Clicky

Nikon S3500 vs Panasonic ZS45

Portability
95
Imaging
44
Features
25
Overall
36
Nikon Coolpix S3500 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 front
Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
55
Overall
46

Nikon S3500 vs Panasonic ZS45 Key Specs

Nikon S3500
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-182mm (F3.4-6.4) lens
  • 129g - 97 x 58 x 21mm
  • Launched February 2013
Panasonic ZS45
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 249g - 108 x 60 x 32mm
  • Released January 2015
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ57
  • Old Model is Panasonic ZS40
  • Newer Model is Panasonic ZS50
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Nikon S3500 vs Panasonic ZS45 Overview

Let's look a bit more in depth at the Nikon S3500 and Panasonic ZS45, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Nikon and Panasonic. There exists a large gap among the sensor resolutions of the S3500 (20MP) and ZS45 (16MP) but both cameras provide the identical sensor measurements (1/2.3").

President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

The S3500 was introduced 22 months prior to the ZS45 which makes them a generation away from one another. Each of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before diving right into a complete comparison, here is a quick summation of how the S3500 matches up against the ZS45 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes
	
	

Reasons to pick Nikon S3500 over the Panasonic ZS45

 S3500 ZS45 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS45 over the Nikon S3500

 ZS45 S3500 
ReleasedJanuary 2015February 2013More modern by 22 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1040k230kClearer screen (+810k dot)

Common features in the Nikon S3500 and Panasonic ZS45

 S3500 ZS45 
Focus manually Lack of manual focus
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Nikon S3500 vs Panasonic ZS45 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry around your camera regularly, you need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Nikon S3500 has external dimensions of 97mm x 58mm x 21mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.8") with a weight of 129 grams (0.28 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS45 has dimensions of 108mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs).

Take a look at the Nikon S3500 and Panasonic ZS45 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you select at that moment. Underneath is a front view dimension comparison of the S3500 vs the ZS45.

Nikon S3500 vs Panasonic ZS45 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the S3500 and ZS45 is 95 and 91 respectively.

Nikon S3500 vs Panasonic ZS45 top view buttons comparison

Nikon S3500 vs Panasonic ZS45 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's hard to visualise the difference in sensor sizes merely by seeing specifications. The pic here might offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the S3500 and ZS45.

To sum up, the two cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit not the same MP. You can count on the Nikon S3500 to show more detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots way more aggressively. The more aged S3500 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Nikon S3500 vs Panasonic ZS45 sensor size comparison

Nikon S3500 vs Panasonic ZS45 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon S3500 vs Panasonic ZS45 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon S3500 Portrait photography information
Panasonic ZS45 Portrait photography information
33
MP count good (20MP)
lack of manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
37
decent MP (16 megapixels)
provides face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Street Comparison

Nikon S3500 Street photography advice
Panasonic ZS45 Street photography advice
64
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (129g)
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
69
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (249 grams)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon S3500
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS45
42
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20MP)
no shutter priority
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
56
great zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
provides tracking autofocus
good battery (350 CIPA)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Travel Comparison

Nikon S3500 Travel photography advice
Panasonic ZS45 Travel photography advice
69
lighter than competition (129g)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (26mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
71
good battery (350 per charge)
lighter than competition (249g)
decent MP (16MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (24mm)
great zoom (480mm)
no Timelapse function
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Landscape Comparison

Nikon S3500 Landscape photography info
Panasonic ZS45 Landscape photography info
40
quite wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20MP)
lack of manual focus
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
no manual control
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
lack of Timelapse recording
48
rather wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
good battery (350 shots)
focusing manually not possible
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
no Timelapse function
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon S3500
Vlogging with Panasonic ZS45
31
quite wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (129g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone support
34
rather wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (249g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
no external microphone jack
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Nikon S3500 vs Panasonic ZS45 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon S3500 and Panasonic ZS45
 Nikon Coolpix S3500Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45
General Information
Brand Name Nikon Panasonic
Model Nikon Coolpix S3500 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-TZ57
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2013-02-21 2015-01-06
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.16 x 4.62mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.5mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 5152 x 3864 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 21
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 26-182mm (7.0x) 24-480mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.4-6.4 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus range - 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dot 1,040k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech TFT-LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed - 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 6.00 m
Flash options - Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected 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 129 gr (0.28 lbs) 249 gr (0.55 lbs)
Physical dimensions 97 x 58 x 21mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.8") 108 x 60 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 - 350 photographs
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Self timer - Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage - SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch cost $85 $300