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Nikon S800c vs Panasonic S3

Portability
93
Imaging
40
Features
40
Overall
40
Nikon Coolpix S800c front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31

Nikon S800c vs Panasonic S3 Key Specs

Nikon S800c
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 184g - 111 x 60 x 27mm
  • Released February 2013
Panasonic S3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-5.6) lens
  • 117g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Announced January 2011
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Nikon S800c vs Panasonic S3 Overview

Following is a in depth review of the Nikon S800c vs Panasonic S3, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by companies Nikon and Panasonic. The image resolution of the S800c (16MP) and the S3 (14MP) is fairly close and they use the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The S800c was brought out 2 years after the S3 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting straight into a thorough comparison, below is a simple view of how the S800c matches up versus the S3 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Nikon S800c over the Panasonic S3

 S800c S3 
AnnouncedFebruary 2013January 2011More modern by 26 months
Display sizing3.5"2.7"Larger display (+0.8")
Display resolution819k230kClearer display (+589k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic S3 over the Nikon S800c

 S3 S800c 

Common features in the Nikon S800c and Panasonic S3

 S800c S3 
Manual focus No manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Nikon S800c vs Panasonic S3 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Nikon S800c provides outer dimensions of 111mm x 60mm x 27mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.1") along with a weight of 184 grams (0.41 lbs) whilst the Panasonic S3 has measurements of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

See the Nikon S800c vs Panasonic S3 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are using at that moment. Below is the front view dimensions comparison of the S800c versus the S3.

Nikon S800c vs Panasonic S3 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the S800c and S3 is 93 and 96 respectively.

Nikon S800c vs Panasonic S3 top view buttons comparison

Nikon S800c vs Panasonic S3 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its hard to visualise the contrast in sensor sizes simply by viewing specifications. The image below will help provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the S800c and S3.

To sum up, both of those cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same resolution. You should anticipate the Nikon S800c to result in greater detail having its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop images a little more aggressively. The newer S800c will have an advantage in sensor technology.

Nikon S800c vs Panasonic S3 sensor size comparison

Nikon S800c vs Panasonic S3 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon S800c vs Panasonic S3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon S800c as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic S3 as a Portrait photography camera
35
decent megapixels (16MP)
supports face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
no manual control
can't use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
28
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Nikon S800c as a Street photography camera
Panasonic S3 as a Street photography camera
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (117 grams)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Nikon S800c as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic S3 as a Sports photography camera
41
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery pack (140 CIPA)
no phase detect autofocus
35
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Nikon S800c Travel photography information
Panasonic S3 Travel photography information
65
decent megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
very long reach (250mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
low battery pack (140 shots)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
68
lighter than competition (117g)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon S800c Landscape photography information
Panasonic S3 Landscape photography information
41
rather wide (25mm)
screen larger than average (3.5 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
no manual control
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
low battery pack (140 shots)
lack of Time Lapse mode
38
pretty wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.7 inch)
lack of manual exposure
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon S800c Vlogging details
Panasonic S3 Vlogging details
35
rather wide (25mm)
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
lack of external mic socket
31
pretty wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (117 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external mic socket
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Nikon S800c vs Panasonic S3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon S800c and Panasonic S3
 Nikon Coolpix S800cPanasonic Lumix DMC-S3
General Information
Brand Name Nikon Panasonic
Model Nikon Coolpix S800c Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Released 2013-02-04 2011-01-05
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed C2 Venus Engine IV
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 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 125 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 9 11
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-250mm (10.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Max aperture f/3.2-5.8 f/3.1-5.6
Macro focus distance 10cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3.5 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 819k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology OLED panel with Anti-reflection coating TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 8 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 8.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 3.30 m
Flash modes - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 184 grams (0.41 lb) 117 grams (0.26 lb)
Dimensions 111 x 60 x 27mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.1") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 140 photos 250 photos
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL12 -
Self timer Yes (10 or 2 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $290 $110