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Nikon S9100 vs Canon 6D Comparison

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Nikon S9100

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

Nikon S9100
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Canon 6D

20 MP | Full frame (36 x 24 mm) CMOS Sensor

Canon 6D
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Nikon S9100 vs Canon 6D Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two cameras with different body types: Nikon S9100, which was introduced in July 2011 is a Small Sensor Superzoom camera with a 12.0MP 1/2.3-inch sensor whereas Canon 6D, which was introduced in February 2013 is a Advanced DSLR camera with a 20.0MP Full frame sensor. There is 19 months difference between S9100 and 6D so we don't expect to see a huge technology difference between these two cameras but it would still give an advantage to younger 6D, especially in sensor tech.

Comparing a DSLR camera to a Fixed Lens camera is not an easy task but we will do our best to make this a fair comparison.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Nikon S9100 and Canon 6D before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Nikon S9100 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2011-07-19
  • 12MP - 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 160 - 3200
  • 25-450 mm F3.5-5.9 Zoom Lens
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
  • 10.0fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 240fps High-Speed Video
  • 214g. 105 x 62 x 35 mm

Canon 6D Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2013-02-12
  • 20MP - Full frame CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 25600 ( expands to 50 - 102400)
  • Canon EF Mount
  • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
  • Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder
  • 4.5fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • Built-in GPS
  • 770g. 145 x 111 x 71 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body

Nikon S9100 was replaced by Nikon Coolpix S9300. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Nikon Coolpix S9300 vs Nikon Coolpix S9100
Nikon Coolpix S9300 vs Canon EOS 6D

Canon 6D was replaced by Canon EOS 6D Mark II. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Canon EOS 6D Mark II vs Canon EOS 6D
Canon EOS 6D Mark II vs Nikon Coolpix S9100

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon S9100 and Canon 6D compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


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Reasons to choose Nikon Coolpix S9100 over Canon EOS 6D
In-built Image Stabilization
Sensor-shift vs None Sharper images at longer focal lengths and slow shutter speeds
Built-in Flash
Yes vs No Useful in low-light
Internal Storage
71 MB vs None Extra built-in storage
Continuous Shooting
10.0fps vs 4.5fps 5.5 fps faster
Weight
214 g vs 770 g 556 g lighter
CHECK S9100 PRICE


Reasons to choose Canon EOS 6D over Nikon Coolpix S9100
Wireless Connection
Built-In vs None Better connectivity
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs No Better for flash photography
Viewfinder
Optical vs None Better framing and control
GPS
BuiltIn vs None track your location
RAW Support
Yes vs No Better image quality
Sensor Resolution
20 MP vs 12 MP 66% more pixels
Max ISO
25.600 vs 3.200 700% higher Max ISO
Number of Focus Points
11 vs 9 2 more focus points
LCD Resolution
1.040k dots vs 921k dots 12% higher resolution screen
Max Mech. Shutter
1/4000s vs 1/2000s faster mechanical shutter
Battery Life
1090 shots vs 270 shots 820 more frames with a single charge
Manual Exposure
Yes vs No better exposure control
Microphone Port
Yes vs No High quality audio recording option
Environmental Sealing
Yes vs No shoot at tough conditions
Sensor Pixel Area
43.29µm2 vs 2.34µm2 1750% larger pixel area
Top LCD
Yes vs No Help viewing and changing settings easily
AE Bracketing
Yes vs No Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Smartphone Remote
Yes vs No Remote control your camera with a smartphone
CHECK 6D PRICE

Common Strengths of Nikon Coolpix S9100 and Canon EOS 6D
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
LCD Screen Resolution
921k dots vs 1.040k dots High resolution screens
Common Weaknesses of Nikon Coolpix S9100 and Canon EOS 6D
Fixed Screen
Fixed Type vs No Screen tilts or Flips out independently, perfect for both stills and video
Nikon S9100 vs Canon 6D: 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 S9100 and Canon 6D side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Nikon S9100 has external dimensions of 105 x 62 x 35 mm (4.13 x 2.44 x 1.38″) and weighs 214 g (0.47 lb / 7.55 oz) (including batteries). Canon 6D has external dimensions of 145 x 111 x 71 mm (5.71 x 4.37 x 2.8″) and weighs 770 g (1.70 lb / 27.16 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon S9100 and Canon 6D. Nikon S9100 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 40mm narrower, 49mm shorter and 36mm thinner than Canon 6D. As you can tell, actually this is not a fair size comparison since Nikon S9100 has a built-in lens but Canon 6D doesn't. Once you put a lens on 6D, its thickness will increase significantly.

