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Nikon S100 vs Panasonic SZ5

Portability
94
Imaging
38
Features
40
Overall
38
Nikon Coolpix S100 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 front
Portability
95
Imaging
37
Features
34
Overall
35

Nikon S100 vs Panasonic SZ5 Key Specs

Nikon S100
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.9-4.8) lens
  • 175g - 99 x 65 x 18mm
  • Revealed August 2011
Panasonic SZ5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Push to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 104 x 58 x 21mm
  • Launched July 2012
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Nikon S100 vs Panasonic SZ5 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Nikon S100 and Panasonic SZ5, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by manufacturers Nikon and Panasonic. The image resolution of the S100 (16MP) and the SZ5 (14MP) is very well matched and they enjoy the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The S100 was revealed 10 months before the SZ5 so they are of a similar age. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a quick overview of how the S100 grades versus the SZ5 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon S100 over the Panasonic SZ5

 S100 SZ5 
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Display sizing3.5"3"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution820k230kCrisper display (+590k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ5 over the Nikon S100

 SZ5 S100 
LaunchedJuly 2012August 2011More modern by 10 months

Common features in the Nikon S100 and Panasonic SZ5

 S100 SZ5 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Nikon S100 vs Panasonic SZ5 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry around your camera often, you should factor its weight and measurements. The Nikon S100 enjoys outer dimensions of 99mm x 65mm x 18mm (3.9" x 2.6" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 175 grams (0.39 lbs) whilst the Panasonic SZ5 has proportions of 104mm x 58mm x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") and a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs).

Check out the Nikon S100 and Panasonic SZ5 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Below is the front view dimensions comparison of the S100 against the SZ5.

Nikon S100 vs Panasonic SZ5 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the S100 and SZ5 is 94 and 95 respectively.

Nikon S100 vs Panasonic SZ5 top view buttons comparison

Nikon S100 vs Panasonic SZ5 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's tough to visualize the gap between sensor sizes merely by looking at a spec sheet. The picture here might offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the S100 and SZ5.

As you can see, both cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but different megapixels. You can expect to see the Nikon S100 to give greater detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics far more aggressively. The more aged S100 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Nikon S100 vs Panasonic SZ5 sensor size comparison

Nikon S100 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon S100 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon S100 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic SZ5 as a Portrait photography camera
39
focusing manually
MP count good (16MP)
includes face detect focus
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
33
good MP (14 megapixels)
features face detection focus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon S100
Street photography with Panasonic SZ5
62
has image stabilization (Optical)
has touch to focus
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (136 grams)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Nikon S100 Sports photography factors
Panasonic SZ5 Sports photography factors
37
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
includes tracking focus
low fps (6.0 fps)
no shutter priority
small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery (150 CIPA)
no phase detect auto focus
39
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon S100 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic SZ5 Travel photography highlights
65
has touch to focus
MP count good (16MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (28mm)
no Timelapse function
low battery (150 CIPA)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.9)
70
lighter than others in class (136 grams)
good MP (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
long zoom (250mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon S100 Landscape photography info
Panasonic SZ5 Landscape photography info
45
focusing manually
decently wide (28mm)
bigger than average screen (3.5")
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.9)
manual mode not available
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
low battery (150 shots)
no Timelapse function
42
relatively wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not available
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon S100 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic SZ5 as a Vlogging camera
35
decently wide (28mm)
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.9)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
no microphone socket
32
relatively wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focus
lighter than others in class (136 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external mic port
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Nikon S100 vs Panasonic SZ5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon S100 and Panasonic SZ5
 Nikon Coolpix S100Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
General Information
Brand Name Nikon Panasonic
Model Nikon Coolpix S100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2011-08-24 2012-07-18
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Expeed C2 -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 3200 1600
Max boosted ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 125 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points - 23
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.9-4.8 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus distance 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3.5" 3"
Resolution of display 820 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology Organic LED monitor TFT Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 8s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 6.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 5.60 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080, 1280 x 720p (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps) 1280 x 720p ( 30,25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 175 grams (0.39 lb) 136 grams (0.30 lb)
Dimensions 99 x 65 x 18mm (3.9" x 2.6" x 0.7") 104 x 58 x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8")
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 150 shots 250 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL12 -
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail price $240 $195