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Nikon B500 vs Panasonic ZS1

Portability
68
Imaging
41
Features
50
Overall
44
Nikon Coolpix B500 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 front
Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
25
Overall
29

Nikon B500 vs Panasonic ZS1 Key Specs

Nikon B500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 23-900mm (F3.0-6.5) lens
  • 541g - 114 x 78 x 95mm
  • Released February 2016
Panasonic ZS1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 229g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Announced May 2009
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ6
Photography Glossary

Nikon B500 vs Panasonic ZS1 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Nikon B500 vs Panasonic ZS1, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by rivals Nikon and Panasonic. There is a considerable difference between the resolutions of the B500 (16MP) and ZS1 (10MP) and the B500 (1/2.3") and ZS1 (1/2.5") offer totally different sensor sizing.

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The B500 was released 6 years after the ZS1 which is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Nikon B500 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic ZS1 being a Compact camera.

Before we go right into a complete comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the B500 grades against the ZS1 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon B500 over the Panasonic ZS1

 B500 ZS1 
AnnouncedFebruary 2016May 2009Newer by 83 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kCrisper display (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS1 over the Nikon B500

 ZS1 B500 

Common features in the Nikon B500 and Panasonic ZS1

 B500 ZS1 
Focus manually No manual focus
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch display Neither offers Touch display

Nikon B500 vs Panasonic ZS1 Physical Comparison

If you're going to travel with your camera frequently, you will need to factor its weight and measurements. The Nikon B500 offers outer dimensions of 114mm x 78mm x 95mm (4.5" x 3.1" x 3.7") and a weight of 541 grams (1.19 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS1 has proportions of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).

Compare the Nikon B500 vs Panasonic ZS1 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you select during that time. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the B500 against the ZS1.

Nikon B500 vs Panasonic ZS1 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the B500 and ZS1 is 68 and 91 respectively.

Nikon B500 vs Panasonic ZS1 top view buttons comparison

Nikon B500 vs Panasonic ZS1 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be tough to visualise the contrast between sensor dimensions purely by going over technical specs. The pic below will give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the B500 and ZS1.

As you can tell, each of these cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The B500 featuring a larger sensor will make shooting shallower DOF simpler and the Nikon B500 will deliver extra detail as a result of its extra 6MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop pics more aggressively. The more modern B500 is going to have an edge in sensor tech.

Nikon B500 vs Panasonic ZS1 sensor size comparison

Nikon B500 vs Panasonic ZS1 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon B500 vs Panasonic ZS1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon B500 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS1 as a Portrait photography camera
37
good megapixels (16MP)
comes with face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
25
offers face detection focus
lack of manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.5")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Nikon B500 Street photography features
Panasonic ZS1 Street photography features
52
tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
heavier than competition (541g)
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (229g)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.5")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Nikon B500 Sports photography features
Panasonic ZS1 Sports photography features
51
excellent zoom range (23-900mm 39.1 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
great battery life (600 per charge)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
24
image stabilization (Optical)
max fps very slow (3.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.5")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon B500 Travel photography factors
Panasonic ZS1 Travel photography factors
59
great battery life (600 per charge)
supports bluetooth
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (23mm)
great reach (900mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition (541g)
does not offer selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.0)
63
lighter than others (229 grams)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
very long reach (300mm)
no Time Lapse recording
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon B500 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZS1 as a Landscape photography camera
45
quite wide (23mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
great battery life (600 CIPA)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
31
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7")
no manual control
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.5")
does not have RAW format
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon B500 Vlogging advice
Panasonic ZS1 Vlogging advice
27
quite wide (23mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
does not offer selfie friendly display
doesn't have mic socket
heavier than competition (541g)
31
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focus
lighter than others (229 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (640 x 480 pxls)
no external mic socket
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Nikon B500 vs Panasonic ZS1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon B500 and Panasonic ZS1
 Nikon Coolpix B500Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1
General Information
Make Nikon Panasonic
Model type Nikon Coolpix B500 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1
Other name - Lumix DMC-TZ6
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2016-02-23 2009-05-14
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.5"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 5.744 x 4.308mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 24.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 11
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 23-900mm (39.1x) 25-300mm (12.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.5 f/3.3-4.9
Macro focusing range 1cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 6.3
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 921k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 1 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 7.4 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.90 m (at Auto ISO) 5.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash settings - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p) 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 541 grams (1.19 pounds) 229 grams (0.50 pounds)
Physical dimensions 114 x 78 x 95mm (4.5" x 3.1" x 3.7") 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 600 pictures -
Style of battery AA -
Battery ID 4 x AA -
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $300 $0