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Nikon S8100 vs Panasonic ZS45

Portability
93
Imaging
35
Features
36
Overall
35
Nikon Coolpix S8100 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 front
Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
55
Overall
46

Nikon S8100 vs Panasonic ZS45 Key Specs

Nikon S8100
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • 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
  • Announced September 2010
Panasonic ZS45
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 249g - 108 x 60 x 32mm
  • Announced January 2015
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ57
  • Superseded the Panasonic ZS40
  • New Model is Panasonic ZS50
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Nikon S8100 vs Panasonic ZS45 Overview

On this page, we will be contrasting the Nikon S8100 versus Panasonic ZS45, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Nikon and Panasonic. There is a noticeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the S8100 (12MP) and ZS45 (16MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The S8100 was launched 5 years before the ZS45 which is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving right into a thorough comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the S8100 scores against the ZS45 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary

        

Reasons to pick Nikon S8100 over the Panasonic ZS45

 S8100 ZS45 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS45 over the Nikon S8100

 ZS45 S8100 
AnnouncedJanuary 2015September 2010More modern by 52 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1040k921kClearer screen (+119k dot)

Common features in the Nikon S8100 and Panasonic ZS45

 S8100 ZS45 
Manually focus No manual focus
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen dimensions
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Nikon S8100 vs Panasonic ZS45 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry around your camera, you will need to factor its weight and proportions. The Nikon S8100 features outside measurements of 104mm x 60mm x 30mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.2") with a weight of 180 grams (0.40 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS45 has measurements of 108mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs).

Compare the Nikon S8100 versus Panasonic ZS45 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the S8100 and the ZS45.

Nikon S8100 vs Panasonic ZS45 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the S8100 and ZS45 is 93 and 91 respectively.

Nikon S8100 vs Panasonic ZS45 top view buttons comparison

Nikon S8100 vs Panasonic ZS45 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's tough to visualise the contrast between sensor sizes just by going over a spec sheet. The pic below will help provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the S8100 and ZS45.

Clearly, both of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same megapixels. You can count on the Panasonic ZS45 to deliver greater detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The more aged S8100 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Nikon S8100 vs Panasonic ZS45 sensor size comparison

Nikon S8100 vs Panasonic ZS45 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon S8100 vs Panasonic ZS45 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon S8100
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS45
26
provides face detection focus
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
37
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
has face detection autofocus
no manual focus
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon S8100
Street photography with Panasonic ZS45
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
69
screen tilts
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (249 grams)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon S8100
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS45
38
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
55
amazing zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has tracking autofocus
better than average battery (350 per charge)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon S8100 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS45 as a Travel photography camera
55
built-in flash
very long zoom (300mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
sensor resolution low (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
wide angle not great (30mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
71
better than average battery (350 CIPA)
lighter than average in class (249g)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
really wide (24mm)
great zoom (480mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon S8100 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic ZS45 Landscape photography factors
32
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (30mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual exposure
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
lack of Timelapse recording
47
really wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
better than average battery (350 CIPA)
no manual focus
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon S8100 Vlogging details
Panasonic ZS45 Vlogging details
30
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
wide angle not great (30mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
lack of external microphone socket
34
really wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average in class (249 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
does not have external microphone support
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Nikon S8100 vs Panasonic ZS45 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon S8100 and Panasonic ZS45
 Nikon Coolpix S8100Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45
General Information
Manufacturer Nikon Panasonic
Model Nikon Coolpix S8100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-TZ57
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2010-09-08 2015-01-06
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed C2 -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 160 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 21
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 30-300mm (10.0x) 24-480mm (20.0x)
Max aperture f/3.5-5.6 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus range 1cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 921k dots 1,040k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 6.00 m
Flash settings - Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 180 grams (0.40 lb) 249 grams (0.55 lb)
Physical dimensions 104 x 60 x 30mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.2") 108 x 60 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3")
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 350 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL12 -
Self timer Yes (10 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $299 $300