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Nikon S3000 vs Sony TX66 Comparison

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Nikon S3000

12 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) CCD Sensor

Nikon S3000
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Sony TX66

18 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) BSI-CMOS Sensor

Sony TX66
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Nikon S3000 vs Sony TX66 Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing S3000 and TX66, two Ultracompact cameras from Nikon and Sony. Both cameras have 1/2.3-inch sensors but Nikon S3000 has a 12.0 MP and Sony TX66 has a 18.0 MP resolution. Nikon S3000 was introduced to market in February 2010 and Sony TX66 was launched in February 2012. As you can see, S3000 is 2 years older than TX66. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Nikon S3000 and Sony TX66 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Nikon S3000 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2010-02-03
  • 12MP - 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 27-108 mm F3.2-5.9 Zoom Lens
  • 2.7" Fixed Type Screen
  • 3 fps continuous shooting
  • - 640 x 480 video resolution
  • 116g. 94 x 56 x 19 mm

Sony TX66 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2012-02-28
  • 18MP - 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • 26-130 mm F3.5-4.8 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3.3" Fixed Type Screen
  • 10 fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 109g. 93 x 54 x 13 mm

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon S3000 and Sony TX66 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Nikon Coolpix S3000 over Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX66
Max Aperture - Wide
3.20 vs 3.50 faster lens at wide
Sensor Pixel Area
2.34µm2 vs 1.56µm2 49% larger pixel area


Reasons to choose Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX66 over Nikon Coolpix S3000
Image Stabilization
Optical vs None Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Touch Screen
Yes vs No Easy control of camera functions
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs No very handy for portraits
Max Sensor Resolution
18 MP vs 12 MP 50% more pixels
Max ISO
12.800 vs 3.200 300% higher Max ISO
LCD Screen Size
3.3" vs 2.7" 0.6 inches larger display
LCD Screen Resolution
1.230k dots vs 230k dots 434% higher resolution screen
Max Mech. Shutter
1/4000s vs 1/2000s faster mechanical shutter
Continuous Shooting
10.0fps vs 3.0fps 7 fps faster
Weight
109 g vs 116 g 7 g lighter
Focal Length - Wide
26mm vs 27mm 1 mm wider coverage
Focal Length - Tele
130mm vs 108mm 22 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
5× vs 4× more flexible focal coverage
Max Aperture - Tele
4.80 vs 5.90 faster lens at tele
Max Video Resolution
1920 x 1080 vs 640 x 480 Higher Resolution Video

Common Strengths of Nikon Coolpix S3000 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX66
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
LCD Screen Size
2.7" vs 3.3" Large display
Common Weaknesses of Nikon Coolpix S3000 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX66
Fixed Screen
Fixed Type vs No No flexible viewing angles
External Flash Shoe
No vs No Not suitable for flash photography
Viewfinder
None vs None No eye-level shooting option
RAW Support
No vs No Lower image quality
Manual Exposure
No vs No No manual exposure control
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
New4
Nikon S3000 vs Sony TX66: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Nikon S3000 and Sony TX66 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Nikon S3000 has external dimensions of 94 x 56 x 19 mm (3.7 x 2.2 x 0.75″) and weighs 116 g (0.26 lb / 4.09 oz) (including batteries). Sony TX66 has external dimensions of 93 x 54 x 13 mm (3.66 x 2.13 x 0.51″) and weighs 109 g (0.24 lb / 3.84 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon S3000 and Sony TX66. Sony TX66 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 1mm narrower, 2mm shorter and 6mm thinner than Nikon S3000.

Nikon S3000 vs Sony TX66 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Nikon S3000 and Sony TX66 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Nikon S3000 and Sony TX66.

Nikon S3000 vs Sony TX66 Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Nikon S3000 and Sony TX66 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon S3000 and Sony TX66.
Nikon S3000 vs Sony TX66 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Nikon S3000 and Sony TX66 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Sony TX66 is 7g lighter than the Nikon S3000 but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

S3000
TX66
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

S3000
TX66
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Nikon Coolpix S3000 nor Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX66 provides any type of weather sealing in their body, so you have to give extra care especially when you are shooting outdoors. If weather sealing is a must-have feature for you, check these sections:
Top Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Sony TX66's 3.3" LCD screen is slightly larger than Nikon S3000's 2.7" screen.

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.
Nikon S3000 vs Sony TX66: Sensor Comparison

Nikon S3000 has a 12.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CCD sensor and features Expeed C2 processor. On the other hand, Sony TX66 has a 18.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features BIONZ processor.

