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Nikon S6100 vs Pentax MX-1 Comparison

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Nikon S6100

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

Nikon S6100
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Pentax MX-1

12 MP | 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) CMOS Sensor

Pentax MX-1
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Nikon S6100 vs Pentax MX-1 Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing S6100 and MX-1, two Small Sensor Compact cameras from Nikon and Pentax. Nikon S6100 has a 16.0MP 1/2.3-inch sensor whereas Pentax MX-1 has a 12.0MP 1/1.7-inch sensor. Nikon S6100 was introduced to market in February 2011 and Pentax MX-1 was launched in July 2013. As you can see, S6100 is 2 years older than MX-1. 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 S6100 and Pentax MX-1 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

Pentax MX-1 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2013-07-01
  • 12MP - 1/1.7-inch CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • 28-112 mm F1.8-2.5 Zoom Lens
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • 1 fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 391g. 122 x 61 x 51 mm

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon S6100 and Pentax MX-1 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Nikon Coolpix S6100 over Pentax MX-1
Touch Screen
Yes vs No Easy control of camera functions
Max Sensor Resolution
16 MP vs 12 MP 33% more pixels
Weight
175 g vs 391 g 216 g lighter
Focal Length - Tele
196mm vs 112mm 84 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
7× vs 4× more flexible focal coverage


Reasons to choose Pentax MX-1 over Nikon Coolpix S6100
LCD Screen
Tilting vs Fixed Type Flexible shooting positions
RAW Support
Yes vs No Better image quality
Max ISO
12.800 vs 3.200 300% higher Max ISO
Number of Focus Points
25 vs 9 16 more focus points
LCD Screen Resolution
920k dots vs 460k dots 100% higher resolution screen
Max Mech. Shutter
1/8000s vs 1/2000s faster mechanical shutter
Battery Life
290 shots vs 210 shots 80 more frames with a single charge
Manual Exposure
Yes vs No better exposure control
Max Aperture - Wide
1.80 vs 3.70 faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele
2.50 vs 5.60 faster lens at tele
Flash Coverage
12.0m vs 4.5m 7.5m longer range
Sensor Pixel Area
3.46µm2 vs 1.76µm2 96% larger pixel area
Max Video Resolution
1920 x 1080 vs 1280 x 720 Higher Resolution Video
AE Bracketing
Yes vs No Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR

Common Strengths of Nikon Coolpix S6100 and Pentax MX-1
Image Stabilization
Optical vs Sensor-shift Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
Manual Focusing
Yes vs Yes both have manual focusing modes
Common Weaknesses of Nikon Coolpix S6100 and Pentax MX-1
External Flash Shoe
No vs No Not suitable for flash photography
Viewfinder
None vs None No eye-level shooting option
Continuous Shooting
1.0fps vs 1.0fps Slow shooting speeds
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
New4
Nikon S6100 vs Pentax MX-1: 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 Pentax MX-1 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). Pentax MX-1 has external dimensions of 122 x 61 x 51 mm (4.8 x 2.4 x 2.01″) and weighs 391 g (0.86 lb / 13.79 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon S6100 and Pentax MX-1. Nikon S6100 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 24mm narrower, 3mm shorter and 24mm thinner than Pentax MX-1.

Nikon S6100 vs Pentax MX-1 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Nikon S6100 and Pentax MX-1 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Nikon S6100 and Pentax MX-1.

Nikon S6100 vs Pentax MX-1 Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Nikon S6100 and Pentax MX-1 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon S6100 and Pentax MX-1.
Nikon S6100 vs Pentax MX-1 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Nikon S6100 and Pentax MX-1 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 (216g ) than the Pentax MX-1 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

S6100
MX-1
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

S6100
MX-1
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Nikon Coolpix S6100 nor Pentax MX-1 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

Nikon S6100 and Pentax MX-1's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 3".