Nikon S9100 vs Canon 6D Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Nikon S9100 and Canon 6D Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Nikon S9100 and Canon 6D.

Nikon S9100 vs Canon 6D Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Nikon S9100 and Canon 6D Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon S9100 and Canon 6D.
Nikon S9100 vs Canon 6D Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Nikon S9100 and Canon 6D Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Nikon S9100 is significantly lighter (556g ) than the Canon 6D which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Again, this comparison may not be very useful in real life as we are comparing the weight of a camera with a built-in lens to the body-only weight of an interchangeable lens camera. Once you put a lens on 6D, the total kit will weigh much higher.

Weather Sealing

Thanks to the weather sealed body of 6D, you can use this camera with more confidence under conditions where there is risk of exposure to water and dust compared to S9100.

LCD Screen Size and Features

Nikon S9100 and Canon 6D's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 3.00".

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.
Nikon S9100 vs Canon 6D: Sensor Comparison

Nikon S9100 has a 12.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features Expeed C2 processor. On the other hand, Canon 6D has a 20.0MP Full frame (36 x 24 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Digic 5+ processor.

Canon 6D's sensor provides 8MP more than Nikon S9100'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 S9100 and 6D sensor size comparison.

Nikon S9100 vs Canon 6D Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon S9100 and Canon 6D Cameras


As seen above, Canon 6D has a 30.8x Larger sensor area than Nikon S9100. 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.

What types of Photography are Nikon S9100 and Canon 6D Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon S9100 and Canon 6D 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 S9100 for Portrait Photography

POOR

Canon 6D for Portrait Photography

GOOD
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 Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Nikon S9100 for Street Photography

GOOD

Canon 6D for Street Photography

GOOD
Image Stabilization
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
25 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
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
No Image Stabilization
Large Body
Read the details

Nikon S9100 for Sports Photography

POOR

Canon 6D for Sports Photography

GOOD
Image Stabilization
Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
450 mm Tele Lens
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
9 Focus Points
Poor Battery Life: 270 shots
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.90
Read the details
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
1 Cross Type Focus sensors
11 Focus Points
Good Battery Life: 1090 shots
Good Low Light ISO
Wireless Connection
Average Continuous Shooting: 4.5fps
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Nikon S9100 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Canon 6D for Daily Photography

GOOD
Compact Body
214g
18.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Large Body
770g
Body Thickness 71mm
Read the details

Nikon S9100 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Canon 6D for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE
25 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 Exposure Mode
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Built-in GPS
Read the details

Nikon S9100 vs Canon 6D: 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 S9100 and Canon 6D, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 69 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 S9100 and Canon 6D scores compare:

Nikon S9100
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #175 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #773 out of 1257 in all Cameras
Canon 6D
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #38 out of 95 in Mid-size SLR cameras
Ranked #212 out of 1257 in all Cameras

Canon 6D is the overall winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Nikon S9100 in all criteria except one: Portability.
If small size and light body is a big priority for you, choose Nikon S9100. Otherwise, Canon 6D is the better camera overall.

Nikon S9100
Nikon S9100
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Canon 6D
Canon 6D
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Canon 6D vs Nikon S9100 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon Coolpix S9100 Canon EOS 6D
Brand Nikon Canon
Announced 2011-07-19 2013-02-12
Body Type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor
Type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Size 1/2.3-inch Full frame
Dimensions 6.17 x 4.55 mm 36 x 24 mm
Area 28.07mm2 864.00mm2
Megapixels 12 megapixels 20 megapixels
Max Resolution 4000 x 3000 5472 x 3648
Max Native Light sensitivity 3,200 ISO 25,600 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity - 102400 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 160 ISO 100 ISO
Min Boosted Light Sensitivity - 50 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 11
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens Canon EF
Lens Focal Range 25-450 mm (18×) no lens
Max Aperture F3.5-5.9 no lens
Macro Focus Range 4cm no lens
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 3.00" 3.00"
Resolution 921k dots 1,040k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder Coverage n/a 97%
Viewfinder Magnification n/a 0.71x
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/2000s 1/4000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization Sensor-shift No
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 4.00 m no built-in flash
Max Flash Sync n/a 1/180s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 10.0 fps 4.5 fps
Multi-Segment Metering
Average Metering
Spot Metering
Partial Metering
AF-Area Metering
Center Weighted Metering
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080
Video Formats MPEG-4, H.264 H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity None Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 214g 770g
Dimensions 105 x 62 x 35mm 145 x 111 x 71mm
Battery Life 270 shots 1090 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None Built-in
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score not tested 82
DxO Color Depth not tested 23.8
DxO Dynamic Range not tested 12.1
DxO Low Light ISO not tested 2340
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