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Nikon S02 vs Panasonic FH20

Portability
97
Imaging
36
Features
28
Overall
32
Nikon Coolpix S02 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
21
Overall
30

Nikon S02 vs Panasonic FH20 Key Specs

Nikon S02
(Full Review)
  • 13MP - 1/3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 1600
  • Digital Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 30-90mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 100g - 77 x 51 x 18mm
  • Announced September 2013
Panasonic FH20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-224mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 100 x 56 x 28mm
  • Announced January 2010
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-FS30
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Nikon S02 vs Panasonic FH20 Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Nikon S02 vs Panasonic FH20, former being a Ultracompact while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Nikon and Panasonic. The image resolution of the S02 (13MP) and the FH20 (14MP) is pretty similar but the S02 (1/3") and FH20 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor sizes.

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The S02 was revealed 3 years later than the FH20 and that is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Nikon S02 being a Ultracompact camera and the Panasonic FH20 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight into a full comparison, below is a brief overview of how the S02 scores versus the FH20 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon S02 over the Panasonic FH20

 S02 FH20 
AnnouncedSeptember 2013January 2010More recent by 45 months
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH20 over the Nikon S02

 FH20 S02 

Common features in the Nikon S02 and Panasonic FH20

 S02 FH20 
Manually focus No manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing2.7"2.7"Equivalent screen dimensions
Screen resolution230k230kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Nikon S02 vs Panasonic FH20 Physical Comparison

If you're going to lug around your camera frequently, you are going to need to think about its weight and proportions. The Nikon S02 offers physical dimensions of 77mm x 51mm x 18mm (3.0" x 2.0" x 0.7") having a weight of 100 grams (0.22 lbs) while the Panasonic FH20 has measurements of 100mm x 56mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

Contrast the Nikon S02 vs Panasonic FH20 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you use during that time. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the S02 against the FH20.

Nikon S02 vs Panasonic FH20 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the S02 and FH20 is 97 and 93 respectively.

Nikon S02 vs Panasonic FH20 top view buttons comparison

Nikon S02 vs Panasonic FH20 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its tough to envision the difference between sensor measurements merely by going over a spec sheet. The photograph here will help give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the S02 and FH20.

As you can see, both of those cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The S02 having a tinier sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field more difficult and the Panasonic FH20 will deliver greater detail because of its extra 1MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The more modern S02 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Nikon S02 vs Panasonic FH20 sensor size comparison

Nikon S02 vs Panasonic FH20 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon S02 vs Panasonic FH20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon S02 Portrait photography details
Panasonic FH20 Portrait photography details
33
MP count good (13 megapixels)
has face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
no manual control
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/3")
lacks RAW files
28
decent MP (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon S02 Street photography advice
Panasonic FH20 Street photography advice
58
built in image stabilization (Digital)
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/3")
lacks RAW files
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Nikon S02 Sports photography information
Panasonic FH20 Sports photography information
38
built in image stabilization (Digital)
MP count good (13MP)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
35
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14MP)
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon S02 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic FH20 Travel photography highlights
59
MP count good (13MP)
built-in flash
missing Timelapse mode
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
wide angle not great (30mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
64
decent MP (14MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (28mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon S02 Landscape photography features
Panasonic FH20 Landscape photography features
33
built in image stabilization (Digital)
MP count good (13 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (30mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
no manual control
tiny sensor (1/3")
lacks RAW files
missing Timelapse mode
37
pretty wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
lack of manual exposure
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon S02 Vlogging information
Panasonic FH20 Vlogging information
33
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Digital)
has face detection autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
wide angle not great (30mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
missing external microphone support
28
pretty wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic socket
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Nikon S02 vs Panasonic FH20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon S02 and Panasonic FH20
 Nikon Coolpix S02Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20
General Information
Make Nikon Panasonic
Model Nikon Coolpix S02 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-FS30
Type Ultracompact Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2013-09-05 2010-01-06
Physical type Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 4.8 x 3.6mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 17.3mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 13MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4160 x 3120 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 125 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 30-90mm (3.0x) 28-224mm (8.0x)
Max aperture f/3.3-5.9 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus distance 5cm 5cm
Crop factor 7.5 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7" 2.7"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed - 60s
Maximum shutter speed - 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate - 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 1.40 m 5.80 m (Auto ISO)
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps); High-speed: 1920 x 1080 (15 fps), 1280 x 720 (60 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 100g (0.22 pounds) 178g (0.39 pounds)
Dimensions 77 x 51 x 18mm (3.0" x 2.0" x 0.7") 100 x 56 x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" 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 210 images -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model Built-in -
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage - SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots - 1
Price at launch $177 $179