Nikon S5100 vs Panasonic ZS60

In this write-up, we are analyzing the Nikon S5100 and Panasonic ZS60, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Nikon and Panasonic. There exists a crucial gap between the resolutions of the S5100 (12MP) and ZS60 (18MP) but they feature the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The S5100 was released 6 years prior to the ZS60 and that is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting through a thorough comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the S5100 matches up versus the ZS60 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Nikon Coolpix S5100 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS60. The complete galleries are viewable at Nikon S5100 Gallery and Panasonic ZS60 Gallery.

If you are aiming to lug around your camera often, you're going to have to think about its weight and size. The Nikon S5100 has outer measurements of 97mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS60 has specifications of 112mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") and a weight of 282 grams (0.62 lbs).

Analyze the Nikon S5100 and Panasonic ZS60 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are using at the time. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the S5100 compared to the ZS60.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the S5100 and ZS60 is 95 and 88 respectively.

More often than not, it is very tough to see the contrast between sensor measurements purely by looking at a spec sheet. The visual underneath will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the S5100 and ZS60.

As you can see, both of those cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same resolution. You should expect to see the Panasonic ZS60 to give you greater detail as a result of its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop images far more aggressively. The older S5100 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.