On the other hand, Pentax MX-1 features a Tilting screen where you can change the angle of the screen to make it easier to shoot from waist or over the head levels whereas the Nikon S6100 has a fixed type screen which provides less flexibility in shooting positions compared to MX-1.
Nikon S6100 vs Pentax MX-1: 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, Pentax MX-1 has a 12.0MP 1/1.7-inch (7.44 x 5.58 mm ) sized CMOS sensor .

Below you can see the S6100 and MX-1 sensor size comparison.

Nikon S6100 vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon S6100 and Pentax MX-1 Cameras


As seen above, Pentax MX-1 has a 1.5x Larger sensor area than Nikon S6100. Larger sensors give photographer more control on the depth of field and blurry background compared to smaller sensor when shot in same focal length and aperture.

Nikon S6100 vs Pentax MX-1 Lens Specs Comparison

Nikon S6100 features a 28-196 mm F3.7-5.6 7× zoom lens whereas Pentax MX-1 features a 28-112 mm F1.8-2.5 4× zoom lens.

Both cameras have a wide angle coverage of 28mm. On the other hand, with a max aperture of f1.80, Pentax MX-1 is faster than Nikon S6100 at this focal length. On the tele end, Nikon S6100 has 84mm longer reach than the Pentax MX-1. However, with a max aperture of f2.50, Pentax MX-1 is faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

S6100
MX-1
Widest - Ricoh WG-M1
Average
Telezoom

Compact Cameras

S6100
MX-1
Longest - Canon SX520 HS
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

S6100
MX-1
Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

S6100
MX-1
Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
Average
What types of Photography are Nikon S6100 and Pentax MX-1 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon S6100 and Pentax MX-1 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

Pentax MX-1 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE
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
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Nikon S6100 for Street Photography

GOOD

Pentax MX-1 for Street Photography

EXCELLENT
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
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
Fast Lens at Wide: f1.80
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details

Nikon S6100 for Sports Photography

POOR

Pentax MX-1 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
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
25 Focus Points
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Slow Continuous Shooting: 1.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Poor Battery Life: 290 shots
112 mm Tele Lens
Read the details

Nikon S6100 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Pentax MX-1 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
RAW shooting capability
Compact Body
4.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
391g
Body Thickness 51mm
Read the details

Nikon S6100 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Pentax MX-1 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
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Nikon S6100 vs Pentax MX-1: 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 Pentax MX-1, 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 Pentax MX-1 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
Pentax MX-1
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #22 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #377 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Pentax MX-1 is the overall winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Nikon S6100 in all criteria except one: Portability.
If small size and light body is a big priority for you, choose Nikon S6100. Otherwise, Pentax MX-1 is the better camera overall.

Nikon S6100
Nikon S6100
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Pentax MX-1
Pentax MX-1
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Pentax MX-1 vs Nikon S6100 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon Coolpix S6100 Pentax MX-1
Brand Nikon Pentax
Announced 2011-02-09 2013-07-01
Body Type Compact Compact
Sensor
Type CCD CMOS
Size 1/2.3-inch 1/1.7-inch
Dimensions 6.17 x 4.55 mm 7.44 x 5.58 mm
Area 28.07mm2 41.52mm2
Megapixels 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Max Resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max Native Light sensitivity 3,200 ISO 12,800 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 25
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 28-196 mm (7×) 28-112 mm (4×)
Max Aperture F3.7-5.6 F1.8-2.5
Macro Focus Range 3cm 1cm
Screen
Type Fixed type Tilting
Size 3" 3"
Resolution 460k dots 920k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder None None
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/2000s 1/8000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization Optical Sensor-shift
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 4.50 m 12.00 m
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 1.0 fps 1.0 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 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity None Eye-Fi Connected
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 175g 391g
Dimensions 98 x 58 x 27mm 122 x 61 x 51mm
Battery Life 210 shots 290 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score not tested 49
DxO Color Depth not tested 20.4
DxO Dynamic Range not tested 11.3
DxO Low Light ISO not tested 208
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