Nikon S6100 vs Canon ELPH 510 HS Comparison

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Nikon S6100

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

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Canon ELPH 510 HS

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

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Nikon S6100 vs Canon ELPH 510 HS Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two Compact cameras from Nikon and Canon. Nikon S6100 was introduced to market in February 2011 and Canon ELPH 510 HS was launched in March 2012. There is 13 months difference between S6100 and ELPH 510 HS so we don't expect to see a huge technology difference between these two cameras but it would still give an advantage to younger ELPH 510 HS, especially in sensor tech.

Both cameras have 1/2.3-inch sensors but Nikon S6100 has a 16.0 MP and Canon ELPH 510 HS has a 12.0 MP resolution.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Nikon S6100 and Canon ELPH 510 HS before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Nikon S6100 Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2011-02-09

16MP - 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor

ISO 80 - 3200

28-196 mm F3.7-5.6 Zoom Lens

Optical Image Stabilization

3" Fixed Type Screen

1 fps continuous shooting

HD - 1280 x 720 video resolution

175g. 98 x 58 x 27 mm

Canon ELPH 510 HS Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2012-03-01

12MP - 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS Sensor

ISO 100 - 3200

28-336 mm F3.4-5.9 Zoom Lens

Optical Image Stabilization

3.2" Fixed Type Screen

3 fps continuous shooting

Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution

240fps High-Speed Video

206g. 99 x 59 x 22 mm

Also known as IXUS 1100 HS

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon S6100 and Canon ELPH 510 HS compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Nikon Coolpix S6100 over Canon ELPH 510 HS

Max Sensor Resolution	16 MP vs 12 MP	33% more pixels
Weight	175 g vs 206 g	31 g lighter
Max Aperture - Tele	5.60 vs 5.90	faster lens at tele
Flash Coverage	4.5m vs 3.1m	1.4m longer range

Reasons to choose Canon ELPH 510 HS over Nikon Coolpix S6100

LCD Screen Size	3.2" vs 3"	0.2 inches larger display
Max Mech. Shutter	1/4000s vs 1/2000s	faster mechanical shutter
Continuous Shooting	3.0fps vs 1.0fps	2 fps faster
Focal Length - Tele	336mm vs 196mm	140 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom	12x vs 7×	more flexible focal coverage
Max Aperture - Wide	3.40 vs 3.70	faster lens at wide
Sensor Pixel Area	2.34µm² vs 1.76µm²	32% larger pixel area
Max Video Resolution	1920 x 1080 vs 1280 x 720	Higher Resolution Video

Common Strengths of Nikon Coolpix S6100 and Canon ELPH 510 HS

Image Stabilization	Optical vs Optical	Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Built-in Flash	Yes vs Yes	Useful in low-light
Touch Screen	Yes vs Yes	Easy control of camera functions
Face Detection Focus	Yes vs Yes	very handy for portraits
LCD Screen Size	3" vs 3.2"	Large display

Common Weaknesses of Nikon Coolpix S6100 and Canon ELPH 510 HS

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
LCD Screen Resolution	460k dots vs 461k dots	Low resolution screens
Manual Exposure	No vs No	No manual exposure control
Environmental Sealing	No vs No	not suitable for tough conditions

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Nikon S6100 vs Canon ELPH 510 HS: 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 S6100 and Canon ELPH 510 HS side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Nikon S6100 has external dimensions of 98 x 58 x 27 mm (3.86 x 2.28 x 1.06″) and weighs 175 g (0.39 lb / 6.17 oz) (including batteries). Canon ELPH 510 HS has external dimensions of 99 x 59 x 22 mm (3.9 x 2.32 x 0.87″) and weighs 206 g (0.45 lb / 7.27 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon S6100 and Canon ELPH 510 HS. Nikon S6100 is 1mm narrower and 1mm shorter than Canon ELPH 510 HS but it is also 5mm thicker.

Comparison image of Nikon S6100 and Canon ELPH 510 HS Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Nikon S6100 and Canon ELPH 510 HS.

Comparison image of Nikon S6100 and Canon ELPH 510 HS Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon S6100 and Canon ELPH 510 HS.

Top View Comparison image of Nikon S6100 and Canon ELPH 510 HS Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Nikon S6100 is significantly lighter (31g ) than the Canon ELPH 510 HS which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

S6100

ELPH 510 HS

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

S6100

ELPH 510 HS

Min

Average

Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Nikon Coolpix S6100 nor Canon ELPH 510 HS (IXUS 1100 HS) 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

Canon ELPH 510 HS's 3.2" LCD screen is slightly larger than Nikon S6100's 3" screen.

