Nikon S100 vs Panasonic ZS5

Lets look more in depth at the Nikon S100 and Panasonic ZS5, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Nikon and Panasonic. There is a sizable difference among the sensor resolutions of the S100 (16MP) and ZS5 (12MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor size (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The S100 was unveiled 15 months later than the ZS5 making them a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise summation of how the S100 matches up against the ZS5 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Nikon Coolpix S100 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5. The full galleries are viewable at Nikon S100 Gallery & Panasonic ZS5 Gallery.

In case you're intending to lug around your camera often, you will need to take into account its weight and size. The Nikon S100 provides exterior dimensions of 99mm x 65mm x 18mm (3.9" x 2.6" x 0.7") along with a weight of 175 grams (0.39 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS5 has specifications of 103mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs).

Compare the Nikon S100 and Panasonic ZS5 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are using at that moment. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the S100 versus the ZS5.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the S100 and ZS5 is 94 and 92 respectively.

Usually, its difficult to see the gap in sensor measurements only by going through specs. The graphic here will give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the S100 and ZS5.

All in all, both of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same megapixels. You can expect to see the Nikon S100 to provide more detail having an extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop images a bit more aggressively. The more recent S100 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.