Nikon S31 vs Panasonic SZ7

Lets look a bit more closely at the Nikon S31 vs Panasonic SZ7, one is a Waterproof and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Nikon and Panasonic. There is a big difference between the image resolutions of the S31 (10MP) and SZ7 (14MP) and the S31 (1/2.9") and SZ7 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor dimensions.

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The S31 was announced 18 months after the SZ7 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Both of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief view of how the S31 grades against the SZ7 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Nikon Coolpix S31 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7. The whole galleries are provided at Nikon S31 Gallery and Panasonic SZ7 Gallery.

When you are planning to travel with your camera often, you should think about its weight and size. The Nikon S31 has external measurements of 105mm x 65mm x 42mm (4.1" x 2.6" x 1.7") along with a weight of 185 grams (0.41 lbs) and the Panasonic SZ7 has specifications of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 133 grams (0.29 lbs).

Look at the Nikon S31 vs Panasonic SZ7 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen at that moment. The following is the front view dimension comparison of the S31 compared to the SZ7.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the S31 and SZ7 is 90 and 95 respectively.

In many cases, it's difficult to visualize the difference between sensor dimensions simply by checking a spec sheet. The image below may offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the S31 and SZ7.

As you can see, both cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The S31 with its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field more difficult and the Panasonic SZ7 will give you greater detail with its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop photographs much more aggressively. The more recent S31 provides an advantage with regard to sensor tech.