weight Heavy Help
P100:481 g
X90:428 g
Light sensitivity (boost) No boost ISO Help
Lacks boost light sensitivity
Size Large Help
P100:114x83x99 mm
X90:112x81x99 mm
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons

Compared to recent super zooms

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.
External flash No external flash support Help
Less expandable
Longest exposure Short max exposure time Help
P100:8s
X90:4s
Supports RAW No RAW support Help
Less editing fidelity
External mic jack Neither has an external mic jack Help
Limited to the in-camera mic

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon Coolpix P500

Nikon Coolpix P500

Super zoom

$300
Zoom Has way more more zoom
Wide angle Has a significantly wider wide angle lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Aperture Has a significantly narrower aperture
Compare the Coolpix P500 vs the Coolpix P100
Compare the Coolpix P500 vs the X90
Nikon Coolpix L120

Nikon Coolpix L120

Super zoom

$180 - $229
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Size Is slightly smaller
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder Doesn't have a viewfinder
Compare the Coolpix L120 vs the Coolpix P100
Compare the Coolpix L120 vs the X90
Nikon Coolpix P510

Nikon Coolpix P510

Super zoom

$397 - $400
Zoom Has way more more zoom
Wide angle Has a slightly wider wide angle lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Coolpix P510 vs the Coolpix P100
Compare the Coolpix P510 vs the X90
Canon Powershot SX40

Canon Powershot SX40

Super zoom

$347 - $380
Zoom Has much more zoom
Wide angle Has a slightly wider wide angle lens
Weight Is significantly heavier
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the Powershot SX40 vs the Coolpix P100
Compare the Powershot SX40 vs the X90
Fujifilm FinePix HS10

Fujifilm FinePix HS10

Super zoom

$569
Zoom Has slightly more zoom
Wide angle Has a slightly wider wide angle lens
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the FinePix HS10 vs the Coolpix P100
Compare the FinePix HS10 vs the X90
Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Super zoom

$420
Zoom Has much more zoom
Wide angle Has a slightly wider wide angle lens
Weight Is significantly heavier
Light sensitivity Slightly lower maximum light sensitivity
Compare the PowerShot SX30 IS vs the Coolpix P100
Compare the PowerShot SX30 IS vs the X90
Nikon Coolpix L810

Nikon Coolpix L810

Super zoom

$250 - $265
Wide angle Has a significantly wider wide angle lens
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder Doesn't have a viewfinder
Compare the Coolpix L810 vs the Coolpix P100
Compare the Coolpix L810 vs the X90

Nikon Coolpix P100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1

Super zoom

$355
Image stabilization Better image stabilization
Size Slightly smaller
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Zoom Less zoom
Compare the Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 vs the Coolpix P100
Placeholder

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P150

Compact
Size Much smaller
Sensor size Much larger sensor
Wide angle Much worse wide angle
Screen size Much smaller screen
Compare the Cyber-shot DSC-P150 vs the Coolpix P100
Nikon Coolpix P90

Nikon Coolpix P90

Super zoom
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Image stabilization Better image stabilization
Movie format Lower resolution movies
High-speed framerate Doesn't record high-speed movies
Compare the Coolpix P90 vs the Coolpix P100

Pentax X90 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Kodak Easyshare Z990 MAX

Kodak Easyshare Z990 MAX

Super zoom
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Wide angle Worse wide angle
Size Larger
Compare the Easyshare Z990 MAX vs the X90

appearance

Nikon Coolpix P100 Pentax X90
Nikon Coolpix P100 Pentax X90
Nikon Coolpix P100 Pentax X90

discussion

Showing 2 comments

Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (1:01 AM, August 30, 2010)
Great feedback, thanks. We'll get those specs corrected on the X90.
 
Oldguy (11:24 PM, August 29, 2010)
I just bought the x90 and it is awesome. I looked at the Nikon in the store and concluded the x90 was more intuitive for me. Several things in this review are wrong - x90 has burst mode and continuous shooting, and the macro mode to 1cm could not be better. x90 is fast, light and easy to use. In the store, I could not get the Nikon to focus on a still poster using optical zoom and stabilization. I just used the x90 on the beach today shooting an ultralight and fast moving boats with stabilization and got excellent results. Pentax is superior in my opinion.