Updated (August, 2011): Compare the Nikon Coolpix P500 vs Sony NEX-5N

Nikon Coolpix P100

58

"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

High-speed framerate
High speed movies
240 fps
Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Viewfinder
Great viewfinder
Digital
Built-in flash
Built-in flash
Usually standard
Sony Alpha NEX-5

54

Runner-up

Sony Alpha NEX-5

"The system for manually positioning AF points is quick and easy to use."
dpreview.com | talking about the NEX-5's auto-focus
"High quality video mode"
dpreview.com | talking about the NEX-5's video-quality

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha NEX-5

Screen resolution
High resolution screen
920k dots
Size
Really small
Compact 111x59x38 mm
Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
12.2 EV
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Panorama
In-camera panoramas
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama

differences

Advantages of the Nikon P100

Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift 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
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
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 10 fps vs 7 fps
Help
More than 40% faster continuous shooting
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Digital vs None
Help
A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 190 ms vs 441 ms
Help
2.3x less delay when taking photos
Nikon Coolpix P100 Learn more about
the Nikon P100

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5

Size Significantly smaller 111x59x38 mm vs 114x83x99 mm
Help
3.8x smaller
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 460k dots
Help
2x higher resolution screen
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Sensor size Much larger sensor APS-C 23.4x15.6mm vs 1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm
Help
Around 13x larger sensor
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The NEX-5's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 14 MP vs 9.8 MP
Help
Capture more than 40% more detail in your photos
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
Thickness Much thinner 1.5" vs 3.9"
Help
2.6x thinner
Supports RAW Shoots RAW Yes vs No
Help
Digitally develop your own photos with precise image control
Weight Lighter 287 g vs 481 g
Help
More than 40% lighter
External flash Supports an external flash Yes vs No
Help
An external flash often produces better looking flash images
Fastest shutter speed Significantly faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/2000s
Help
2x faster max shutter speed
Longest exposure Longer exposures 30s vs 8s
Help
Around 4x longer exposures
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Learn more about
the Sony NEX-5
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon Coolpix P100 Nikon Coolpix P100
58 vs 54
Explain scores
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon Coolpix P100. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a super zoom with a mirrorless interchangeable-lens.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Movie format Both shoot high resolution HD movies Help
1080p @ 30fps
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting weaknesses shared by these two products.

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Lens availability Much more lenses available
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier

Nikon Coolpix P100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon Coolpix P500

Nikon Coolpix P500

Super zoom

$300

Zoom Much more zoom
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Aperture Significantly narrower aperture
Size Slightly larger
Nikon Coolpix L120

Nikon Coolpix L120

Super zoom

$180 - $215

Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Size Smaller
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Nikon Coolpix P510

Nikon Coolpix P510

Super zoom

$397 - $400

Zoom Much more zoom
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Aperture Narrower aperture
Continuous shooting Shoots slower
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1

Super zoom

$355

Image stabilization Better image stabilization
Size Slightly smaller
Zoom Less zoom
High-speed framerate Doesn't record high-speed movies
Placeholder

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P150

Compact

Size Much smaller
Thickness Much thinner
Screen size Much smaller screen
Wide angle Much worse wide angle

Sony Alpha NEX-5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$598 - $600 body only

$698 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

Supports 24p Supports 24p
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Startup delay More startup delay
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$547 with 10-30mm lens

High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster
Screen resolution Significantly lower resolution screen
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,200 body only

$1,350 - $1,499 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Much higher true resolution
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Startup delay Slightly more startup delay
Weight Heavier
Sony NEX-F3

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$600 with 18-55mm lens

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Continuous shooting Shoots slower
Size Slightly larger
Sony NEX C3

Sony NEX C3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$548 with 16mm lens

Overall image quality Slightly better image quality
True resolution Higher true resolution
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly slower

appearance

Nikon Coolpix P100 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Nikon Coolpix P100 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Nikon Coolpix P100 Sony Alpha NEX-5

discussion

Showing 1 comments

Sajmmu (10:27 AM, March 14, 2011)
if cost is not the constraint, sony nex 5 is better that nikon p100