Nikon S630 vs Panasonic FH5

Its time to look a bit more closely at the Nikon S630 vs Panasonic FH5, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by brands Nikon and Panasonic. There exists a sizable gap between the resolutions of the S630 (12MP) and FH5 (16MP) but both cameras have the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The S630 was unveiled 23 months prior to the FH5 which makes them a generation away from one another. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before delving right into a in depth comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the S630 matches up against the FH5 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Nikon Coolpix S630 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5. The full galleries are viewable at Nikon S630 Gallery & Panasonic FH5 Gallery.

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera frequently, you should consider its weight and volume. The Nikon S630 offers physical measurements of 97mm x 58mm x 26mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 1.0") with a weight of 140 grams (0.31 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FH5 has sizing of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs).

Check out the Nikon S630 vs Panasonic FH5 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are employing at the time. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the S630 versus the FH5.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the S630 and FH5 is 95 and 96 respectively.

Quite often, it's difficult to visualise the contrast between sensor dimensions only by reading through technical specs. The picture underneath might offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the S630 and FH5.

As you have seen, each of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same resolution. You can expect the Panasonic FH5 to resolve greater detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots more aggressively. The more aged S630 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.