Nikon P310 vs Panasonic ZS1: A Compact Camera Showdown for the Enthusiast

In the realm of small-sensor compacts, there’s a certain charm that no more expensive gear can quite replicate. These cameras live in the sweet spot: more capable than a smartphone but less bulky and intimidating than DSLRs or mirrorless systems. Today I’m diving deep into two such contenders from the turn of the last decade - the Nikon Coolpix P310 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 (also known as the TZ6). Both were designed for enthusiasts craving lightweight versatility, yet each approaches the challenge differently.

Having spent weeks battling both cameras through various scenarios - from intimate portraits to wild landscapes - I’m ready to walk you through how they stack up. Expect down-to-earth evaluations peppered with the kind of technical details and practical insights that only years of camera testing can reveal.

Getting Hands-On: Size, Feel & Control Layout

Before rattling off specs, I always recommend holding a camera yourself because it’s here first impressions count and can shape your shooting experience. In this size category, even millimeters matter.

Both cameras sport compact, pocket-friendly bodies, but subtle differences in dimensions and ergonomics make impacts. The Nikon P310 hugs a 103 x 58 x 32 mm frame and weighs a feather-light 194 grams - a delight for extended carry during travel or urban rambles. The Panasonic ZS1 is roughly the same width and height but a hair chunkier at 33 mm thick and a slightly heavier 229 grams due to its superzoom lens.

If you prefer a slimmer, less cumbersome pocket companion, the P310 nudges ahead. However, grip comfort also depends on the button layout and body contours.

Now let’s peek at the command center - buttons, dials, and control placement.

The Nikon P310 flaunts a classy, minimalist top plate with a traditional mode dial that includes aperture priority, shutter priority, manual exposure - welcome treats for aficionados who want creative control in a compact. The shutter button and zoom lever are ergonomically placed, allowing quick one-handed operation.

Conversely, the Panasonic ZS1’s top deck is simpler and more minimalistic, favoring auto-centric shooting modes with fewer manual options. It lacks dedicated exposure mode dials, which may disappoint those who cherish on-the-fly adjustments mid-shoot.

If you’re addicted to tactile dials and want direct access to manual modes, Nikon’s P310 delivers. Panasonic’s ZS1 feels more like a point-and-shoot tuned for casual users craving reach over controls.

Sensor Size and Image Quality - The Heart of the Matter

At the end of the day, image quality defines how long you’ll cherish your shots and how big you can print or crop. Let’s break down the sensor technology and general output expectations.

Here’s what we’re dealing with: The Nikon P310 packs a 1/2.3" backside-illuminated CMOS sensor measuring roughly 6.17 x 4.55 mm with a resolution of 16 megapixels - quite respectable for a compact of its vintage. The BSI architecture aids in capturing more light on the sensor’s surface compared to traditional CMOS sensors, translating to better low-light performance and less noise.

Panasonic’s ZS1 features a 1/2.5" CCD sensor, slightly smaller at 5.74 x 4.31 mm with only 10 megapixels resolution. CCDs were once the champions of image quality due to excellent color rendition but tend to lag behind CMOS in low light and power efficiency. The ZS1’s sensor age shows here.

In practical shooting tests, the Nikon P310’s images exhibit richer detail and noticeably cleaner images at higher ISOs (native up to ISO 3200), whereas the ZS1's shots start showing grain and reduced sharpness beyond ISO 400. For outdoor daylight shots, both deliver pleasing results, but the P310 pulls ahead in dynamic range and fine detail retention.

This difference becomes especially obvious in challenging lighting like shadowy interiors or twilight landscapes, where Nikon’s sensor technology makes your life easier. However, be mindful that the P310 lacks RAW support, which pros might find limiting when extracting subtle tonal gradations in post.

Display and User Interface: Seeing is Believing

A big part of shooting experience is your interaction with the camera’s screen. Both cameras sport fixed screens with no touch capability, but their quality and usability differ.

The Nikon P310 boasts a 3-inch, 921k-dot TFT LCD with anti-reflective coating, translating into sharp, vivid previews with decent visibility in bright sunlight. The Panasonic's ZS1 settles for a smaller 2.7-inch, 230k-dot screen. To say this is a step down would be an understatement - the ZS1’s display feels grainy, lacks brightness, and struggles under any harsh ambient light.

Operationally, Nikon’s menu system is intuitive, supports full manual mode settings adjustments, and offers straightforward navigation. Panasonic’s UI is more basic, tailored around ease-of-use for novices, lacking the sophistication to adjust exposure parameters manually.

If you're planning extensive outdoor use or want better image review prowess on the spot, Nikon’s screen wins hands-down.

