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Nikon P520 vs Panasonic ZS80

Portability
66
Imaging
42
Features
51
Overall
45
Nikon Coolpix P520 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80 front
Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
70
Overall
56

Nikon P520 vs Panasonic ZS80 Key Specs

Nikon P520
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1000mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
  • 550g - 125 x 84 x 102mm
  • Introduced January 2013
  • Older Model is Nikon P510
  • New Model is Nikon P530
Panasonic ZS80
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200 (Raise to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 327g - 112 x 69 x 42mm
  • Introduced February 2018
  • Also referred to as Lumix DC-TZ95
  • Old Model is Panasonic ZS70
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Nikon P520 vs Panasonic ZS80 Overview

Its time to take a deeper look at the Nikon P520 and Panasonic ZS80, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by rivals Nikon and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the P520 (18MP) and the ZS80 (20MP) is relatively comparable and both cameras boast the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The P520 was manufactured 6 years prior to the ZS80 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Nikon P520 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic ZS80 being a Compact camera.

Before getting right into a in depth comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the P520 scores vs the ZS80 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon P520 over the Panasonic ZS80

 P520 ZS80 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen dimensions3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS80 over the Nikon P520

 ZS80 P520 
IntroducedFebruary 2018January 2013More modern by 61 months
Screen resolution1040k921kCrisper screen (+119k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Nikon P520 and Panasonic ZS80

 P520 ZS80 
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Selfie screen Both good for selfies

Nikon P520 vs Panasonic ZS80 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry around your camera, you will want to take into account its weight and volume. The Nikon P520 has outside dimensions of 125mm x 84mm x 102mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 4.0") accompanied by a weight of 550 grams (1.21 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS80 has sizing of 112mm x 69mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.7") having a weight of 327 grams (0.72 lbs).

Contrast the Nikon P520 and Panasonic ZS80 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are using during that time. Underneath is a front view overall size comparison of the P520 against the ZS80.

Nikon P520 vs Panasonic ZS80 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the P520 and ZS80 is 66 and 86 respectively.

Nikon P520 vs Panasonic ZS80 top view buttons comparison

Nikon P520 vs Panasonic ZS80 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its difficult to picture the gap in sensor sizes simply by seeing specifications. The image underneath will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the P520 and ZS80.

Plainly, the two cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different resolution. You should count on the Panasonic ZS80 to produce extra detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots more aggressively. The more aged P520 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Nikon P520 vs Panasonic ZS80 sensor size comparison

Nikon P520 vs Panasonic ZS80 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon P520 vs Panasonic ZS80 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon P520 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS80 as a Portrait photography camera
41
you can focus manually
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
54
has manual focus
megapixel count good (20MP)
has face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Nikon P520 Street photography highlights
Panasonic ZS80 Street photography highlights
51
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Optical)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
more heavy than others (550g)
75
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
features focus via touch
small sensor (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Nikon P520 Sports photography features
Panasonic ZS80 Sports photography features
46
great zoom range (24-1000mm 41.7 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (18MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (200 CIPA)
lack of phase detect autofocus
61
excellent zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
quiet shooting (1/16,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (20MP)
has tracking autofocus
better than average battery life (380 shots)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon P520 Travel photography details
Panasonic ZS80 Travel photography details
57
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
quite wide (24mm)
very long zoom (1000mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
not so great battery life (200 shots)
more heavy than others (550g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
79
better than average battery life (380 CIPA)
connects via bluetooth
features focus via touch
megapixel count good (20MP)
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
fairly wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon P520
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS80
46
you can focus manually
quite wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3.2 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
not so great battery life (200 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse function
62
has manual focus
fairly wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (20MP)
delivers RAW formats
better than average battery life (380 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
small sensor (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon P520 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS80 as a Vlogging camera
57
quite wide (24mm)
selfie friendly screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't have external microphone support
more heavy than others (550g)
73
fairly wide (24mm)
screen is selfie friendly
touch screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection autofocus
good video quality (3840 x 2160 resolution)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have external mic support
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Nikon P520 vs Panasonic ZS80 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon P520 and Panasonic ZS80
 Nikon Coolpix P520Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80
General Information
Make Nikon Panasonic
Model type Nikon Coolpix P520 Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80
Also called as - Lumix DC-TZ95
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2013-01-29 2018-02-18
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Venus Engine
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.16 x 4.62mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4896 x 3672 5184 x 3888
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Highest enhanced ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-1000mm (41.7x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.0-5.9 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing distance 1cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Tilting
Display size 3.2 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 921 thousand dots 1,040 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,330 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8s 4s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Fastest quiet shutter speed - 1/16000s
Continuous shutter rate 7.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 5.60 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash options - Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync, Slow Sync/Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 3840 x 2160 (30p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format - MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Optional Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB none USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 550g (1.21 lbs) 327g (0.72 lbs)
Physical dimensions 125 x 84 x 102mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 4.0") 112 x 69 x 42mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.7")
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 200 photos 380 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL5 -
Self timer - Yes
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I supported)
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $380 $448