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Nikon S3500 vs Panasonic ZS50

Portability
95
Imaging
44
Features
25
Overall
36
Nikon Coolpix S3500 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 front
Portability
90
Imaging
36
Features
57
Overall
44

Nikon S3500 vs Panasonic ZS50 Key Specs

Nikon S3500
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-182mm (F3.4-6.4) lens
  • 129g - 97 x 58 x 21mm
  • Released February 2013
Panasonic ZS50
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 243g - 111 x 65 x 34mm
  • Released January 2015
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ70
  • Replaced the Panasonic ZS45
  • Later Model is Panasonic ZS60
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Nikon S3500 vs Panasonic ZS50 Overview

In this write-up, we are contrasting the Nikon S3500 versus Panasonic ZS50, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Nikon and Panasonic. There is a considerable difference between the resolutions of the S3500 (20MP) and ZS50 (12MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The S3500 was released 22 months earlier than the ZS50 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick summary of how the S3500 scores against the ZS50 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon S3500 over the Panasonic ZS50

 S3500 ZS50 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS50 over the Nikon S3500

 ZS50 S3500 
ReleasedJanuary 2015February 2013Fresher by 22 months
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1040k230kClearer display (+810k dot)

Common features in the Nikon S3500 and Panasonic ZS50

 S3500 ZS50 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Nikon S3500 vs Panasonic ZS50 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry your camera regularly, you'll have to think about its weight and volume. The Nikon S3500 comes with outer measurements of 97mm x 58mm x 21mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.8") and a weight of 129 grams (0.28 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS50 has sizing of 111mm x 65mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") having a weight of 243 grams (0.54 lbs).

Contrast the Nikon S3500 versus Panasonic ZS50 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are employing at the time. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the S3500 against the ZS50.

Nikon S3500 vs Panasonic ZS50 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the S3500 and ZS50 is 95 and 90 respectively.

Nikon S3500 vs Panasonic ZS50 top view buttons comparison

Nikon S3500 vs Panasonic ZS50 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be tough to visualize the gap between sensor sizing simply by reviewing technical specs. The photograph here will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the S3500 and ZS50.

As you can tell, both of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but different megapixels. You can expect to see the Nikon S3500 to offer greater detail as a result of its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop pics a little more aggressively. The older S3500 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Nikon S3500 vs Panasonic ZS50 sensor size comparison

Nikon S3500 vs Panasonic ZS50 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon S3500 vs Panasonic ZS50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon S3500 Portrait photography information
Panasonic ZS50 Portrait photography information
33
decent MP (20 megapixels)
no manual focus
no manual mode
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
41
has manual focus
provides face detect focus
exports RAW formats
cannot use external flash
low resolution (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Nikon S3500 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZS50 as a Street photography camera
64
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (129g)
no articulating screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
68
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
lighter than average in class (243g)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Nikon S3500 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic ZS50 Sports photography highlights
42
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20 megapixels)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
43
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking focus
low resolution (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon S3500 Travel photography information
Panasonic ZS50 Travel photography information
69
lighter than competition (129 grams)
decent MP (20MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (26mm)
no Time Lapse mode
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
66
lighter than average in class (243g)
flash built-in
fairly wide (24mm)
very long reach (720mm)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon S3500 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic ZS50 Landscape photography advice
40
reasonably wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
tiny screen (2.7")
no manual mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
no Time Lapse mode
51
has manual focus
fairly wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon S3500 Vlogging factors
Panasonic ZS50 Vlogging factors
31
reasonably wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (129 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no mic jack
34
fairly wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average in class (243g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have mic support
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Nikon S3500 vs Panasonic ZS50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon S3500 and Panasonic ZS50
 Nikon Coolpix S3500Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50
General Information
Make Nikon Panasonic
Model type Nikon Coolpix S3500 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50
Alternative name - Lumix DMC-TZ70
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2013-02-21 2015-01-06
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.16 x 4.62mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 5152 x 3864 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 23
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 26-182mm (7.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Max aperture f/3.4-6.4 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 1,040 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology TFT-LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,166 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.46x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate - 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 6.40 m
Flash modes - Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance 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 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 129 gr (0.28 lbs) 243 gr (0.54 lbs)
Dimensions 97 x 58 x 21mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.8") 111 x 65 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 44
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 20.0
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.2
DXO Low light rating not tested 138
Other
Battery life - 300 photographs
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Self timer - Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage - SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $85 $350