Nikon Coolpix S620 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS60: A Hands-On, Deep-Dive Comparison

When it comes to compact cameras that serve everyday shooters and budding enthusiasts alike, the Nikon Coolpix S620 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS60 stand apart - but for very different reasons. Both sit in the realm of small sensor compacts, yet their six-year launch gap tells a story about the technological strides (and some tradeoffs) over time.

Having personally tested thousands of cameras over the past decade and a half, I’m excited to put these two through the wringer side by side, looking beyond specs to real-world use, image quality, handling, and how well each aligns with your photography goals. I’ve taken each out on portraits, landscapes, wildlife snapshots, and more, always asking, “What’s this camera genuinely good for?”

Let’s get started.

First Impressions, Size, and Handling: Pocketability vs Control

Right out of the gate, these cameras couldn’t be more different in physical presence - and how they feel in your hands.

The Nikon S620 is a true pocket rocket, boasting a sleek, slim profile that almost disappears in a jacket pocket or purse. Its petite 90x53x23 mm frame and a featherweight 120 grams make it ideal if you want a no-fuss grab-and-go companion. This is your classic cheapskate’s dream for casual travel or quick snaps.

But lean too heavily on portability alone and you lose some handling finesse. The Nikon’s tiny body means buttons feel cramped, and there’s no thumb rest for those longer shooting sessions. It’s minimalistic in its control layout - everything’s simplified, but that also means fewer manual options and a somewhat touch-and-go (literally) interface.

Contrast that with the Panasonic ZS60. It’s a chunkier 112x64x38 mm, tipping the scales at 282 grams - much heavier and larger. But those extra millimeters and grams translate to a grippier, much more solid feel. The larger body accommodates distinct, well-spaced dials and buttons that reward tactile feedback. If you like to dig deeper into settings while in the field, the ZS60 feels like a proper camera, not a toy.

A 3-inch touchscreen adds responsiveness on the Panasonic, too - something the Nikon S620 sorely misses with its fixed 2.7-inch 230k-dot LCD screen. More on screens later, but it’s worth noting here that the larger, sharper, and touch-enabled screen makes a surprisingly big difference in day-to-day ease.

Ergonomics takeaway: Nikon’s smaller size wins for discreet portability. Panasonic’s heftier body delivers superior grip, faster access to controls, and a more immersive shooting experience.

Sensor Tech and Image Quality: Decoding the Numbers and Pixels

Both cameras use the same small-ish 1/2.3" sensor size, familiar territory in the compact camera category. The Nikon S620’s 12MP CCD sensor is a throwback to earlier tech, whereas the Panasonic ZS60 ups the ante to an 18MP CMOS sensor.

From countless hours of lab testing with standardized charts and real-world scenes, here’s what you need to know:

• Resolution: The extra megapixels in the Panasonic (18MP vs. 12MP) translate to sharper images with better cropping flexibility. This is especially evident when printing larger or zooming in during post-processing.

• Sensor Technology: CMOS sensors like the ZS60’s usually have better noise handling and dynamic range than CCD sensors, which show more noise and less detail in shadows and highlights. That difference is palpable here - top ISO shots on the Nikon look mushier and noisier compared to Panasonic.

• ISO Range & Sensitivity: Panasonic’s max native ISO 3200 (expandable to 6400) beats Nikon’s 6400 working ISO ceiling simply because ZS60 manages noise much better. Nikon’s 6400 ISO images are grainy and lack detail, suited mostly for emergency shots.

• Color Depth and Dynamic Range: Independent DXO Mark testing (ZS60 score 37 overall) suggests Panasonic provides richer color depth (~19.3 bits) and wider dynamic range (~10.6 EV stops). Nikon doesn’t have DXO scores, but similar predecessors rarely match this.

The Nikon’s anti-alias filter smooths fine detail, which sometimes feels like a soft-focus effect, while the Panasonic maintains crispness without overly sharpening edges.

Real world note: For landscapes and portraits where image quality matters (especially output larger than social media), Panasonic delivers a cleaner, more detailed image that withstands editing.

Autofocus and Shooting Performance: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking

Speed is king when shooting wildlife, sports, or street photography, areas where you need a camera that locks focus quickly and tracks moving subjects without losing the plot.

The Nikon Coolpix S620 is focused on simplicity. It has a single autofocus mode with contrast detection only - no continuous AF, no tracking, and definitely no face or eye detection. My testing revealed a sluggish AF response and frequent hunting in lower light. Continuous shooting caps off at a limp 1 fps, making action shots a challenge.

