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Nikon S30 vs Panasonic ZS15

Portability
90
Imaging
32
Features
18
Overall
26
Nikon Coolpix S30 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 front
Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
37
Overall
35

Nikon S30 vs Panasonic ZS15 Key Specs

Nikon S30
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 29-87mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 214g - 102 x 65 x 40mm
  • Launched February 2012
Panasonic ZS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 208g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Released June 2012
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-TZ25
  • Refreshed by Panasonic ZS20
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Nikon S30 vs Panasonic ZS15 Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Nikon S30 vs Panasonic ZS15, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Nikon and Panasonic. The image resolution of the S30 (10MP) and the ZS15 (12MP) is pretty close but the S30 (1/3") and ZS15 (1/2.3") come with different sensor dimensions.

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The S30 was unveiled 4 months before the ZS15 which means that they are both of a similar generation. The two cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting straight into a detailed comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the S30 matches up against the ZS15 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon S30 over the Panasonic ZS15

 S30 ZS15 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS15 over the Nikon S30

 ZS15 S30 
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Nikon S30 and Panasonic ZS15

 S30 ZS15 
ReleasedFebruary 2012June 2012Same generation
Manually focus Lack of manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Nikon S30 vs Panasonic ZS15 Physical Comparison

If you're going to lug around your camera often, you will have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Nikon S30 comes with external measurements of 102mm x 65mm x 40mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.6") with a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS15 has proportions of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") along with a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs).

Compare the Nikon S30 vs Panasonic ZS15 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have attached at that time. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the S30 compared to the ZS15.

Nikon S30 vs Panasonic ZS15 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the S30 and ZS15 is 90 and 92 respectively.

Nikon S30 vs Panasonic ZS15 top view buttons comparison

Nikon S30 vs Panasonic ZS15 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's difficult to picture the gap in sensor measurements merely by researching specifications. The visual below will help offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the S30 and ZS15.

To sum up, both of these cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The S30 using its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field harder and the Panasonic ZS15 will render extra detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop photographs much more aggressively.

Nikon S30 vs Panasonic ZS15 sensor size comparison

Nikon S30 vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon S30 vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon S30 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS15 as a Portrait photography camera
24
has face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
no manual control
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/3")
doesn't have RAW support
21
manual focus not available
external flash not possible
low MP (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Nikon S30 Street photography info
Panasonic ZS15 Street photography info
51
weather proof
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/3")
doesn't have RAW support
more heavy than competition (214g)
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (208 grams)
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Nikon S30 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS15 as a Sports photography camera
28
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
weather proof
slow frames per second (1.5 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
36
long zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames per second)
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery (260 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Nikon S30 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS15 as a Travel photography camera
52
weather proof
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse recording
more heavy than competition (214g)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
wide angle not the best (29mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
61
lighter than others (208 grams)
built-in flash
quite wide (24mm)
very long reach (384mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
terrible battery (260 CIPA)
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon S30 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZS15 as a Landscape photography camera
25
weather proof
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (29mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
no manual control
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/3")
doesn't have RAW support
does not have Timelapse recording
36
quite wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
terrible battery (260 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon S30 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic ZS15 Vlogging highlights
23
has face detection autofocus
wide angle not the best (29mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external microphone socket
more heavy than competition (214g)
33
quite wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others (208 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
doesn't have external microphone port
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Nikon S30 vs Panasonic ZS15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon S30 and Panasonic ZS15
 Nikon Coolpix S30Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
General Information
Brand Nikon Panasonic
Model type Nikon Coolpix S30 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-TZ25
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2012-02-01 2012-06-29
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 4.8 x 3.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 17.3mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 23
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 29-87mm (3.0x) 24-384mm (16.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.3-5.9 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing distance 5cm 3cm
Crop factor 7.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech TFT-LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 15 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 1.5 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 6.40 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow-sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 214 grams (0.47 pounds) 208 grams (0.46 pounds)
Dimensions 102 x 65 x 40mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.6") 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
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 260 images
Style of battery AA Battery Pack
Battery ID 2 x AA -
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $119 $279