Nikon S8100 vs Panasonic FH5

Let's look closer at the Nikon S8100 versus Panasonic FH5, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by brands Nikon and Panasonic. There exists a crucial gap among the resolutions of the S8100 (12MP) and FH5 (16MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The S8100 was revealed 3 months earlier than the FH5 and they are both of a similar generation. Both the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before getting into a in-depth comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the S8100 matches up against the FH5 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Nikon Coolpix S8100 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5. The full galleries are available at Nikon S8100 Gallery and Panasonic FH5 Gallery.

If you are looking to lug around your camera, you need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Nikon S8100 comes with outer measurements of 104mm x 60mm x 30mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.2") and a weight of 180 grams (0.40 lbs) while the Panasonic FH5 has proportions of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") having a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs).

Contrast the Nikon S8100 versus Panasonic FH5 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you select at that time. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the S8100 compared to the FH5.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the S8100 and FH5 is 93 and 96 respectively.

More often than not, it is hard to visualize the gap in sensor measurements purely by researching technical specs. The visual here will give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the S8100 and FH5.

As you can tell, each of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different megapixels. You should count on the Panasonic FH5 to result in greater detail because of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop photographs a bit more aggressively.