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Nikon S30 vs Panasonic SZ5

Portability
90
Imaging
33
Features
18
Overall
27
Nikon Coolpix S30 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 front
Portability
95
Imaging
38
Features
34
Overall
36

Nikon S30 vs Panasonic SZ5 Key Specs

Nikon S30
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 29-87mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 214g - 102 x 65 x 40mm
  • Announced February 2012
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
  • Released July 2012
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Nikon S30 vs Panasonic SZ5 Overview

Following is a comprehensive overview of the Nikon S30 versus Panasonic SZ5, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by companies Nikon and Panasonic. There exists a crucial gap between the image resolutions of the S30 (10MP) and SZ5 (14MP) and the S30 (1/3") and SZ5 (1/2.3") come with different sensor dimensions.

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The S30 was manufactured 5 months prior to the SZ5 so they are of a similar generation. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving in to a in-depth comparison, below is a short highlight of how the S30 matches up versus the SZ5 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon S30 over the Panasonic SZ5

 S30 SZ5 

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ5 over the Nikon S30

 SZ5 S30 
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Common features in the Nikon S30 and Panasonic SZ5

 S30 SZ5 
ReleasedFebruary 2012July 2012Similar generation
Manual focus No manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Nikon S30 vs Panasonic SZ5 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry around your camera often, you need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Nikon S30 enjoys external dimensions of 102mm x 65mm x 40mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.6") having a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs) and the Panasonic SZ5 has dimensions of 104mm x 58mm x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") along with a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs).

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Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. Here is the front view dimensions comparison of the S30 versus the SZ5.

Nikon S30 vs Panasonic SZ5 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the S30 and SZ5 is 90 and 95 respectively.

Nikon S30 vs Panasonic SZ5 top view buttons comparison

Nikon S30 vs Panasonic SZ5 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor sizes simply by reading through specs. The image underneath will help give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the S30 and SZ5.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The S30 due to its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field more difficult and the Panasonic SZ5 will give you greater detail due to its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos somewhat more aggressively.

Nikon S30 vs Panasonic SZ5 sensor size comparison

Nikon S30 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon S30 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon S30
Portrait photography with Panasonic SZ5
25
has face detection focus
lack of manual focus
no manual control
can't use external flash
low resolution (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/3")
lacks RAW files
34
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
supports face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
no manual control
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Nikon S30 Street photography info
Panasonic SZ5 Street photography info
51
weather proofing
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor (1/3")
lacks RAW files
heavier than competition (214g)
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (136 grams)
no articulating screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon S30
Sports photography with Panasonic SZ5
29
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
weather proofing
low fps (1.5 frames/s)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
low resolution (10MP)
very small sensor (1/3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14MP)
supports tracking focus
low fps (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon S30
Travel photography with Panasonic SZ5
52
weather proofing
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition (214g)
low resolution (10MP)
does not have a selfie friendly display
wide angle not the best (29mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
70
lighter than others (136 grams)
good megapixels (14MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
great reach (250mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon S30 Landscape photography information
Panasonic SZ5 Landscape photography information
26
weather proofing
lack of manual focus
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (29mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
no manual control
does not have image stabilization
low resolution (10MP)
very small sensor (1/3")
lacks RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
42
fairly wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14MP)
manual focus not available
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon S30
Vlogging with Panasonic SZ5
23
has face detection focus
wide angle not the best (29mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not have a selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external mic support
heavier than competition (214 grams)
32
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect autofocus
lighter than others (136g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have mic port
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Nikon S30 vs Panasonic SZ5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon S30 and Panasonic SZ5
 Nikon Coolpix S30Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
General Information
Company Nikon Panasonic
Model type Nikon Coolpix S30 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2012-02-01 2012-07-18
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 4.8 x 3.6mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 17.3mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 1600 1600
Maximum boosted ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 23
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 29-87mm (3.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.3-5.9 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing range 5cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 7.5 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology TFT-LCD TFT Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 8 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.5 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 5.60 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow-sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps) 1280 x 720p ( 30,25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4 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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 214 gr (0.47 lb) 136 gr (0.30 lb)
Dimensions 102 x 65 x 40mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.6") 104 x 58 x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 240 images 250 images
Battery form AA Battery Pack
Battery ID 2 x AA -
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail price $119 $195