Nikon S32 vs Panasonic ZS1

Let's look much closer at the Nikon S32 and Panasonic ZS1, one being a Waterproof and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Nikon and Panasonic. There is a crucial difference among the resolutions of the S32 (13MP) and ZS1 (10MP) and the S32 (1/3") and ZS1 (1/2.5") come with totally different sensor size.

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The S32 was launched 4 years later than the ZS1 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting straight into a detailed comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the S32 scores against the ZS1 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Below is a preview of the gallery images for Nikon Coolpix S32 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1. The complete galleries are available at Nikon S32 Gallery and Panasonic ZS1 Gallery.

When you are aiming to lug around your camera often, you need to factor its weight and volume. The Nikon S32 comes with physical measurements of 108mm x 66mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.6") with a weight of 175 grams (0.39 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS1 has sizing of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).

Check the Nikon S32 and Panasonic ZS1 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have at that time. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the S32 against the ZS1.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the S32 and ZS1 is 90 and 91 respectively.

Oftentimes, its difficult to envision the gap in sensor measurements just by seeing a spec sheet. The visual below should offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the S32 and ZS1.

As you can see, both cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The S32 due to its smaller sensor will make achieving bokeh tougher and the Nikon S32 will produce more detail utilizing its extra 3 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs far more aggressively. The fresher S32 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.