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Nikon S230 vs Panasonic GF8

Portability
96
Imaging
33
Features
21
Overall
28
Nikon Coolpix S230 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 front
Portability
90
Imaging
54
Features
62
Overall
57

Nikon S230 vs Panasonic GF8 Key Specs

Nikon S230
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 2000
  • Digital Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 35-105mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 115g - 91 x 57 x 20mm
  • Introduced February 2009
Panasonic GF8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 266g - 107 x 65 x 33mm
  • Announced February 2016
  • Old Model is Panasonic GF7
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Nikon S230 vs Panasonic GF8 Overview

Following is a in-depth overview of the Nikon S230 vs Panasonic GF8, one is a Ultracompact and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Nikon and Panasonic. There exists a significant gap between the resolutions of the S230 (10MP) and GF8 (16MP) and the S230 (1/2.3") and GF8 (Four Thirds) offer totally different sensor measurements.

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The S230 was manufactured 8 years before the GF8 which is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Nikon S230 being a Ultracompact camera and the Panasonic GF8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving straight to a full comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the S230 scores vs the GF8 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon S230 over the Panasonic GF8

 S230 GF8 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF8 over the Nikon S230

 GF8 S230 
AnnouncedFebruary 2016February 2009More modern by 85 months
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1040k230kClearer screen (+810k dot)

Common features in the Nikon S230 and Panasonic GF8

 S230 GF8 
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Nikon S230 vs Panasonic GF8 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry around your camera frequently, you should factor its weight and dimensions. The Nikon S230 offers external dimensions of 91mm x 57mm x 20mm (3.6" x 2.2" x 0.8") and a weight of 115 grams (0.25 lbs) whilst the Panasonic GF8 has dimensions of 107mm x 65mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 266 grams (0.59 lbs).

Check the Nikon S230 vs Panasonic GF8 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have attached at that time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the S230 versus the GF8.

Nikon S230 vs Panasonic GF8 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the S230 and GF8 is 96 and 90 respectively.

Nikon S230 vs Panasonic GF8 top view buttons comparison

Nikon S230 vs Panasonic GF8 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be difficult to visualise the difference between sensor sizes simply by reading through specifications. The image underneath may provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the S230 and GF8.

Plainly, each of these cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The S230 due to its tinier sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field more difficult and the Panasonic GF8 will give extra detail due to its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs more aggressively. The more aged S230 is going to be behind in sensor technology.

Nikon S230 vs Panasonic GF8 sensor size comparison

Nikon S230 vs Panasonic GF8 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon S230 vs Panasonic GF8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon S230
Portrait photography with Panasonic GF8
19
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
MP count low (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
65
manual focus
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focus
supports RAW files
can't use external flash
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Street Comparison

Nikon S230 Street photography info
Panasonic GF8 Street photography info
57
image stabilization (Digital)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
80
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
comes with touch to focus
good ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon S230
Sports photography with Panasonic GF8
26
image stabilization (Digital)
no shutter priority mode
MP count low (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
49
silent mode (1/16,000s)
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/500s)
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.8 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
terrible battery pack (230 CIPA)
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon S230 Travel photography features
Panasonic GF8 Travel photography features
51
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse function
MP count low (10 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
wide angle not good (35mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
66
comes with touch to focus
decent MP (16MP)
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
terrible battery pack (230 shots)
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon S230 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic GF8 as a Landscape photography camera
31
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Digital)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (35mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not available
MP count low (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
does not have Time Lapse function
65
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
terrible battery pack (230 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon S230 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic GF8 as a Vlogging camera
28
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Digital)
wide angle not good (35mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
low video resolution (640 x 480 pxls)
does not have external mic jack
33
touchscreen enabled
comes with face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have external mic jack
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Nikon S230 vs Panasonic GF8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon S230 and Panasonic GF8
 Nikon Coolpix S230Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8
General Information
Make Nikon Panasonic
Model Nikon Coolpix S230 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8
Type Ultracompact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2009-02-03 2016-02-15
Body design Ultracompact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - Venus Engine
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 4592 x 3448
Highest native ISO 2000 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 200
RAW support
Minimum enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens focal range 35-105mm (3.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.1-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 10cm -
Amount of lenses - 107
Focal length multiplier 5.8 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 230k dot 1,040k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 8 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/500 seconds
Max silent shutter speed - 1/16000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 11.0fps 5.8fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 5.60 m (at ISO 200)
Flash modes Auto, Red-Eye reduction, Off, On, Slow sync Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, flash off
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 50p, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 115 gr (0.25 lbs) 266 gr (0.59 lbs)
Physical dimensions 91 x 57 x 20mm (3.6" x 2.2" x 0.8") 107 x 65 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 - 230 photos
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL10 -
Self timer Yes (3 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3-shot/10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release $150 $549