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Nikon S8100 vs Panasonic SZ3

Portability
93
Imaging
35
Features
36
Overall
35
Nikon Coolpix S8100 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
29
Overall
35

Nikon S8100 vs Panasonic SZ3 Key Specs

Nikon S8100
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 30-300mm (F3.5-5.6) lens
  • 180g - 104 x 60 x 30mm
  • Revealed September 2010
Panasonic SZ3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 126g - 95 x 56 x 22mm
  • Launched January 2013
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Nikon S8100 vs Panasonic SZ3 Overview

Let's look much closer at the Nikon S8100 vs Panasonic SZ3, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by companies Nikon and Panasonic. There exists a sizable gap between the sensor resolutions of the S8100 (12MP) and SZ3 (16MP) but they possess the exact same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The S8100 was manufactured 3 years earlier than the SZ3 which is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving straight into a thorough comparison, below is a concise summation of how the S8100 grades vs the SZ3 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary

        

Reasons to pick Nikon S8100 over the Panasonic SZ3

 S8100 SZ3 
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ3 over the Nikon S8100

 SZ3 S8100 
LaunchedJanuary 2013September 2010Newer by 28 months

Common features in the Nikon S8100 and Panasonic SZ3

 S8100 SZ3 
Focus manually No manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Nikon S8100 vs Panasonic SZ3 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to travel with your camera regularly, you have to factor its weight and volume. The Nikon S8100 has got exterior dimensions of 104mm x 60mm x 30mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.2") with a weight of 180 grams (0.40 lbs) and the Panasonic SZ3 has sizing of 95mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs).

Take a look at the Nikon S8100 vs Panasonic SZ3 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have chosen at that time. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the S8100 compared to the SZ3.

Nikon S8100 vs Panasonic SZ3 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the S8100 and SZ3 is 93 and 96 respectively.

Nikon S8100 vs Panasonic SZ3 top view buttons comparison

Nikon S8100 vs Panasonic SZ3 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its hard to visualize the gap between sensor dimensions simply by going over specifications. The image below might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the S8100 and SZ3.

To sum up, the 2 cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit different megapixels. You can expect the Panasonic SZ3 to deliver greater detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures much more aggressively. The more aged S8100 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Nikon S8100 vs Panasonic SZ3 sensor size comparison

Nikon S8100 vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon S8100 vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon S8100 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic SZ3 as a Portrait photography camera
26
includes face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
30
MP count good (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon S8100
Street photography with Panasonic SZ3
56
image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (126g)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Nikon S8100 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic SZ3 as a Sports photography camera
38
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes tracking autofocus
no shutter priority mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
includes tracking autofocus
low frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon S8100
Travel photography with Panasonic SZ3
55
built-in flash
long reach (300mm)
lack of Timelapse function
low megapixels (12MP)
does not have a selfie friendly display
wide angle not fantastic (30mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
71
lighter than average (126 grams)
MP count good (16MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
very long zoom (250mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon S8100 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic SZ3 Landscape photography advice
32
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (30mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not available
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
lack of Timelapse function
38
decently wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
no manual control
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon S8100 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic SZ3 as a Vlogging camera
30
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
wide angle not fantastic (30mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not have a selfie friendly display
lack of external microphone socket
31
decently wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (126g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic jack
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Nikon S8100 vs Panasonic SZ3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon S8100 and Panasonic SZ3
 Nikon Coolpix S8100Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3
General Information
Brand Name Nikon Panasonic
Model Nikon Coolpix S8100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2010-09-08 2013-01-07
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Expeed C2 -
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 area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 -
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 160 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 30-300mm (10.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.5-5.6 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus range 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 2.7"
Resolution of display 921 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 4.10 m
Flash modes - Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 180 grams (0.40 lb) 126 grams (0.28 lb)
Dimensions 104 x 60 x 30mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.2") 95 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
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 220 pictures 250 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL12 -
Self timer Yes (10 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail price $299 $150