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.

Nikon S6100 vs Canon ELPH 510 HS: Sensor Comparison

Nikon S6100 has a 16.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CCD sensor and features Expeed C2 processor. On the other hand, Canon ELPH 510 HS has a 12.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor .

Below you can see the S6100 and ELPH 510 HS sensor size comparison.

Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon S6100 and Canon ELPH 510 HS Cameras

Nikon S6100 and Canon ELPH 510 HS 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 Canon ELPH 510 HS has 32% larger pixel area (2.34µm² vs 1.76µm²) compared to Nikon S6100, it has larger pixel area to collect light hence potential to have less noise in low light / High ISO images.

Nikon S6100 vs Canon ELPH 510 HS Lens Specs Comparison

Nikon S6100 features a 28-196 mm F3.7-5.6 7× zoom lens whereas Canon ELPH 510 HS features a 28-336 mm F3.4-5.9 12x zoom lens.

Both cameras have a wide angle coverage of 28mm. On the other hand, with a max aperture of f3.40, Canon ELPH 510 HS is faster than Nikon S6100 at this focal length. On the tele end, Canon ELPH 510 HS has 140mm longer telezoom reach than the Nikon S6100. However, with a max aperture of f5.60, Nikon S6100 is faster at widest end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

S6100

ELPH 510 HS

Widest - Ricoh WG-M1

Average

Telezoom

Compact Cameras

S6100

ELPH 510 HS

Longest - Canon SX520 HS

Average

Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

S6100

ELPH 510 HS

Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV

Average

Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

S6100

ELPH 510 HS

Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6

Average

What types of Photography are Nikon S6100 and Canon ELPH 510 HS Good for?

In this section, we rank and compare Nikon S6100 and Canon ELPH 510 HS 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 S6100 for Portrait Photography

POOR

Canon ELPH 510 HS for Portrait Photography

POOR

Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
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

Image Stabilization
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
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 Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Nikon S6100 for Street Photography

GOOD

Canon ELPH 510 HS for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
Slow Lens at Wide: f3.70
Read the details

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

Nikon S6100 for Sports Photography

POOR

Canon ELPH 510 HS for Sports Photography

POOR

Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
196 mm Tele Lens
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Slow Continuous Shooting: 1.0fps
Environmental Sealings
9 Focus Points
Poor Battery Life: 210 shots
Read the details

Image Stabilization
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
336 mm Tele Lens
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
Unknown Focus Points
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.90
Read the details

Nikon S6100 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Canon ELPH 510 HS for Daily Photography

GOOD

Compact Body
175g
7.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details

Compact Body
206g
Body Thickness 22mm
12.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details

Nikon S6100 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Canon ELPH 510 HS for Landscape Photography

POOR

Manual Focus Mode
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
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

28 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

Nikon S6100 vs Canon ELPH 510 HS: 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 S6100 and Canon ELPH 510 HS, 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 S6100 and Canon ELPH 510 HS scores compare:

Nikon S6100

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #184 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #749 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Canon ELPH 510 HS

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #168 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #717 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Canon ELPH 510 HS has a higher Overall Score than the Nikon S6100 and would be our choice if we have to decide between these two cameras.

Canon ELPH 510 HS vs Nikon S6100 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Nikon Coolpix S6100	Canon ELPH 510 HS
Brand	Nikon	Canon
Announced	2011-02-09	2012-03-01
Body Type	Compact	Compact
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	16 megapixels	12 megapixels
Max Resolution	4608 x 3456	4000 x 3000
Max Native Light sensitivity	3,200 ISO	3,200 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity	80 ISO	100 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	9	n/a
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	fixed lens	fixed lens
Lens Focal Range	28-196 mm (7×)	28-336 mm (12x)
Max Aperture	F3.7-5.6	F3.4-5.9
Macro Focus Range	3cm	1cm
Screen
Type	Fixed type	Fixed type
Size	3"	3.2"
Resolution	460k dots	461k 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	Optical	Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	4.50 m	3.10 m
External Flash
Continuous Shooting	1.0 fps	3.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution	1280 x 720	1920 x 1080
Video Formats	MPEG-4, Motion JPEG	H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	None	Eye-Fi Connected
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight	175g	206g
Dimensions	98 x 58 x 27mm	99 x 59 x 22mm
Battery Life	210 shots	n/a
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None	None
DxO Sensor Scores
	Report a correction	Report a correction