Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic FH20

The following is a thorough comparison of the Nikon S9100 versus Panasonic FH20, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Nikon and Panasonic. The resolution of the S9100 (12MP) and the FH20 (14MP) is pretty similar and they come with the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The S9100 was manufactured 19 months after the FH20 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. The two cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before going straight into a full comparison, below is a brief summation of how the S9100 scores versus the FH20 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

This is a preview of the gallery images for Nikon Coolpix S9100 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20. The entire galleries are available at Nikon S9100 Gallery and Panasonic FH20 Gallery.

If you're aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you are going to need to consider its weight and volume. The Nikon S9100 provides exterior measurements of 105mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.4") along with a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FH20 has sizing of 100mm x 56mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

Look at the Nikon S9100 versus Panasonic FH20 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are working with during that time. Below is the front view measurements comparison of the S9100 vs the FH20.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the S9100 and FH20 is 91 and 93 respectively.

In many cases, it is hard to envision the gap between sensor dimensions just by reviewing a spec sheet. The image below may give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the S9100 and FH20.

As you can see, each of these cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same MP. You should expect the Panasonic FH20 to deliver extra detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The more modern S9100 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.