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Nikon S9100 vs Sony WX300 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 WX300

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

Sony WX300
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Nikon S9100 vs Sony WX300 Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing S9100 and WX300, two Small Sensor Superzoom cameras from Nikon and Sony. Both cameras have 1/2.3-inch sensors but Nikon S9100 has a 12.0 MP and Sony WX300 has a 18.0 MP resolution. Nikon S9100 was introduced to market in July 2011 and Sony WX300 was launched in February 2013. There is 19 months difference between S9100 and WX300 so we don't expect to see a huge technology difference between these two cameras but it would still give an advantage to younger WX300, especially in sensor tech.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Nikon S9100 and Sony WX300 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 WX300 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2013-02-20
  • 18MP - 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 25-500 mm F3.5-6.5 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3" Fixed Type Screen
  • 10 fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 166g. 96 x 55 x 25 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-WX300

Sony WX300 was replaced by Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX350. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX350 vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX300
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX350 vs Nikon Coolpix S9100

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon S9100 and Sony WX300 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-WX300
LCD Screen Resolution
921k dots vs 460k dots 100% higher resolution screen
Max Mech. Shutter
1/2000s vs 1/1600s faster mechanical shutter
Max Aperture - Tele
5.90 vs 6.50 faster lens at tele
Sensor Pixel Area
2.34µm2 vs 1.56µm2 49% larger pixel area


Reasons to choose Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX300 over Nikon Coolpix S9100
Wireless Connection
Built-In vs None Better connectivity
Max Sensor Resolution
18 MP vs 12 MP 50% more pixels
Weight
166 g vs 214 g 48 g lighter
Focal Length - Tele
500mm vs 450mm 50 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
20× vs 18× more flexible focal coverage

Common Strengths of Nikon Coolpix S9100 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX300
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
Continuous Shooting
10.0fps vs 10.0fps Fast shooting speeds
Focal Length - Tele
450mm vs 500mm Very good Telezoom
Common Weaknesses of Nikon Coolpix S9100 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX300
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
Manual Exposure
No vs No No manual exposure control
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
Max Aperture - Tele
5.90 vs 6.50 Slow lenses at tele
Nikon S9100 vs Sony WX300: 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 WX300 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 WX300 has external dimensions of 96 x 55 x 25 mm (3.78 x 2.16 x 0.98″) and weighs 166 g (0.37 lb / 5.86 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon S9100 and Sony WX300. Sony WX300 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 9mm narrower, 7mm shorter and 10mm thinner than Nikon S9100.

Nikon S9100 vs Sony WX300 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Nikon S9100 and Sony WX300 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon S9100 and Sony WX300.
Nikon S9100 vs Sony WX300 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Nikon S9100 and Sony WX300 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Sony WX300 is significantly lighter (48g ) than the Nikon S9100 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

S9100
WX300
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

S9100
WX300
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Nikon Coolpix S9100 nor Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX300 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 WX300'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 WX300: 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 WX300 has a 18.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor .

Sony WX300's sensor provides 6MP 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 WX300 sensor size comparison.

Nikon S9100 vs Sony WX300 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon S9100 and Sony WX300 Cameras


Nikon S9100 and Sony WX300 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 49% larger pixel area compared to Sony WX300, it has potential to collect more light on pixel level hence have less noise in low light / High ISO images.

Nikon S9100 vs Sony WX300 Lens Specs Comparison

Nikon S9100 features a 25-450 mm F3.5-5.9 18× zoom lens whereas Sony WX300 features a 25-500 mm F3.5-6.5 20× zoom lens.

Both cameras have a wide angle coverage of 25mm and have the same max aperture of f3.50 at this focal length. On the tele end, Sony WX300 has 50mm longer telezoom reach than the Nikon S9100. However, with a max aperture of f5.90, Nikon S9100 is faster at widest end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

S9100
WX300
Widest - Ricoh WG-M1
Average
Telezoom

Compact Cameras

S9100
WX300
Longest - Canon SX520 HS
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

S9100
WX300
Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

S9100
WX300
Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
Average
What types of Photography are Nikon S9100 and Sony WX300 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon S9100 and Sony WX300 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 WX300 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
Very High Resolution Sensor: 18.0MP
Image Stabilization
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 Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Nikon S9100 for Street Photography

GOOD

Sony WX300 for Street Photography

AVERAGE
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
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
No Manual Focus Mode
Read the details

Nikon S9100 for Sports Photography

POOR

Sony WX300 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
Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
Wireless Connection
500 mm Tele Lens
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Slow Max shutter speed: 1/1600s
Unknown Focus Points
Slow Lens at Tele: f6.50
Read the details

Nikon S9100 for Daily Photography

GOOD

Sony WX300 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
166g
20.0X 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

Sony WX300 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: 18.0MP
25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Nikon S9100 vs Sony WX300: 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 WX300, 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 WX300 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 WX300
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #270 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #881 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Nikon S9100 has a higher Overall Score than the Sony WX300 and would be our choice if we have to decide between these two cameras.

Nikon S9100
Nikon S9100
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Sony WX300
Sony WX300
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Sony WX300 vs Nikon S9100 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon Coolpix S9100 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX300
Brand Nikon Sony
Announced 2011-07-19 2013-02-20
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 18 megapixels
Max Resolution 4000 x 3000 4896 x 3672
Max Native Light sensitivity 3,200 ISO 3,200 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 160 ISO 80 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×) 25-500 mm (20×)
Max Aperture F3.5-5.9 F3.5-6.5
Macro Focus Range 4cm n/a
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 3" 3"
Resolution 921k dots 460k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder None None
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/2000s 1/1600s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization Sensor-shift Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 4.00 m 4.30 m
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 10.0 fps 10.0 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 AVCHD
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity None Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 214g 166g
Dimensions 105 x 62 x 35mm 96 x 55 x 25mm
Battery Life 270 shots n/a
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
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