Nikon S9100 vs Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 Comparison

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Nikon S9100

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

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Samsung Galaxy Camera 2

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

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Nikon S9100 vs Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing S9100 and Galaxy Camera 2, two Small Sensor Superzoom cameras from Nikon and Samsung. Both cameras have 1/2.3-inch sensors but Nikon S9100 has a 12.0 MP and Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 has a 16.0 MP resolution. Nikon S9100 was introduced to market in July 2011 and Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 was launched in January 2014. As you can see, S9100 is 3 years older than Galaxy Camera 2. 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 S9100 and Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 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" Fixed Type Screen

10 fps continuous shooting

Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution

240fps High-Speed Video

214g. 105 x 62 x 35 mm

Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2014-01-02

16MP - 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS Sensor

ISO 100 - 3200

23-483 mm F2.8-5.9 Zoom Lens

Optical Image Stabilization

4.8" Fixed Type Screen

5fps continuous shooting

Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution

120fps High-Speed Video

Built-in Wireless

Built-in GPS

283g. 133 x 71 x 19 mm

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 Samsung Galaxy Camera 2

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon S9100 and Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Nikon Coolpix S9100 over Samsung Galaxy Camera 2

Continuous Shooting	10.0fps vs 5.0fps	5 fps faster
Weight	214 g vs 283 g	69 g lighter
Flash Coverage	4.0m vs 3.8m	0.2m longer range
Sensor Pixel Area	2.34µm² vs 1.76µm²	32% larger pixel area

Reasons to choose Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 over Nikon Coolpix S9100

Wireless Connection	Built-In vs None	Better connectivity
Touch Screen	Yes vs No	Easy control of camera functions
GPS	BuiltIn vs None	track your location
Max Sensor Resolution	16 MP vs 12 MP	33% more pixels
LCD Screen Size	4.8" vs 3"	1.8 inches larger display
LCD Screen Resolution	1.037k dots vs 921k dots	12% higher resolution screen
Battery Life	400 shots vs 270 shots	130 more frames with a single charge
Manual Exposure	Yes vs No	better exposure control
Microphone Port	Yes vs No	High quality audio recording option
Focal Length - Wide	23mm vs 25mm	2 mm wider coverage
Focal Length - Tele	483mm vs 450mm	33 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom	21× vs 18×	more flexible focal coverage
Max Aperture - Wide	2.80 vs 3.50	faster lens at wide
NFC Connection	Yes vs No	Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices
Bluetooth	Yes vs No	Connect your camera to other devices via Blueetooth

Common Strengths of Nikon Coolpix S9100 and Samsung Galaxy Camera 2

Image Stabilization	Sensor-shift 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
LCD Screen Size	3" vs 4.8"	Large display
LCD Screen Resolution	921k dots vs 1.037k dots	High resolution screens
Manual Focusing	Yes vs Yes	both have manual focusing modes
Focal Length - Tele	450mm vs 483mm	Very good Telezoom

Common Weaknesses of Nikon Coolpix S9100 and Samsung Galaxy Camera 2

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
Environmental Sealing	No vs No	not suitable for tough conditions
Max Aperture - Tele	5.90 vs 5.90	Slow lenses at tele

Nikon S9100 vs Samsung Galaxy Camera 2: 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 Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 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). Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 has external dimensions of 133 x 71 x 19 mm (5.24 x 2.8 x 0.75″) and weighs 283 g (0.62 lb / 9.98 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon S9100 and Samsung Galaxy Camera 2. Nikon S9100 is 28mm narrower and 9mm shorter than Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 but it is also 16mm thicker.

Comparison image of Nikon S9100 and Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Nikon S9100 and Samsung Galaxy Camera 2.

Comparison image of Nikon S9100 and Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon S9100 and Samsung Galaxy Camera 2.

Top View Comparison image of Nikon S9100 and Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 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 (69g ) than the Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

S9100

Galaxy Camera 2

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

S9100

Galaxy Camera 2

Min

Average

Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Nikon Coolpix S9100 nor Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 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

Samsung Galaxy Camera 2's 4.8" LCD screen is slightly larger than Nikon S9100's 3" screen.

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

Nikon S9100 vs Samsung Galaxy Camera 2: 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, Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 has a 16.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features 1.6GHz Quad-Core Exynos processor.

Below you can see the S9100 and Galaxy Camera 2 sensor size comparison.

Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon S9100 and Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 Cameras

Nikon S9100 and Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 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 S9100 has 32% larger pixel area compared to Samsung Galaxy Camera 2, it has potential to collect more light on pixel level hence have less noise in low light / High ISO images.

Nikon S9100 vs Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 Lens Specs Comparison

Nikon S9100 features a 25-450 mm F3.5-5.9 18× zoom lens whereas Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 features a 23-483 mm F2.8-5.9 21× zoom lens.

Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 has 2mm wider coverage than the Nikon S9100. At f2.80, it is also faster at widest end. On the tele end, Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 has 33mm longer reach than the Nikon S9100. Both cameras has a max aperture of f5.90 at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

S9100

Galaxy Camera 2

Widest - Ricoh WG-M1

Average

Telezoom

Compact Cameras

S9100

Galaxy Camera 2

Longest - Canon SX520 HS

Average

Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

S9100

Galaxy Camera 2

Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV

Average

Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

S9100

Galaxy Camera 2

Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6

Average

What types of Photography are Nikon S9100 and Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 Good for?

In this section, we rank and compare Nikon S9100 and Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 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

Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 for Portrait Photography

POOR

Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
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

Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure 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
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Nikon S9100 for Street Photography

GOOD

Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 for Street Photography

GOOD

Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
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

Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.80
23 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 S9100 for Sports Photography

POOR

Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 for Sports Photography

POOR

Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
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

Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Wireless Connection
483 mm Tele Lens
Average Continuous Shooting: 5.0fps
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Unknown Focus Points
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.90
Read the details

Nikon S9100 for Daily Photography

GOOD

Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 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

Compact Body
283g
Body Thickness 19mm
21.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details

Nikon S9100 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Manual Focus Mode
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

Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Built-in GPS
23 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 Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Nikon S9100 vs Samsung Galaxy Camera 2: 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 Samsung Galaxy Camera 2, 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 S9100 and Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 scores compare:

Nikon S9100

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #174 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #727 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Samsung Galaxy Camera 2

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #39 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #434 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 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, Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 is the better camera overall.

Nikon S9100

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Samsung Galaxy Camera 2

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Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 vs Nikon S9100 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Nikon Coolpix S9100	Samsung Galaxy Camera 2
Brand	Nikon	Samsung
Announced	2011-07-19	2014-01-02
Body Type	Compact	Compact
Sensor
Type	BSI-CMOS	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	16 megapixels
Max Resolution	4000 x 3000	4608 x 3456
Max Native Light sensitivity	3,200 ISO	3,200 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity	160 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	25-450 mm (18×)	23-483 mm (21×)
Max Aperture	F3.5-5.9	F2.8-5.9
Macro Focus Range	4cm	10cm
Screen
Type	Fixed type	Fixed type
Size	3"	4.8"
Resolution	921k dots	1,037k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	None	None
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter	1/2000s	1/2000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization	Sensor-shift	Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	4.00 m	3.80 m
External Flash
Continuous Shooting	10.0 fps	5.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution	1920 x 1080	1920 x 1080
Video Formats	MPEG-4, H.264	MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	None	Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight	214g	283g
Dimensions	105 x 62 x 35mm	133 x 71 x 19mm
Battery Life	270 shots	400 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None	Built-in
DxO Sensor Scores
	Report a correction	Report a correction