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Nikon S6100 vs Sony RX100 II 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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Sony RX100 II

20 MP | 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) CMOS Sensor

Sony RX100 II
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Nikon S6100 vs Sony RX100 II Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two Compact cameras from Nikon and Sony. Nikon S6100 was introduced to market in February 2011 and Sony RX100 II was launched in June 2013. As you can see, S6100 is 2 years older than RX100 II. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Nikon S6100 has a 16.0MP 1/2.3-inch sensor whereas Sony RX100 II has a 20.0MP 1-inch sensor.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Nikon S6100 and Sony RX100 II 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

Sony RX100 II Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2013-06-27
  • 20MP - 1-inch CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 160 - 12800 ( expands to 100-25600)
  • 28-100 mm F1.8-4.9 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3 Tilting Screen
  • 10 fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 281g. 102 x 58 x 38 mm
  • Replaced Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 Compare

Sony RX100 II was replaced by Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III vs Nikon Coolpix S6100

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon S6100 and Sony RX100 II compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Nikon Coolpix S6100 over Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
Touch Screen
Yes vs No Easy control of camera functions
Weight
175 g vs 281 g 106 g lighter
Focal Length - Tele
196mm vs 100mm 96 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
7× vs 3.6x more flexible focal coverage


Reasons to choose Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II over Nikon Coolpix S6100
Wireless Connection
Built-In vs None Better connectivity
LCD Screen
Tilting vs Fixed Type Flexible shooting positions
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs No Better for flash photography
RAW Support
Yes vs No Better image quality
Max Sensor Resolution
20 MP vs 16 MP 25% more pixels
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
1.229k dots vs 460k dots 167% higher resolution screen
Continuous Shooting
10.0fps vs 1.0fps 9 fps faster
Battery Life
350 shots vs 210 shots 140 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
4.90 vs 5.60 faster lens at tele
Flash Coverage
15.0m vs 4.5m 10.5m longer range
Sensor Pixel Area
5.82µm2 vs 1.76µm2 230% 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
NFC Connection
Yes vs No Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices
Smartphone Remote
Yes vs No Remote control your camera with a smartphone

Common Strengths of Nikon Coolpix S6100 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
Image Stabilization
Optical vs Optical 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 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
New4
Nikon S6100 vs Sony RX100 II: 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 Sony RX100 II 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). Sony RX100 II has external dimensions of 102 x 58 x 38 mm (4 x 2.29 x 1.51″) and weighs 281 g (0.62 lb / 9.91 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon S6100 and Sony RX100 II. Nikon S6100 is 4mm narrower and 11mm thinner than Nikon S6100 but they have the same height of 58mm.

Nikon S6100 vs Sony RX100 II Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Nikon S6100 and Sony RX100 II Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Nikon S6100 and Sony RX100 II.

Nikon S6100 vs Sony RX100 II Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Nikon S6100 and Sony RX100 II Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon S6100 and Sony RX100 II.
Nikon S6100 vs Sony RX100 II Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Nikon S6100 and Sony RX100 II 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 (106g ) than the Sony RX100 II which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

S6100
RX100 II
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

S6100
RX100 II
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Nikon Coolpix S6100 nor Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II 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 Sony RX100 II's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 3".

On the other hand, Sony RX100 II 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 RX100 II.
Nikon S6100 vs Sony RX100 II: 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, Sony RX100 II has a 20.0MP 1-inch (13.2 x 8.8 mm ) sized CMOS sensor .

Below you can see the S6100 and RX100 II sensor size comparison.

Nikon S6100 vs Sony RX100 II Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon S6100 and Sony RX100 II Cameras


As seen above, Sony RX100 II has a 4.1x 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 Sony RX100 II Lens Specs Comparison

Nikon S6100 features a 28-196 mm F3.7-5.6 7× zoom lens whereas Sony RX100 II features a 28-100 mm F1.8-4.9 3.6x zoom lens.

Both cameras have a wide angle coverage of 28mm. On the other hand, with a max aperture of f1.80, Sony RX100 II is faster than Nikon S6100 at this focal length. On the tele end, Nikon S6100 has 96mm longer reach than the Sony RX100 II. However, with a max aperture of f4.90, Sony RX100 II is faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

S6100
RX100 II
Widest - Ricoh WG-M1
Average
Telezoom

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

S6100
RX100 II
Longest - Canon SX520 HS
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

S6100
RX100 II
Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

S6100
RX100 II
Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
Average
What types of Photography are Nikon S6100 and Sony RX100 II Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon S6100 and Sony RX100 II 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

Sony RX100 II 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
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Optional External Viewfinder
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Nikon S6100 for Street Photography

GOOD

Sony RX100 II 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
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Optional External Viewfinder
Read the details

Nikon S6100 for Sports Photography

POOR

Sony RX100 II for Sports Photography

AVERAGE
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
External Flash Shoe
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
25 Focus Points
Wireless Connection
Optional External Viewfinder
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
100 mm Tele Lens
Read the details

Nikon S6100 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Sony RX100 II 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
281g
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
3.6X Optical Zoom
Read the details

Nikon S6100 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Sony RX100 II for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE
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
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Nikon S6100 vs Sony RX100 II: 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 Sony RX100 II, 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 Sony RX100 II 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
Sony RX100 II
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #33 out of 61 in Large sensor compact cameras
Ranked #260 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Sony RX100 II 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, Sony RX100 II is the better camera overall.

Nikon S6100
Nikon S6100
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Sony RX100 II
Sony RX100 II
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Sony RX100 II vs Nikon S6100 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon Coolpix S6100 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
Brand Nikon Sony
Announced 2011-02-09 2013-06-27
Body Type Compact Large sensor compact
Sensor
Type CCD CMOS
Size 1/2.3-inch 1-inch
Dimensions 6.17 x 4.55 mm 13.2 x 8.8 mm
Area 28.07mm2 116.16mm2
Megapixels 16 megapixels 20 megapixels
Max Resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Max Native Light sensitivity 3,200 ISO 12,800 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity - 25600 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 80 ISO 160 ISO
Min Boosted Light Sensitivity - 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×) 28-100 mm (3.6x)
Max Aperture F3.7-5.6 F1.8-4.9
Macro Focus Range 3cm 5cm
Screen
Type Fixed type Tilting
Size 3" 3
Resolution 460k dots 1,229k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder None Electronic (optional)
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/2000s 1/2000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization Optical Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 4.50 m 15.00 m (ISO Auto (W))
Max Flash Sync n/a 1/2000s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 1.0 fps 10.0 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, AVCHD
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity None Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 175g 281g
Dimensions 98 x 58 x 27mm 102 x 58 x 38mm
Battery Life 210 shots 350 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording With Downloadable App
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score not tested 67
DxO Color Depth not tested 22.5
DxO Dynamic Range not tested 12.4
DxO Low Light ISO not tested 483
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