Clicky

Nikon L120 vs Panasonic ZS1

Portability
75
Imaging
37
Features
38
Overall
37
Nikon Coolpix L120 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 front
Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
25
Overall
29

Nikon L120 vs Panasonic ZS1 Key Specs

Nikon L120
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-525mm (F3.1-5.8) lens
  • 431g - 110 x 77 x 78mm
  • Released February 2011
  • Replaced the Nikon L110
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
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Nikon L120 vs Panasonic ZS1 Overview

Lets take a more detailed look at the Nikon L120 and Panasonic ZS1, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by brands Nikon and Panasonic. There exists a substantial gap among the sensor resolutions of the L120 (14MP) and ZS1 (10MP) and the L120 (1/2.3") and ZS1 (1/2.5") have different sensor dimensions.

Cutting-edge AI developed by Apple deciphers subtle nuances in pixels

The L120 was revealed 22 months after the ZS1 making them a generation away from one another. Both cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going straight to a complete comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the L120 matches up vs the ZS1 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards
	
	

Reasons to pick Nikon L120 over the Panasonic ZS1

 L120 ZS1 
AnnouncedFebruary 2011May 2009More modern by 22 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS1 over the Nikon L120

 ZS1 L120 

Common features in the Nikon L120 and Panasonic ZS1

 L120 ZS1 
Manual focus Lack of manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch display Neither contains Touch display

Nikon L120 vs Panasonic ZS1 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry around your camera often, you're going to have to factor its weight and proportions. The Nikon L120 has got physical measurements of 110mm x 77mm x 78mm (4.3" x 3.0" x 3.1") having a weight of 431 grams (0.95 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS1 has measurements of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).

Check out the Nikon L120 and Panasonic ZS1 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the L120 vs the ZS1.

Nikon L120 vs Panasonic ZS1 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the L120 and ZS1 is 75 and 91 respectively.

Nikon L120 vs Panasonic ZS1 top view buttons comparison

Nikon L120 vs Panasonic ZS1 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is difficult to visualize the difference in sensor sizes merely by looking through technical specs. The pic below will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the L120 and ZS1.

As you have seen, each of these cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The L120 with its larger sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF simpler and the Nikon L120 will render greater detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The more recent L120 should have an advantage in sensor technology.

Nikon L120 vs Panasonic ZS1 sensor size comparison

Nikon L120 vs Panasonic ZS1 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon L120 vs Panasonic ZS1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon L120 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic ZS1 Portrait photography highlights
33
good MP (14MP)
has face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
25
supports face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
MP count low (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW support
Body cameras now worn by bakery staff to deter stealing

Street Comparison

Nikon L120 Street photography highlights
Panasonic ZS1 Street photography highlights
48
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (229 grams)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW support
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Sports Comparison

Nikon L120 Sports photography features
Panasonic ZS1 Sports photography features
43
long zoom range (25-525mm 21.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
24
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
MP count low (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.5")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Nikon L120 Travel photography advice
Panasonic ZS1 Travel photography advice
60
good MP (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
very long reach (525mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
63
lighter than competition (229 grams)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
very long reach (300mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
MP count low (10MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Landscape Comparison

Nikon L120 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic ZS1 Landscape photography advice
40
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual exposure
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
31
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inch)
manual mode not available
MP count low (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW support
does not have Time Lapse function
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Vlogging Comparison

Nikon L120 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS1 as a Vlogging camera
27
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection focusing
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external mic socket
31
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect autofocus
lighter than competition (229 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (640 x 480 resolution)
does not have mic socket
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Nikon L120 vs Panasonic ZS1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon L120 and Panasonic ZS1
 Nikon Coolpix L120Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1
General Information
Make Nikon Panasonic
Model type Nikon Coolpix L120 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-TZ6
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2011-02-09 2009-05-14
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Expeed C2 -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.5"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 5.744 x 4.308mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 24.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4320 x 3240 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 9 11
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-525mm (21.0x) 25-300mm (12.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.1-5.8 f/3.3-4.9
Macro focusing range 1cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 6.3
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 921k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology TFT LCD with Anti-reflection coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.00 m 5.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720p (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps) 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None 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 431 grams (0.95 pounds) 229 grams (0.50 pounds)
Physical dimensions 110 x 77 x 78mm (4.3" x 3.0" x 3.1") 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 330 shots -
Battery type AA -
Battery ID 4 x AA -
Self timer Yes (10 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing $300 $0