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Nikon S6500 vs Panasonic TS3

Portability
92
Imaging
40
Features
51
Overall
44
Nikon Coolpix S6500 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3 front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
31
Overall
34

Nikon S6500 vs Panasonic TS3 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 TS3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-128mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 197g - 103 x 64 x 27mm
  • Launched August 2011
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-FT3
  • Succeeded the Panasonic TS2
  • Newer Model is Panasonic TS4
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Nikon S6500 vs Panasonic TS3 Overview

Below, we will be matching up the Nikon S6500 versus Panasonic TS3, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Waterproof by rivals Nikon and Panasonic. There is a sizable difference among the image resolutions of the S6500 (16MP) and TS3 (12MP) but they use the exact same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The S6500 was manufactured 18 months after the TS3 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief overview of how the S6500 scores versus the TS3 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon S6500 over the Panasonic TS3

 S6500 TS3 
LaunchedJanuary 2013August 2011More modern by 18 months
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic TS3 over the Nikon S6500

 TS3 S6500 

Common features in the Nikon S6500 and Panasonic TS3

 S6500 TS3 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Nikon S6500 vs Panasonic TS3 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry around your camera often, you will have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Nikon S6500 has outer measurements of 95mm x 58mm x 26mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 1.0") and a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) while the Panasonic TS3 has measurements of 103mm x 64mm x 27mm (4.1" x 2.5" x 1.1") along with a weight of 197 grams (0.43 lbs).

Take a look at the Nikon S6500 versus Panasonic TS3 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are working with at that moment. The following is the front view dimensions comparison of the S6500 vs the TS3.

Nikon S6500 vs Panasonic TS3 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the S6500 and TS3 is 92 and 92 respectively.

Nikon S6500 vs Panasonic TS3 top view buttons comparison

Nikon S6500 vs Panasonic TS3 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its tough to imagine the gap in sensor sizes purely by seeing a spec sheet. The image here may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the S6500 and TS3.

As you can see, the 2 cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit different MP. You can count on the Nikon S6500 to show greater detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will let you crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The more recent S6500 should have an edge in sensor technology.

Nikon S6500 vs Panasonic TS3 sensor size comparison

Nikon S6500 vs Panasonic TS3 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon S6500 vs Panasonic TS3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon S6500 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic TS3 as a Portrait photography camera
44
you can focus manually
MP count decent (16MP)
features face detection autofocus
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
21
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Nikon S6500 Street photography factors
Panasonic TS3 Street photography factors
62
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (250g)
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
61
image stabilization (Optical)
weather proofing
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Nikon S6500 Sports photography information
Panasonic TS3 Sports photography information
50
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
38
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with tracking autofocus
weather proofing
better than average battery (310 CIPA)
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,300s)
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon S6500 Travel photography information
Panasonic TS3 Travel photography information
69
lighter than competition in class (250 grams)
MP count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
long reach (300mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
64
better than average battery (310 shots)
weather proofing
has built in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse recording
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon S6500 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic TS3 as a Landscape photography camera
50
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
lack of Time Lapse mode
38
relatively wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
weather proofing
better than average battery (310 per charge)
manual focus not available
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not available
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon S6500 Vlogging details
Panasonic TS3 Vlogging details
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (250g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
lack of external mic socket
32
relatively wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
no external mic socket
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Nikon S6500 vs Panasonic TS3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon S6500 and Panasonic TS3
 Nikon Coolpix S6500Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3
General Information
Manufacturer Nikon Panasonic
Model type Nikon Coolpix S6500 Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3
Other name - Lumix DMC-FT3
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Introduced 2013-01-08 2011-08-16
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-300mm (12.0x) 28-128mm (4.6x)
Max aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing distance 5cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology AMOLED display TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1300 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 5.60 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance 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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 250g (0.55 lbs) 197g (0.43 lbs)
Dimensions 95 x 58 x 26mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 1.0") 103 x 64 x 27mm (4.1" x 2.5" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 310 photos
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery ID SLB-10A -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $170 $380