Nikon Coolpix
S8100
 vs
Sony Cyber-shot
DSC-HX5v

Updated (February, 2011): Compare the Nikon Coolpix S9100 vs Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9v

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5v

68
"Our lab shot of the Resolution target at ISO 125 shows excellent resolution running up to about 1,600 lines both horizontally and vertically."
imaging-resource.com | talking about the DSC-HX5v's image-quality
"Fast AF and very fast prefocused shutter lag."
imaging-resource.com | talking about the DSC-HX5v's auto-focus

Reasons to buy the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5v

GPS
 Built-in GPS
Great for travel
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
10 fps
Sensor type
 CMOS Sensor
Better in low light
Longest exposure
 Long exposures
30 seconds
Nikon Coolpix S8100

66
"The Nikon S8100 is very quick to find focus, locking onto your target in less than 0.2 seconds, regardless of the lighting conditions or which end of the zoom range you're using."
photographyblog.com | talking about the S8100's auto-focus
"The Nikon Coolpix S8100 is therefore recommended for more casual users looking for a versatile all-rounder."
photographyblog.com | talking about the S8100's overall-performance

Reasons to buy the Nikon Coolpix S8100

Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
921k dots
High-speed framerate
 High speed movies
240 fps
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
10 fps
Sensor type
 CMOS Sensor
Better in low light
Macro focus
 Great macro
1 cm
Fastest shutter speed
 Fast shutter speed
1/4000 of a second

differences

Advantages of the Nikon S8100
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 921k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 More than 4x higher resolution 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
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 9.8 MP vs 9 MP
Help
 Capture around 10% more detail in your photos
Macro focus Significantly better macro capability 1 cm vs 5 cm
Help
 Focus on subjects 5x closer to the lens
Sensor size Larger sensor 1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm vs 1/2.5" 6.3x4.2mm
Help
 Around 10% larger sensor
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/1600s
Help
 2.5x faster max shutter speed
Nikon Coolpix S8100 Learn more about
the Nikon S8100

Advantages of the Sony DSC-HX5v
GPS Has a GPS Yes vs No
Help
 Automatically geotags your photos when traveling
Wide angle Much better wide angle 25 mm vs 30 mm
Help
 Around 20% better wide angle
Size Smaller 102x58x29 mm vs 104x60x30 mm
Help
 Around 10% smaller
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures 30s vs 4s
Help
 7.5x longer exposures
Weight Slightly lighter 200 g vs 209 g
Help
 Almost the same
Thickness Slightly thinner 1.1" vs 1.2"
Help
 Almost the same
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5v Learn more about
the Sony DSC-HX5v
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent travel zooms, and ignoring price

Nikon Coolpix S8100 Nikon Coolpix S8100
66 vs 68
Explain scores
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5v Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5v
Green arrow Too close to call! Snapsort considers these cameras too competitive to make a clear recommendation.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent compacts

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Movie format Both shoot high resolution HD movies Help
1080p @ 30fps
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Continuous shooting Fast continuous shooting Help
10 fps
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
S8100:Sensor shift, Lens
DSC-HX5v:Lens
Light sensitivity (boost) No boost ISO Help
Lacks boost light sensitivity
Weight Heavy Help
S8100:209 g
DSC-HX5v:200 g
Thickness Quite thick Help
S8100:1.2"
DSC-HX5v:1.1"
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
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
Size Large Help
S8100:104x60x30 mm
DSC-HX5v:102x58x29 mm
Aperture Very narrow widest aperture size Help
f/3.5

Compared to recent travel zooms

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Zoom Poor zoom Help
10x

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon Coolpix S9100

Nikon Coolpix S9100

Travel zoom

$237 - $289
Zoom Has way more more zoom
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Compare the Coolpix S9100 vs the Coolpix S8100
Compare the Coolpix S9100 vs the Cyber-shot DSC-HX5v
Canon ELPH 300 HS

Canon ELPH 300 HS

Compact

$148 - $179
Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
Size Is significantly smaller
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Macro focus Slightly worse macro focusing
Compare the ELPH 300 HS vs the Coolpix S8100
Compare the ELPH 300 HS vs the Cyber-shot DSC-HX5v
Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9v

Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9v

Travel zoom

$319
Zoom Has significantly more zoom
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lowest price Is much more expensive
Compare the Cybershot DSC-HX9v vs the Coolpix S8100
Compare the Cybershot DSC-HX9v vs the Cyber-shot DSC-HX5v
Canon PowerShot SX230 HS

Canon PowerShot SX230 HS

Travel zoom

$239 - $324
Zoom Has significantly more zoom
Aperture Has a slightly wider aperture
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the PowerShot SX230 HS vs the Coolpix S8100
Compare the PowerShot SX230 HS vs the Cyber-shot DSC-HX5v
Canon PowerShot S95

Canon PowerShot S95

Pro digicam

$340 - $389
Aperture Has a much wider aperture
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lowest price Is much more expensive
Compare the PowerShot S95 vs the Coolpix S8100
Compare the PowerShot S95 vs the Cyber-shot DSC-HX5v
Canon PowerShot SX220 HS

Canon PowerShot SX220 HS

Travel zoom

$281 - $332
Zoom Has significantly more zoom
Aperture Has a slightly wider aperture
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the PowerShot SX220 HS vs the Coolpix S8100
Compare the PowerShot SX220 HS vs the Cyber-shot DSC-HX5v
Canon ELPH 310 HS

Canon ELPH 310 HS

Travel zoom

$195 - $196
Aperture Has a slightly wider aperture
Size Is slightly smaller
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the ELPH 310 HS vs the Coolpix S8100
Compare the ELPH 310 HS vs the Cyber-shot DSC-HX5v

Nikon Coolpix S8100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon Coolpix S8200

Nikon Coolpix S8200

Travel zoom

$229
Wide angle Much better wide angle
Zoom More zoom
High-speed framerate Doesn't record high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots slower
Compare the Coolpix S8200 vs the Coolpix S8100
Nikon Coolpix S6300

Nikon Coolpix S6300

Travel zoom

$180 - $184
Wide angle Much better wide angle
Aperture Wider aperture
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
Compare the Coolpix S6300 vs the Coolpix S8100
Nikon Coolpix S6200

Nikon Coolpix S6200

Travel zoom

$177 - $223
Wide angle Much better wide angle
Aperture Wider aperture
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Compare the Coolpix S6200 vs the Coolpix S8100
Nikon Coolpix L120

Nikon Coolpix L120

Super zoom

$180 - $215
Zoom Much more zoom
Wide angle Much better wide angle
Size Much larger
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Compare the Coolpix L120 vs the Coolpix S8100
Canon PowerShot SX150 IS

Canon PowerShot SX150 IS

Travel zoom

$138 - $179
Wide angle Better wide angle
Zoom More zoom
Size Much larger
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Compare the PowerShot SX150 IS vs the Coolpix S8100

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5v Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony Cybershot DSC-H70

Sony Cybershot H70

Travel zoom

$180
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution
GPS No built-in GPS
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Compare the Cybershot H70 vs the Cyber-shot DSC-HX5v
Sony Cybershot DSC-HX7V

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX7v

Travel zoom

$321
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
3D Takes 3D photos
Weight Slightly heavier
Compare the Cyber-shot DSC-HX7v vs the Cyber-shot DSC-HX5v
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7

Travel zoom

$361
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution
Zoom More zoom
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Sensor type Has a CCD-family sensor
Compare the Lumix DMC-ZS7 vs the Cyber-shot DSC-HX5v
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V

Travel zoom

$399
Zoom Much more zoom
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Size Significantly larger
Weight Significantly heavier
Compare the Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V vs the Cyber-shot DSC-HX5v
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX10V

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX10V

Travel zoom

$328
Zoom Significantly more zoom
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Size Larger
Weight Heavier
Compare the Cyber-shot DSC-HX10V vs the Cyber-shot DSC-HX5v

appearance

Nikon Coolpix S8100 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5v
Nikon Coolpix S8100 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5v
Nikon Coolpix S8100 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5v

discussion

Showing 1 comments

Mooster (4:55 AM, December 05, 2010)
hi - need to add 'focus/zoom while shooting video' support. this is pretty important and some models don't offer it. otherwise an awesome site... (needs to be expanded for all sorts of things!)