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Nikon S9100 vs Sony RX1 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 RX1

24 MP | Full frame (35.8 x 23.8 mm) CMOS Sensor

Sony RX1
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Nikon S9100 vs Sony RX1 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two Compact cameras from Nikon and Sony. Nikon S9100 was introduced to market in July 2011 and Sony RX1 was launched in February 2013. There is 19 months difference between S9100 and RX1 so we don't expect to see a huge technology difference between these two cameras but it would still give an advantage to younger RX1, especially in sensor tech.

Nikon S9100 has a 12.0MP 1/2.3-inch sensor whereas Sony RX1 has a 24.0MP Full frame sensor.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Nikon S9100 and Sony RX1 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 RX1 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2013-02-19
  • 24MP - Full frame CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 35 mm f2.00 Prime Lens
  • 3" Fixed Type Screen
  • 5 fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 482g. 113 x 65 x 70 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-RX1

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon S9100 and Sony RX1 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-RX1
Image Stabilization
Sensor-shift vs None Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Continuous Shooting
10.0fps vs 5.0fps 5 fps faster
Weight
214 g vs 482 g 268 g lighter
Focal Length - Wide
25mm vs 35mm 10 mm wider coverage
Focal Length - Tele
450mm vs 35mm 415 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
18× vs 1x more flexible focal coverage


Reasons to choose Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 over Nikon Coolpix S9100
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs No Better for flash photography
RAW Support
Yes vs No Better image quality
Max Sensor Resolution
24 MP vs 12 MP 100% more pixels
Max ISO
25.600 vs 3.200 700% higher Max ISO
Number of Focus Points
25 vs 9 16 more focus points
LCD Screen Resolution
1.229k dots vs 921k dots 33% higher resolution screen
Max Mech. Shutter
1/4000s vs 1/2000s faster mechanical shutter
Manual Exposure
Yes vs No better exposure control
Microphone Port
Yes vs No High quality audio recording option
Max Aperture - Wide
2.00 vs 3.50 faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele
2.00 vs 5.90 faster lens at tele
Flash Coverage
6.0m vs 4.0m 2m longer range
Sensor Pixel Area
35.50µm2 vs 2.34µm2 1417% larger pixel area
AE Bracketing
Yes vs No Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR

Common Strengths of Nikon Coolpix S9100 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
LCD Screen Resolution
921k dots vs 1.229k 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-RX1
Fixed Screen
Fixed Type vs No No flexible viewing angles
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
Nikon S9100 vs Sony RX1: 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 RX1 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 RX1 has external dimensions of 113 x 65 x 70 mm (4.45 x 2.56 x 2.76″) and weighs 482 g (1.06 lb / 17.00 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon S9100 and Sony RX1. Nikon S9100 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 8mm narrower, 3mm shorter and 35mm thinner than Sony RX1.

Nikon S9100 vs Sony RX1 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Nikon S9100 and Sony RX1 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon S9100 and Sony RX1.
Nikon S9100 vs Sony RX1 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Nikon S9100 and Sony RX1 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 (268g ) than the Sony RX1 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

S9100
RX1
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

S9100
RX1
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Nikon Coolpix S9100 nor Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 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 and Sony RX1's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 3".

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.
Nikon S9100 vs Sony RX1: 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 RX1 has a 24.0MP Full frame (35.8 x 23.8 mm ) sized CMOS sensor .

Sony RX1's sensor provides 12MP 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 RX1 sensor size comparison.

Nikon S9100 vs Sony RX1 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon S9100 and Sony RX1 Cameras


As seen above, Sony RX1 has a 30.4x 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 RX1 Lens Specs Comparison

Nikon S9100 features a 25-450 mm F3.5-5.9 18× zoom lens whereas Sony RX1 features a 35 mm F2.0-22.0 Prime lens.

It is not easy to compare a prime lens with a zoom lens. Nikon S9100's zoom lens provides a great flexibility compared to Sony RX1's 35mm fixed focal length lens. On the other hand, RX1's prime lens makes it a specialized camera. You compromise the flexibility of a zoom in order to enjoy the high image quality and unique rendering of this fast lens. On the tele end, Nikon S9100 has 415mm longer reach than the Sony RX1. However, with a max aperture of f2.00, Sony RX1 is faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

S9100
RX1
Widest - Ricoh WG-M1
Average
Telezoom

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

S9100
RX1
Longest - Canon SX520 HS
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

S9100
RX1
Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

S9100
RX1
Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
Average
What types of Photography are Nikon S9100 and Sony RX1 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon S9100 and Sony RX1 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 RX1 for Portrait Photography

GOOD
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
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.8 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Optional External Viewfinder
No Image Stabilization
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Nikon S9100 for Street Photography

GOOD

Sony RX1 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
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.8 mm) sensor
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.00
Optional External Viewfinder
No Image Stabilization
35 mm - Poor Wide Angle Coverage
Read the details

Nikon S9100 for Sports Photography

POOR

Sony RX1 for Sports Photography

AVERAGE
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
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
25 Focus Points
Good Low Light ISO
Optional External Viewfinder
Average Continuous Shooting: 5.0fps
No Image Stabilization
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Poor Battery Life: 270 shots
35 mm Tele Lens
Read the details

Nikon S9100 for Daily Photography

GOOD

Sony RX1 for Daily Photography

EXCELLENT
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 (35.8 x 23.8 mm) sensor
RAW shooting capability
Compact Body
482g
Body Thickness 70mm
Read the details

Nikon S9100 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Sony RX1 for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE
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
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.8 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
No Environmental Sealings
35 mm - Poor Wide Angle Coverage
Read the details

Nikon S9100 vs Sony RX1: 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 RX1, 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 RX1 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 RX1
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #9 out of 61 in Large sensor compact cameras
Ranked #173 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Sony RX1 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, Sony RX1 is the better camera overall.

Nikon S9100
Nikon S9100
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Sony RX1
Sony RX1
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Sony RX1 vs Nikon S9100 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon Coolpix S9100 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
Brand Nikon Sony
Announced 2011-07-19 2013-02-19
Body Type Compact Large sensor compact
Sensor
Type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Size 1/2.3-inch Full frame
Dimensions 6.17 x 4.55 mm 35.8 x 23.8 mm
Area 28.07mm2 852.04mm2
Megapixels 12 megapixels 24 megapixels
Max Resolution 4000 x 3000 6000 x 4000
Max Native Light sensitivity 3,200 ISO 25,600 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 25
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 25-450 mm (18×) 35 mm (1x)
Max Aperture F3.5-5.9 F2.0-22.0
Macro Focus Range 4cm n/a
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 3" 3"
Resolution 921k dots 1,229k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder None Electronic and Optical (optional)
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/2000s 1/4000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization Sensor-shift No
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 4.00 m 6.00 m
Max Flash Sync n/a 1/4000s
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, AVCHD
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity None Eye-Fi Connected
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 214g 482g
Dimensions 105 x 62 x 35mm 113 x 65 x 70mm
Battery Life 270 shots 270 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score not tested 93
DxO Color Depth not tested 25.1
DxO Dynamic Range not tested 14.3
DxO Low Light ISO not tested 2534
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