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Nikon B500 vs Panasonic ZS20

Portability
68
Imaging
41
Features
50
Overall
44
Nikon Coolpix B500 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
46
Overall
41

Nikon B500 vs Panasonic ZS20 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 ZS20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 206g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Released April 2012
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ30
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic ZS15
  • Updated by Panasonic ZS25
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Nikon B500 vs Panasonic ZS20 Overview

Below is a complete comparison of the Nikon B500 vs Panasonic ZS20, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by manufacturers Nikon and Panasonic. The image resolution of the B500 (16MP) and the ZS20 (14MP) is pretty well matched and they enjoy the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The B500 was revealed 3 years later than the ZS20 and that is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Nikon B500 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic ZS20 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise summary of how the B500 scores against the ZS20 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon B500 over the Panasonic ZS20

 B500 ZS20 
ReleasedFebruary 2016April 2012More recent by 47 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k460kClearer screen (+461k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Nikon B500

 ZS20 B500 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Nikon B500 and Panasonic ZS20

 B500 ZS20 
Manually focus Lack of manual focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Nikon B500 vs Panasonic ZS20 Physical Comparison

If you're going to lug around your camera frequently, you will have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Nikon B500 enjoys external dimensions of 114mm x 78mm x 95mm (4.5" x 3.1" x 3.7") and a weight of 541 grams (1.19 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS20 has dimensions of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs).

Analyze the Nikon B500 vs Panasonic ZS20 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are working with at the time. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the B500 compared to the ZS20.

Nikon B500 vs Panasonic ZS20 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the B500 and ZS20 is 68 and 92 respectively.

Nikon B500 vs Panasonic ZS20 top view buttons comparison

Nikon B500 vs Panasonic ZS20 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's difficult to visualize the difference between sensor measurements simply by reading through a spec sheet. The photograph here might give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the B500 and ZS20.

Clearly, the two cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different resolution. You can expect the Nikon B500 to resolve more detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop shots a little more aggressively. The more modern B500 should have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Nikon B500 vs Panasonic ZS20 sensor size comparison

Nikon B500 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon B500 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon B500 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS20 as a Portrait photography camera
37
resolution is good (16MP)
provides face detection focus
manual focus not available
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
30
good MP (14MP)
lack of manual focus
can't use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Nikon B500 Street photography details
Panasonic ZS20 Street photography details
52
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
more heavy than competitors (541 grams)
65
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers focus by touch
lighter than competitors in class (206 grams)
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon B500
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS20
51
great zoom range (23-900mm 39.1 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
better than average battery (600 CIPA)
no shutter priority
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
47
amazing zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14MP)
comes with tracking focus
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery (260 per charge)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon B500 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS20 as a Travel photography camera
59
better than average battery (600 per charge)
supports bluetooth
resolution is good (16MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (23mm)
very long zoom (900mm)
missing Timelapse recording
more heavy than competitors (541g)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
68
lighter than competitors in class (206g)
offers focus by touch
good MP (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
very long reach (480mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
low battery (260 shots)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon B500
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS20
45
fairly wide (23mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
better than average battery (600 CIPA)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
missing Timelapse recording
42
relatively wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
low battery (260 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon B500
Vlogging with Panasonic ZS20
27
fairly wide (23mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
missing external microphone support
more heavy than competitors (541g)
34
relatively wide (24mm)
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors in class (206 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
doesn't have mic socket
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Nikon B500 vs Panasonic ZS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon B500 and Panasonic ZS20
 Nikon Coolpix B500Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
General Information
Make Nikon Panasonic
Model type Nikon Coolpix B500 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
Also called - Lumix DMC-TZ30
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2016-02-23 2012-04-26
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 23
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 23-900mm (39.1x) 24-480mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.5 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing distance 1cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 921k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 1s 15s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 7.4 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.90 m (at Auto ISO) 6.40 m
Flash modes - Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 541 gr (1.19 lb) 206 gr (0.45 lb)
Dimensions 114 x 78 x 95mm (4.5" x 3.1" x 3.7") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
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 photographs 260 photographs
Type of battery AA Battery Pack
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/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail cost $300 $349