Sony TX66's sensor provides 6MP more than Nikon S3000's sensor, which gives a significant advantage in real life. You can print your images larger or crop more freely. On the other hand, please keep in mind that Max sensor resolution is not the only determinant of resolving power. Factors such as the optical elements, low pass filter, pixel size and sensor technology also affects the final resolution of the captured image.

Below you can see the S3000 and TX66 sensor size comparison.

Nikon S3000 vs Sony TX66 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon S3000 and Sony TX66 Cameras


Nikon S3000 and Sony TX66 have sensor sizes so they will provide same level of control over the depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture. On the other hand, since Nikon S3000 has 49% larger pixel area compared to Sony TX66, it has potential to collect more light on pixel level hence have less noise in low light / High ISO images.

Nikon S3000 vs Sony TX66 Lens Specs Comparison

Nikon S3000 features a 27-108 mm F3.2-5.9 4× zoom lens whereas Sony TX66 features a 26-130 mm F3.5-4.8 5× zoom lens.

Sony TX66 has 1mm wider coverage than the Nikon S3000. On the other hand, with a max aperture of f3.20, Nikon S3000 is faster at widest end. On the tele end, Sony TX66 has 22mm longer reach than the Nikon S3000. At f4.80, it is also faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

S3000
TX66
Widest - Ricoh WG-M1
Average
Telezoom

Compact Cameras

S3000
TX66
Longest - Canon SX520 HS
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

S3000
TX66
Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

S3000
TX66
Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
Average
What types of Photography are Nikon S3000 and Sony TX66 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon S3000 and Sony TX66 for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Nikon S3000 for Portrait Photography

POOR

Sony TX66 for Portrait Photography

POOR
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No Image Stabilization
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details
Very High Resolution Sensor: 18.0MP
Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Nikon S3000 for Street Photography

POOR

Sony TX66 for Street Photography

GOOD
Small Body
Live-view
27 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No Image Stabilization
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
26 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details

Nikon S3000 for Sports Photography

POOR

Sony TX66 for Sports Photography

POOR
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
No Image Stabilization
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Slow Continuous Shooting: 3.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Focus Points
108 mm Tele Lens
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.90
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
130 mm Tele Lens
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Unknown Focus Points
Poor Battery Life: 250 shots
Read the details

Nikon S3000 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Sony TX66 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE
Compact Body
116g
Body Thickness 19mm
4.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details
Compact Body
109g
Body Thickness 13mm
5.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details

Nikon S3000 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Sony TX66 for Landscape Photography

POOR
27 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details
Very High Resolution Sensor: 18.0MP
Manual Focus Mode
26 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Exposure Mode
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Nikon S3000 vs Sony TX66: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Nikon S3000 and Sony TX66, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 63 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Nikon S3000 and Sony TX66 scores compare:

Nikon S3000
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #132 out of 155 in Ultracompact cameras
Ranked #1170 out of 1225 in all Cameras
Sony TX66
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #8 out of 155 in Ultracompact cameras
Ranked #595 out of 1225 in all Cameras

Sony TX66 is the clear winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Nikon S3000 in all criteria.
It has better general image quality, more features, more compact body and offers more value for the money

Nikon S3000
Nikon S3000
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Sony TX66
Sony TX66
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Sony TX66 vs Nikon S3000 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon Coolpix S3000 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX66
Brand Nikon Sony
Announced 2010-02-03 2012-02-28
Body Type Ultracompact Ultracompact
Sensor
Type CCD BSI-CMOS
Size 1/2.3-inch 1/2.3-inch
Dimensions 6.17 x 4.55 mm 6.17 x 4.55 mm
Area 28.07mm2 28.07mm2
Megapixels 12 megapixels 18 megapixels
Max Resolution 4000 x 3000 4896 x 3672
Max Native Light sensitivity 3,200 ISO 12,800 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 80 ISO 80 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points n/a n/a
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 27-108 mm (4×) 26-130 mm (5×)
Max Aperture F3.2-5.9 F3.5-4.8
Macro Focus Range 8cm 1cm
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 2.7" 3.3"
Resolution 230k dots 1,230k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder None None
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/2000s 1/4000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization No Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range n/a 3.10 m
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 3.0 fps 10.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 640 x 480 1920 x 1080
Video Formats Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity None None
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 116g 109g
Dimensions 94 x 56 x 19mm 93 x 54 x 13mm
Battery Life n/a 250 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
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