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Nikon S9100 vs Sony QX100 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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Sony QX100

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

Sony QX100
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Nikon S9100 vs Sony QX100 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two Compact cameras from Nikon and Sony. Nikon S9100 was introduced to market in July 2011 and Sony QX100 was launched in September 2013. As you can see, S9100 is 2 years older than QX100. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Nikon S9100 has a 12.0MP 1/2.3-inch sensor whereas Sony QX100 has a 20.0MP 1-inch sensor.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Nikon S9100 and Sony QX100 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

Sony QX100 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2013-09-05
  • 20MP - 1-inch BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 160 - 6400
  • 28-100 mm F1.8-4.9 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • Fixed Type Screen
  • Unknown continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 179g. 63 x 63 x 56 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 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX100

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon S9100 and Sony QX100 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Nikon Coolpix S9100 over Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX100
Built-in Flash
Yes vs No Useful in low-light
LCD Screen Size
3" vs 3 inches larger display
Battery Life
270 shots vs 200 shots 70 more frames with a single charge
Focal Length - Wide
25mm vs 28mm 3 mm wider coverage
Focal Length - Tele
450mm vs 100mm 350 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
18× vs 3.6x more flexible focal coverage


Reasons to choose Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX100 over Nikon Coolpix S9100
Wireless Connection
Built-In vs None Better connectivity
Touch Screen
Yes vs No Easy control of camera functions
Max Sensor Resolution
20 MP vs 12 MP 66% more pixels
Max ISO
6.400 vs 3.200 100% higher Max ISO
Weight
179 g vs 214 g 35 g lighter
Max Aperture - Wide
1.80 vs 3.50 faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele
4.90 vs 5.90 faster lens at tele
Sensor Pixel Area
5.82µm2 vs 2.34µm2 148% larger pixel area
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 S9100 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX100
Image Stabilization
Sensor-shift vs Optical Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
LCD Screen Resolution
921k dots vs 0k dots High resolution screens
Manual Focusing
Yes vs Yes both have manual focusing modes
Common Weaknesses of Nikon Coolpix S9100 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX100
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 Size
3" vs Small display
Manual Exposure
No vs No No manual exposure control
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
Nikon S9100 vs Sony QX100: 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 Sony QX100 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). Sony QX100 has external dimensions of 63 x 63 x 56 mm (2.46 x 2.46 x 2.19″) and weighs 179 g (0.39 lb / 6.31 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon S9100 and Sony QX100. Nikon S9100 is 1mm shorter and 21mm thinner than Sony QX100 but it is also 42mm wider.

Nikon S9100 vs Sony QX100 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Nikon S9100 and Sony QX100 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon S9100 and Sony QX100.
Nikon S9100 vs Sony QX100 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Nikon S9100 and Sony QX100 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Sony QX100 is significantly lighter (35g ) than the Nikon S9100 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

S9100
QX100
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

S9100
QX100
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Nikon Coolpix S9100 nor Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX100 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 S9100's 3" LCD screen is slightly larger than Sony QX100's screen.

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.
Nikon S9100 vs Sony QX100: 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, Sony QX100 has a 20.0MP 1-inch (13.2 x 8.8 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor .

Sony QX100'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 QX100 sensor size comparison.

Nikon S9100 vs Sony QX100 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon S9100 and Sony QX100 Cameras


As seen above, Sony QX100 has a 4.1x 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.

Nikon S9100 vs Sony QX100 Lens Specs Comparison

Nikon S9100 features a 25-450 mm F3.5-5.9 18× zoom lens whereas Sony QX100 features a 28-100 mm F1.8-4.9 3.6x zoom lens.

Nikon S9100 has 3mm wider coverage than the Sony QX100. On the other hand, with a max aperture of f1.80, Sony QX100 is faster at widest end. On the tele end, Nikon S9100 has 350mm longer reach than the Sony QX100. However, with a max aperture of f4.90, Sony QX100 is faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

S9100
QX100
Widest - Ricoh WG-M1
Average
Telezoom

Lens-style Cameras

S9100
QX100
Longest - Canon SX520 HS
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Lens-style Cameras

S9100
QX100
Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Lens-style Cameras

S9100
QX100
Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
Average
What types of Photography are Nikon S9100 and Sony QX100 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon S9100 and Sony QX100 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

Sony QX100 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
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Exposure Mode
Read the details

Nikon S9100 for Street Photography

GOOD

Sony QX100 for Street Photography

POOR
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
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fast Lens at Wide: f1.80
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details

Nikon S9100 for Sports Photography

POOR

Sony QX100 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
Wireless Connection
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Exposure Mode
Environmental Sealings
Unknown Focus Points
Poor Battery Life: 200 shots
100 mm Tele Lens
Read the details

Nikon S9100 for Daily Photography

GOOD

Sony QX100 for Daily Photography

POOR
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
179g
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Body Thickness 56mm
3.6X Optical Zoom
Read the details

Nikon S9100 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Sony QX100 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
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
Manual Focus Mode
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Exposure Mode
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Nikon S9100 vs Sony QX100: 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 Sony QX100, 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 Sony QX100 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
Sony QX100
This camera is not rated yet!

Nikon S9100
Nikon S9100
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Sony QX100
Sony QX100
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Sony QX100 vs Nikon S9100 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon Coolpix S9100 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX100
Brand Nikon Sony
Announced 2011-07-19 2013-09-05
Body Type Compact Lens-style
Sensor
Type BSI-CMOS BSI-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 12 megapixels 20 megapixels
Max Resolution 4000 x 3000 5472 x 3648
Max Native Light sensitivity 3,200 ISO 6,400 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 160 ISO 160 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×) 28-100 mm (3.6x)
Max Aperture F3.5-5.9 F1.8-4.9
Macro Focus Range 4cm 5cm
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 3"
Resolution 921k dots 0k 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 no built-in flash
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 10.0 fps n/a
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
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity None Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 214g 179g
Dimensions 105 x 62 x 35mm 63 x 63 x 56mm
Battery Life 270 shots 200 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
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