Zoom, Lens, and Macro: Optical Reach vs. Brightness

Lens specs can often define a camera’s versatility. In this comparison, the ZS1 packs a mighty 25-300 mm (12x zoom) range, offering breadth rarely available in compacts. But at what cost?

The Nikon P310’s fixed lens covers a more modest 24-100 mm (4.2x zoom) but impresses with a bright maximum aperture of f/1.8 at wide end, letting in more light and enabling shallow depth-of-field effects - crucial for portraits and low-light shots.

Panasonic’s lens is slower, maxing out around f/3.3 at its widest, declining to f/4.9 at telephoto. This means you’ll be relying on higher ISOs or slower shutter speeds for indoor or nighttime shots at longer zooms.

When exploring macro options, Nikon’s P310 gets more love with a closer minimum focus distance of 2 cm, contrasting with 3 cm for the ZS1, allowing more intimate close-ups with finer details.

To sum it up: if reach is your priority (say you’re an armchair wildlife photographer), the ZS1 shines. But if you value crisp background separation and shooting in dimmer conditions, Nikon’s lens speed and macro friendliness win the day.

Autofocus and Shooting Responsiveness

For anything beyond vacation snapshots, AF performance can make or break your shooting joy - especially capturing kids, pets, or fleeting wildlife moments.

Nikon’s P310 combines contrast-detection AF with 99 focus points and real-time face detection, enabling swift and relatively accurate focus acquisition. It also provides face detection autofocus, enhancing portraiture by locking precisely on eyes and faces - a nod to portrait photographers’ needs.

The Panasonic ZS1 employs a simpler contrast AF system with only 11 focus points and basic face detection. AF speed is slower and hunting in low light is more noticeable, translating to missed moments in fast-paced shooting.

Neither camera offers continuous AF for tracking moving subjects, but Nikon's fine coverage and faster acquisition provide better chances to nail shots of pets or spontaneous street scenes.

Consecutive shooting speeds reflect these choices: Nikon maxes out at 6 fps, beneficial for casual action shooting, while Panasonic tops out at 3 fps.

Outdoor Durability and Weather Resistance

Neither camera is weather-sealed or ruggedized, so hikers and travelers should exercise caution in harsh environments. That said, Nikon’s lighter, more compact body leans towards portability, while Panasonic’s superzoom demands more careful packing due to its protruding lens barrel.

With no shockproofing or waterproofing on either, expect to baby these cameras if you venture into rain or dusty trails.

Specialized Photography & Use Cases: Who’s Best For What?

Portrait Photography

The Nikon P310’s bright f/1.8 lens and effective face-detection AF grace skin tones with smooth bokeh in close-ups, rendering natural-looking portraits. Its manual controls allow subtle dialing-in of exposure and depth-of-field, offering deeper creative control.

The Panasonic ZS1, hampered by slower aperture and fewer focus points, struggles to isolate subjects from backgrounds artistically, making portraits flatter and less engaging.

Winner: Nikon P310

Landscape Photography

Landscape shooters crave dynamic range, resolution, weather durability, and wide focal length.

Both can deliver decent daylight shots, but Nikon’s superior sensor and higher resolution provide more detailed, vibrant files. Zoom-wise, Nikon doesn’t extend very far but covers classic wide to short telephoto (24-100mm equivalent) - enough for framing sweeping vistas.

Panasonic’s longer 25–300 mm zoom can snag distant mountain peaks or architectural details, adding framing flexibility. However, the tradeoff in sensor quality and smaller LCD impede post-capture evaluation in the field.

Given their lack of weather sealing, extended outdoor use calls for extra protection regardless.

Winner: Pulling it close: Nikon for image quality, Panasonic for reach.

Wildlife Photography

This category usually calls for fast autofocus, long telephoto reach, and decent burst rate.

Panasonic’s 12x zoom blows away Nikon’s 4.2x in sheer range - a major attraction for casual wildlife photographers unable to invest in DSLR super-tele lenses.

However, Nikon’s faster AF with more focus points and quicker burst shooting outperforms the ZS1 in responsiveness, giving a better chance to grab that fleeting bird-in-flight or critter stare.

If you value image quality at moderate zoom and faster capture, Nikon scores higher. But if you need extreme reach without swapping lenses (and don’t mind slower AF), Panasonic ZS1 wins.

Sports Photography

Speed is king here. Neither is a professional sports rig, but Nikon’s 6 fps burst with more focus points gives a modest advantage capturing kids’ soccer games or casual cycling.

Panasonic’s slower burst and AF struggle with fast action.

Winner: Nikon P310 for faster responsiveness.

Street Photography

Portability, discretion, and quick AF make a big difference.

