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Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic FZ40

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
41
Overall
38
Nikon Coolpix S9100 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 front
Portability
68
Imaging
37
Features
40
Overall
38

Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic FZ40 Key Specs

Nikon S9100
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-450mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 214g - 105 x 62 x 35mm
  • Revealed July 2011
  • Successor is Nikon S9300
Panasonic FZ40
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 494g - 120 x 80 x 92mm
  • Released July 2010
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-FZ45
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Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic FZ40 Overview

Lets take a deeper look at the Nikon S9100 versus Panasonic FZ40, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by manufacturers Nikon and Panasonic. The image resolution of the S9100 (12MP) and the FZ40 (14MP) is relatively well matched and both cameras offer the identical sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The S9100 was unveiled 13 months later than the FZ40 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Nikon S9100 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a quick view of how the S9100 matches up versus the FZ40 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon S9100 over the Panasonic FZ40

 S9100 FZ40 
ReleasedJuly 2011July 2010Fresher by 13 months
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ40 over the Nikon S9100

 FZ40 S9100 

Common features in the Nikon S9100 and Panasonic FZ40

 S9100 FZ40 
Manual focus Very precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen dimensions
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic FZ40 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry your camera often, you need to consider its weight and proportions. The Nikon S9100 features outer measurements of 105mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs) while the Panasonic FZ40 has measurements of 120mm x 80mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") accompanied by a weight of 494 grams (1.09 lbs).

Take a look at the Nikon S9100 versus Panasonic FZ40 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you choose during that time. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the S9100 vs the FZ40.

Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic FZ40 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the S9100 and FZ40 is 91 and 68 respectively.

Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic FZ40 top view buttons comparison

Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic FZ40 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor sizing only by reading through specs. The visual underneath may provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the S9100 and FZ40.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit different resolution. You can count on the Panasonic FZ40 to give you more detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The newer S9100 provides an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic FZ40 sensor size comparison

Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic FZ40 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic FZ40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon S9100
Portrait photography with Panasonic FZ40
33
manual focus
includes face detect focusing
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
46
manual focus
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
delivers RAW files
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Nikon S9100 Street photography factors
Panasonic FZ40 Street photography factors
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average (214g)
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
heavier than others (494 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon S9100
Sports photography with Panasonic FZ40
36
great zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes tracking focus
no shutter priority
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery life (270 shots)
doesn't have phase detect AF
43
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14MP)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames per second)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Nikon S9100 Travel photography information
Panasonic FZ40 Travel photography information
61
lighter than average (214 grams)
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
great zoom (450mm)
missing Time Lapse function
bad battery life (270 shots)
resolution not great (12MP)
does not have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
54
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
heavier than others (494 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon S9100 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FZ40 as a Landscape photography camera
40
manual focus
decently wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
no manual exposure
resolution not great (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
bad battery life (270 per charge)
missing Time Lapse function
51
manual focus
decently wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14MP)
delivers RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon S9100 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic FZ40 as a Vlogging camera
34
decently wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average (214g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not have a selfie friendly display
missing mic support
23
decently wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have mic support
heavier than others (494g)
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Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic FZ40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon S9100 and Panasonic FZ40
 Nikon Coolpix S9100Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40
General Information
Brand Name Nikon Panasonic
Model Nikon Coolpix S9100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40
Other name - Lumix DMC-FZ45
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2011-07-19 2010-07-21
Physical type Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Expeed C2 Venus Engine HD II
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 12MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 160 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 9 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-450mm (18.0x) 25-600mm (24.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.5-5.9 f/2.8-5.2
Macro focus distance 4cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 921k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.00 m 9.50 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD Lite
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 214 gr (0.47 pounds) 494 gr (1.09 pounds)
Physical dimensions 105 x 62 x 35mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.4") 120 x 80 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 270 pictures -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model EN-EL12 -
Self timer Yes (10 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 pictures))
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Price at release $329 $420