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Nikon S6500 vs Panasonic ZS80

Portability
92
Imaging
40
Features
51
Overall
44
Nikon Coolpix S6500 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80 front
Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
70
Overall
56

Nikon S6500 vs Panasonic ZS80 Key Specs

Nikon S6500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-300mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 250g - 95 x 58 x 26mm
  • Introduced January 2013
Panasonic ZS80
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200 (Boost to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 327g - 112 x 69 x 42mm
  • Revealed February 2018
  • Other Name is Lumix DC-TZ95
  • Superseded the Panasonic ZS70
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Nikon S6500 vs Panasonic ZS80 Overview

Below is a comprehensive assessment of the Nikon S6500 versus Panasonic ZS80, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by rivals Nikon and Panasonic. The resolution of the S6500 (16MP) and the ZS80 (20MP) is relatively comparable and they use the exact same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The S6500 was unveiled 6 years before the ZS80 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting through a detailed comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the S6500 grades vs the ZS80 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Nikon S6500 over the Panasonic ZS80

 S6500 ZS80 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS80 over the Nikon S6500

 ZS80 S6500 
RevealedFebruary 2018January 2013More recent by 62 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1040k460kSharper screen (+580k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Nikon S6500 and Panasonic ZS80

 S6500 ZS80 
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements

Nikon S6500 vs Panasonic ZS80 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to lug around your camera often, you need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Nikon S6500 offers outside dimensions of 95mm x 58mm x 26mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 1.0") along with a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS80 has dimensions of 112mm x 69mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.7") and a weight of 327 grams (0.72 lbs).

Check out the Nikon S6500 versus Panasonic ZS80 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are using during that time. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the S6500 versus the ZS80.

Nikon S6500 vs Panasonic ZS80 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the S6500 and ZS80 is 92 and 86 respectively.

Nikon S6500 vs Panasonic ZS80 top view buttons comparison

Nikon S6500 vs Panasonic ZS80 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very difficult to imagine the difference in sensor measurements merely by seeing a spec sheet. The visual below will help offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the S6500 and ZS80.

Clearly, the 2 cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit different MP. You should count on the Panasonic ZS80 to provide more detail having an extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The older S6500 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Nikon S6500 vs Panasonic ZS80 sensor size comparison

Nikon S6500 vs Panasonic ZS80 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon S6500 vs Panasonic ZS80 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon S6500
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS80
44
manual focus
MP count decent (16MP)
has face detection focusing
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
54
you can focus manually
MP count good (20 megapixels)
provides face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Nikon S6500 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZS80 as a Street photography camera
62
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (250 grams)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
75
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
supports touch focus
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Nikon S6500 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic ZS80 Sports photography highlights
50
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
has tracking autofocus
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
61
amazing zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
quiet shooting (1/16,000s)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
great battery pack (380 CIPA)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon S6500 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS80 as a Travel photography camera
69
lighter than competitors in class (250g)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
very long zoom (300mm)
missing Timelapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
79
great battery pack (380 CIPA)
connects via bluetooth
supports touch focus
MP count good (20MP)
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
quite wide (24mm)
great zoom (720mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon S6500 Landscape photography info
Panasonic ZS80 Landscape photography info
50
manual focus
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
missing Timelapse function
62
you can focus manually
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20MP)
supports RAW files
great battery pack (380 CIPA)
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon S6500 Vlogging info
Panasonic ZS80 Vlogging info
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors in class (250 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing external microphone jack
73
quite wide (24mm)
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect autofocus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
lack of mic port
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Nikon S6500 vs Panasonic ZS80 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon S6500 and Panasonic ZS80
 Nikon Coolpix S6500Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80
General Information
Brand Name Nikon Panasonic
Model Nikon Coolpix S6500 Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80
Also Known as - Lumix DC-TZ95
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2013-01-08 2018-02-18
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Venus Engine
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 5184 x 3888
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Highest enhanced ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-300mm (12.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus range 5cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 1,040 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology AMOLED display -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,330 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Min shutter speed 8 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Max quiet shutter speed - 1/16000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.50 m 5.60 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync, Slow Sync/Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 480fps (176 x 128), 240fps (384 x 288) 3840 x 2160 (30p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 250 gr (0.55 lbs) 327 gr (0.72 lbs)
Dimensions 95 x 58 x 26mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 1.0") 112 x 69 x 42mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 - 380 photographs
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model SLB-10A -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I supported)
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $170 $448