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Nikon S02 vs Panasonic ZS20

Portability
97
Imaging
36
Features
28
Overall
32
Nikon Coolpix S02 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
46
Overall
41

Nikon S02 vs Panasonic ZS20 Key Specs

Nikon S02
(Full Review)
  • 13MP - 1/3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 1600
  • Digital Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 30-90mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 100g - 77 x 51 x 18mm
  • Released September 2013
Panasonic ZS20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 206g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Introduced April 2012
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ30
  • Superseded the Panasonic ZS15
  • Later Model is Panasonic ZS25
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Nikon S02 vs Panasonic ZS20 Overview

Let's examine more in depth at the Nikon S02 versus Panasonic ZS20, one is a Ultracompact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Nikon and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the S02 (13MP) and the ZS20 (14MP) is pretty comparable but the S02 (1/3") and ZS20 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor sizes.

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The S02 was unveiled 17 months after the ZS20 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Nikon S02 being a Ultracompact camera and the Panasonic ZS20 being a Compact camera.

Before going through a in-depth comparison, below is a short summary of how the S02 matches up versus the ZS20 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon S02 over the Panasonic ZS20

 S02 ZS20 
IntroducedSeptember 2013April 2012More modern by 17 months

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Nikon S02

 ZS20 S02 
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Nikon S02 and Panasonic ZS20

 S02 ZS20 
Manual focus No manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Nikon S02 vs Panasonic ZS20 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry around your camera frequently, you'll have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Nikon S02 has physical measurements 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 ZS20 has measurements of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs).

Take a look at the Nikon S02 versus Panasonic ZS20 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are utilising during that time. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the S02 compared to the ZS20.

Nikon S02 vs Panasonic ZS20 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the S02 and ZS20 is 97 and 92 respectively.

Nikon S02 vs Panasonic ZS20 top view buttons comparison

Nikon S02 vs Panasonic ZS20 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its tough to see the contrast in sensor sizes only by checking out a spec sheet. The image underneath may give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the S02 and ZS20.

As you can see, both cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The S02 having a smaller sensor will make achieving bokeh tougher and the Panasonic ZS20 will produce extra detail having an extra 1MP. Higher resolution will let you crop pictures a little more aggressively. The more modern S02 will have an advantage in sensor tech.

Nikon S02 vs Panasonic ZS20 sensor size comparison

Nikon S02 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon S02 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon S02
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS20
33
MP count good (13 megapixels)
has face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
no manual control
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/3")
lack of RAW files
30
good MP (14MP)
lack of manual focus
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Nikon S02 Street photography information
Panasonic ZS20 Street photography information
58
image stabilization (Digital)
screen does not articulate
small sensor (1/3")
lack of RAW files
65
has image stabilization (Optical)
boasts touch focus
lighter than competition (206 grams)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon S02
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS20
38
image stabilization (Digital)
MP count good (13MP)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/3")
lack of phase detect AF
47
long zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (260 shots)
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon S02 Travel photography details
Panasonic ZS20 Travel photography details
59
MP count good (13MP)
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (30mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
68
lighter than competition (206 grams)
boasts touch focus
good MP (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (24mm)
very long reach (480mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
terrible battery pack (260 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon S02 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZS20 as a Landscape photography camera
33
image stabilization (Digital)
MP count good (13MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (30mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
no manual control
small sensor (1/3")
lack of RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse recording
42
relatively wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14MP)
lack of manual focus
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
terrible battery pack (260 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon S02 Vlogging info
Panasonic ZS20 Vlogging info
33
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Digital)
has face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
wide angle not great (30mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone support
34
relatively wide (24mm)
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (206 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic support
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Nikon S02 vs Panasonic ZS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon S02 and Panasonic ZS20
 Nikon Coolpix S02Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
General Information
Company Nikon Panasonic
Model type Nikon Coolpix S02 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-TZ30
Category Ultracompact Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2013-09-05 2012-04-26
Physical type Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
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 13 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4160 x 3120 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 125 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 23
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 30-90mm (3.0x) 24-480mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.3-5.9 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing range 5cm 3cm
Crop factor 7.5 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7" 3"
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed - 15 seconds
Max shutter speed - 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate - 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 1.40 m 6.40 m
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 100 gr (0.22 pounds) 206 gr (0.45 pounds)
Dimensions 77 x 51 x 18mm (3.0" x 2.0" x 0.7") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
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 210 photographs 260 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID Built-in -
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage - SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots - Single
Pricing at release $177 $349