Nikon’s compact size and silent-ish shutter (max 1/8000 sec) suit street shootings better. Plus, better image quality means cropping shots of candid scenes is easier.

Panasonic’s longer zoom is useful for shooting from a distance but its larger lens and slower AF compromise stealth.

Winner: Nikon P310 for versatility and discreet shooting.

Macro Photography

Nikon’s 2 cm focus minimum edges out Panasonic’s 3 cm, plus brighter aperture helps keep macro subjects crisp.

Both lack focus stacking or advanced macro features, so expect traditional macro shooting.

Night and Astrophotography

Low-light noise performance is critical here.

Nikon’s BSI CMOS sensor beats Panasonic’s CCD in low-light and ISO performance with max native sensitivity at ISO 3200 vs ISO 6400 on Panasonic - but the latter at much lower quality levels.

Neither supports extended bulb exposure or RAW, limiting astrophotography potential.

Video Capabilities

Both deliver modest video specs by today’s standards.

The P310 records 1080p video at 30fps using H.264 codec, offering decent quality given sensor constraints and includes optical image stabilization - handy for handheld video.

Panasonic maxes out at 848x480 resolution (WVGA) at 30fps with Motion JPEG - a format notorious for large file sizes and lower quality compression.

Neither includes external mic input or headphone jack.

Winner: Nikon for clearly superior video specs.

Travel Photography

Both cameras are designed with travel photographers in mind, but their approach differs.

Nikon offers excellent portability, bright lens for dim interiors, and better image quality. Battery life clocks around 230 shots per charge, which is average but manageable with backups.

Panasonic’s superzoom capability delivers unmatched framing flexibility, but compromises in sensor quality, display usability, and no HDMI port.

Winner: Depends on priority - Nikon for image quality, Panasonic for focal reach.

Professional Work Use

Neither model targets professional workflows with support for RAW files, tethering, or advanced color profiles.

Nikon’s lack of RAW is a notable limitation for pros, while Panasonic’s limited controls and image quality restrict serious work use.

Technical Rundown: Build, Connectivity, and Price

• Build & Weatherproofing: Neither has weather sealing or rugged protection.
• Battery & Storage: Nikon uses EN-EL12 rechargeable battery with roughly 230-shot life; Panasonic battery data unavailable but likely similar or lower; both use standard SD/SDHC/SDXC cards.
• Connectivity: Both lack wireless features - no Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or NFC. Nikon has HDMI out, Panasonic doesn’t.
• Stabilization: Both rely on optical image stabilization.
• Price: The Nikon P310 was priced around $700 at launch; the Panasonic's pricing is older and unavailable but originally targeted the mid-budget compact market.

Sample Images Side by Side: Seeing Is Believing

I tested both cameras under similar lighting and scene conditions. Sharpness, noise levels, color accuracy, and detail clarity reflect their sensor and lens differences.

Nikon P310 front Nikon P310 screen back Panasonic ZS1 front Panasonic ZS1 screen back

The Nikon shots present more detail and refined colors. The Panasonic images appear softer and somewhat muted, and noise is more evident at mid-to-high ISO settings.

Performance Ratings: Overall and By Genre

• Nikon P310 scores strongly for image quality, video, and focusing features.
• Panasonic ZS1 performs adequately for zoom reach, but trails elsewhere.

Portrait, low-light, and video favor Nikon; telephoto reach is Panasonic’s trump card.

Verdict: Which Compact Should You Choose?

Both cameras are relics of a pre-smartphone-dominant era but still offer insights about compact camera tradeoffs.

• Opt for the Nikon Coolpix P310 if you crave image quality, manual controls, better screen, and decent video - ideal for enthusiasts who value creative freedom and shooting quality over reach.
• Choose the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 for extended zoom range with lighter demands on manual control - perfect if you prioritize versatility in framing distant subjects and are okay with compromises in image fidelity.

In 2024 terms, both are outclassed by modern compacts and smartphones boasting better sensors, connectivity, and computing power. Yet, for collectors or budget-conscious buyers hunting for second-hand bargains, these offer interesting crossover points between beginner ease and enthusiast features.

Final Thought: The Real Lens on Experience

Having tussled physically with their buttons, wrestled their menus, and reviewed thousands of images side-by-side, the take-home lesson is this: small-sensor compacts forever juggle a delicate balance between convenience, quality, and control. The Nikon P310 nervously proves how a brighter lens and manual options whip up better creative shots, while Panasonic’s superzoom reminds us of the all-in-one travel zoom appeal.

If you’re still considering either, think about what kind of photographer you are today - or want to become tomorrow. As always, go beyond specs, handle the cameras, and imagine your best memories framed through their glass.

Happy shooting!