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Nikon P900 vs Panasonic ZS20

Portability
52
Imaging
41
Features
63
Overall
49
Nikon Coolpix P900 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
46
Overall
41

Nikon P900 vs Panasonic ZS20 Key Specs

Nikon P900
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Bump to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-2000mm (F2.8-6.5) lens
  • 899g - 140 x 103 x 137mm
  • Introduced March 2015
  • New Model is Nikon P1000
Panasonic ZS20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 206g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Revealed April 2012
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ30
  • Replaced the Panasonic ZS15
  • Replacement is Panasonic ZS25
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Nikon P900 vs Panasonic ZS20 Overview

Its time to look a little more in depth at the Nikon P900 and Panasonic ZS20, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by brands Nikon and Panasonic. The image resolution of the P900 (16MP) and the ZS20 (14MP) is very close and they come with the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The P900 was launched 2 years after the ZS20 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Nikon P900 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic ZS20 being a Compact camera.

Before delving in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise summation of how the P900 grades vs the ZS20 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon P900 over the Panasonic ZS20

 P900 ZS20 
RevealedMarch 2015April 2012Newer by 35 months
Focus manually More exact focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution921k460kClearer display (+461k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Nikon P900

 ZS20 P900 
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Nikon P900 and Panasonic ZS20

 P900 ZS20 
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing

Nikon P900 vs Panasonic ZS20 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to travel with your camera often, you will need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Nikon P900 has got outer measurements of 140mm x 103mm x 137mm (5.5" x 4.1" x 5.4") having a weight of 899 grams (1.98 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS20 has dimensions of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs).

Check the Nikon P900 and Panasonic ZS20 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are using at that time. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the P900 against the ZS20.

Nikon P900 vs Panasonic ZS20 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the P900 and ZS20 is 52 and 92 respectively.

Nikon P900 vs Panasonic ZS20 top view buttons comparison

Nikon P900 vs Panasonic ZS20 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its tough to see the gap in sensor dimensions purely by looking through a spec sheet. The picture below may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the P900 and ZS20.

As you can see, each of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same MP. You should expect to see the Nikon P900 to render extra detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop images a little more aggressively. The more recent P900 is going to have an edge in sensor tech.

Nikon P900 vs Panasonic ZS20 sensor size comparison

Nikon P900 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon P900 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon P900 Portrait photography info
Panasonic ZS20 Portrait photography info
44
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has face detect autofocus
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
30
good megapixels (14MP)
manual focus not available
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Nikon P900 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZS20 as a Street photography camera
45
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Optical)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
heavier than competitors (899 grams)
65
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with focus via touch
lighter than competition (206g)
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Nikon P900 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS20 as a Sports photography camera
56
long zoom range (24-2000mm 83.3 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
has tracking focus
great battery pack (360 per charge)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
47
incredible zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (260 CIPA)
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon P900 Travel photography features
Panasonic ZS20 Travel photography features
60
great battery pack (360 CIPA)
connects via bluetooth
megapixel count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
pretty wide (24mm)
great reach (2000mm)
heavier than competitors (899g)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
68
lighter than competition (206 grams)
comes with focus via touch
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
very long zoom (480mm)
lack of Timelapse function
terrible battery power (260 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon P900 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZS20 as a Landscape photography camera
51
focusing manually
pretty wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
great battery pack (360 per charge)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
42
fairly wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
terrible battery power (260 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon P900 Vlogging features
Panasonic ZS20 Vlogging features
54
pretty wide (24mm)
screen is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
missing mic support
heavier than competitors (899 grams)
34
fairly wide (24mm)
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (206 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of external microphone socket
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Nikon P900 vs Panasonic ZS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon P900 and Panasonic ZS20
 Nikon Coolpix P900Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
General Information
Make Nikon Panasonic
Model Nikon Coolpix P900 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
Also called - Lumix DMC-TZ30
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2015-03-02 2012-04-26
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Expeed C2 -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti aliasing 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 6400 6400
Highest boosted ISO 12800 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-2000mm (83.3x) 24-480mm (20.0x)
Max aperture f/2.8-6.5 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus distance 1cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 921 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 921 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 secs 15 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 7.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 11.50 m (at Auto ISO) 6.40 m
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 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 file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone 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 Yes BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 899 gr (1.98 lbs) 206 gr (0.45 lbs)
Dimensions 140 x 103 x 137mm (5.5" x 4.1" x 5.4") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 360 pictures 260 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL23 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $600 $349