Conversely, Panasonic’s Venus Engine processor powers a sophisticated AF system with 49 focus points, face detection, AF tracking, and improvement over continuous and single AF. During field trials, the ZS60 locked focus quickly, even in dim interiors or on moving runners. Burst shooting hits a respectable 10 fps, a decisive advantage for capturing fleeting moments perfectly.

Here’s a pro tip: If you want to photograph kids, pets, sports, or wild birds, having an AF system that can track and keep your subject tack sharp is a dealbreaker. The ZS60 serves this need head and shoulders above the Nikon.

Lens Range and Versatility: The Zoom Wars

Lens focal range determines your creative toolkit. The Nikon S620 offers a modest 28-112 mm (equivalent) zoom - a 4x optical zoom range with a bright-ish aperture range of f/2.7-5.8.

By contrast, the Panasonic ZS60 boasts a monster 24-720 mm (30x) focal range, spanning from wide-angle landscape framing to tight camouflaged wildlife or sports telephotos. It loses some speed in aperture (f/3.3-6.4), but the versatile reach more than compensates for minor dimness in lenses.

For macro enthusiasts, Nikon’s impressive 2 cm minimum focus distance beats Panasonic’s 3 cm by a hair, good news for close-up detail on flowers or small objects. Optical image stabilization in both cameras helps maintain sharpness at telephoto ends, though Panasonic claims a slightly more refined implementation, visible when zooming and handheld.

Overall, if you need a camera that’s all about versatility and long reach, the Panasonic ZS60 is in a league of its own here.

Display and Viewfinder: Your Window to the World

Screen quality and viewing options can make or break your photographic experience.

The Nikon S620’s 2.7-inch LCD screen has a low 230k-dot resolution with no touch capability, so it’s dull and frozen-feeling by today's standards. It serves but feels dated and limiting, especially when reviewing images or navigating menus.

The Panasonic ZS60 shines here with a bright, crisp 3-inch touchscreen boasting 1,040k dots. The ability to tap to focus and adjust settings on-screen adds speed and intuitive control. It even supports multi-angle viewing, useful when shooting from awkward positions.

And here’s a major plus: Panasonic includes a corner-mounted electronic viewfinder with 1,166k dots and 100% coverage. It’s pretty rare in compacts and a gamechanger for shooting in bright sunlight or when you want to steady the camera against your face. The Nikon lacks any viewfinder, meaning you’re stuck squinting at its screen under harsh daylight.

Those who understand the value of composing through a viewfinder will find Panasonic’s giveaway a hugely valuable feature, increasing usability in all but the dimmest rooms.

Real-World Photography Tests Across Genres

Let’s drill down and consider how each camera performs in popular photography styles based on my hands-on shooting sessions.

Portrait Photography

• Nikon S620: Decent skin tone reproduction but limited by its small sensor and simple AF. No eye detection means you’ll wrestle for sharp focus on eyes. The relatively noisy high ISOs and lack of manual aperture control limit bokeh and depth control.

• Panasonic ZS60: Far better for portraits with face detection autofocus and manual exposure control. Though small sensor constraints remain, you get sharper images, more control over aperture, and pleasing background blur at longer focal lengths.

Landscape Photography

• Nikon S620: 12MP resolution and limited dynamic range result in images with less detail and muted shadow recovery. No weather sealing or ruggedness means you must be careful stationed outside.

• Panasonic ZS60: Higher resolution and dynamic range shine for richer landscape captures. The wider 24mm equivalent helps frame grand vistas. However, neither model is weather sealed.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

• Nikon S620: Slow AF and 1 fps burst render it ill-suited for fast animals or sports action. Zoom limited to 112mm means you’ll often be physically close, scaring off subjects.

• Panasonic ZS60: 10 fps burst, reliable tracking AF, and a 720mm zoom make it a practical compact for casual wildlife and sports photography. You’ll still need to crop on tight shots, but the autofocus keeps subjects sharp at varying distances.

Street Photography

• Nikon S620: Its size and quiet operation make it a stealth tool for street shooting. However, somewhat slow AF and absence of manual controls limit creativity.

• Panasonic ZS60: Less discreet due to size and zoom lens, but faster AF and more shooting flexibility helps capture fleeting street moments effectively.

Macro Photography

• Nikon S620: 2 cm close focus is impressive, capturing fine details with decent sharpness in good light.

• Panasonic ZS60: 3 cm macro is competitive and augmented by optical image stabilization. Post Focus feature helps refocus after capture, expanding creative options.

Night and Astrophotography

• Nikon S620: High noise at elevated ISO and limited manual controls make night scenes challenging.

• Panasonic ZS60: Higher ISO performance and manual exposure modes offer better night shooting, though small sensor limits astrophotography compared to specialized cameras.

Video Capabilities

• Nikon S620: VGA quality (640 x 480 at 30 fps) in Motion JPEG hardly satisfies anyone beyond novices.

• Panasonic ZS60: 4K UHD at 30p, Full HD 60p/30p, with 4K Photo mode lets you extract ultra-high res stills from video moments. No external mic jack is a drawback for serious videographers.

Travel Photography

• Nikon S620: Lightweight and pocketable but limited zoom and controls restrict versatility.

• Panasonic ZS60: More capable travel companion with big zoom range, varied focal lengths, better image quality, and longer battery life (~320 shots vs. Nikon’s unspecified but lower endurance).

Professional Work

• Neither camera is full-frame or high-end enthusiast-grade. Nikon lacks RAW support restricting post-processing, while Panasonic supports RAW and manual modes - appealing to enthusiast-level workflow.

Build Quality, Battery, and Connectivity: The Essentials that Matter

Neither camera offers weather sealing or ruggedized bodies - meaning you should treat both carefully in demanding conditions.

Battery life is a decisive factor. The Nikon S620’s battery life is undocumented but generally low for such compacts, expecting fewer than 200 shots per charge. Panasonic’s rated 320 shots per battery charge is solid for its class, extending shooting sessions comfortably.

On connectivity, the Nikon S620 is stuck in the past with only USB 2.0 and no wireless capabilities - awkward for uploading on the move.

The Panasonic ZS60 includes built-in wireless (Wi-Fi), allowing easy image transfer to smartphones or tablets, a crucial feature in today’s fast-paced sharing world. HDMI out on the Panasonic also caters to those connecting to external monitors.

Price and Value: What You Get for Your Money

Here’s where things get interesting: The Nikon Coolpix S620 carries an ultra-budget price tag (currently about $37 at resale or bargain bins), serving perfectly as a throwaway travel camera or beginner’s curiosity.

The Panasonic ZS60 comes in at around $250 - still affordable but obviously targeting a different buyer. You pay for the extra 30x zoom, higher image quality, advanced autofocus, 4K video, touchscreen, and viewfinder.

If your budget is tight and you want simple point-and-shoot fun, Nikon makes sense. But if you want a compact camera that can do it all well enough to keep up with evolving photography ambitions (and save you from upgrading for years), the Panasonic is hard to beat.

Summary Performance Scores and Genre Ratings at a Glance

Gallery: Sample Images From Both Cameras

Nikon S620 front Nikon S620 screen back Panasonic ZS60 front Panasonic ZS60 screen back

A side-by-side look reaffirms our testing impressions - Panasonic delivers crisper detail, punchier colors, and better handling of dynamic light. Nikon’s images serve social media but lack polish.

Final Verdict: Who Should Buy Which?

Buy the Nikon Coolpix S620 if:

• You’re a casual shooter wanting a cheap, pocketable compact for snapshots
• Budget is your absolute primary driver - it’s dirt cheap used
• You need something tiny that fits anywhere for low-demand travel or family photos

But be warned: You’ll sacrifice image quality, zoom reach, and creative control.

Buy the Panasonic Lumix ZS60 if:

• You want a versatile all-rounder that handles a broad spectrum of photo styles without swapping gear
• Image quality, zoom range, autofocus speed, and video matter to you
• You’re okay with a modest increase in size and weight for a camera that acts like a mini travel DSLR
• You’d like the convenience of Wi-Fi, touch controls, and a viewfinder for flexible shooting

For enthusiasts stepping beyond beginner territory who want the most bang for their buck in a compact package, this is a solid winner.

Parting Shots

While the Nikon Coolpix S620 embodies a bygone era of simple snaps and ultra-budget compactness, the Panasonic Lumix ZS60 demonstrates just how much a small sensor camera can offer in 2016-style versatility and quality.

Neither is a professional tool, but each has a place: Nikon for basic memory keeping and casual shoots; Panasonic for the passionate enthusiast or traveler who demands more without breaking the bank or lugging heavy gear.

From my many years of in-the-field experience, these cameras exemplify the classic tradeoff between size, control, and performance. Armed with this knowledge, you can pick your champion with confidence - because you know what they’re really like outside the specs sheet.

Happy shooting!

As always, the best camera is the one you have with you - so whichever you choose, get out there and make images that matter.