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Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic SZ5

Portability
91
Imaging
35
Features
41
Overall
37
Nikon Coolpix S9100 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 front
Portability
95
Imaging
37
Features
34
Overall
35

Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic SZ5 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
  • Released July 2011
  • Updated by Nikon S9300
Panasonic SZ5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Expand to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 104 x 58 x 21mm
  • Introduced July 2012
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Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic SZ5 Overview

Here, we will be evaluating the Nikon S9100 and Panasonic SZ5, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Nikon and Panasonic. The resolution of the S9100 (12MP) and the SZ5 (14MP) is pretty close and both cameras provide the identical sensor size (1/2.3").

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The S9100 was announced 12 months before the SZ5 so they are both of a similar age. Both of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before going straight to a full comparison, here is a short overview of how the S9100 grades vs the SZ5 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary

        

Reasons to pick Nikon S9100 over the Panasonic SZ5

 S9100 SZ5 
Focus manually More accurate focus
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ5 over the Nikon S9100

 SZ5 S9100 
IntroducedJuly 2012July 2011More recent by 12 months

Common features in the Nikon S9100 and Panasonic SZ5

 S9100 SZ5 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen size
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen Neither offers Touch screen

Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic SZ5 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera, you're going to have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Nikon S9100 offers outer measurements of 105mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.4") having a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs) while the Panasonic SZ5 has dimensions of 104mm x 58mm x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") and a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs).

See the Nikon S9100 and Panasonic SZ5 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have attached at the time. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the S9100 vs the SZ5.

Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic SZ5 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the S9100 and SZ5 is 91 and 95 respectively.

Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic SZ5 top view buttons comparison

Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic SZ5 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's tough to visualise the difference in sensor measurements just by looking through specifications. The photograph below may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the S9100 and SZ5.

To sum up, each of the cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit not the same MP. You can expect the Panasonic SZ5 to render extra detail with its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will let you crop pictures way more aggressively. The older S9100 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic SZ5 sensor size comparison

Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon S9100
Portrait photography with Panasonic SZ5
32
manual focus
provides face detection focus
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
33
good resolution (14 megapixels)
offers face detect focusing
no manual focus
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon S9100
Street photography with Panasonic SZ5
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others in class (214 grams)
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (136g)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Nikon S9100 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic SZ5 Sports photography highlights
36
amazing zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery power (270 CIPA)
no phase detect auto focus
39
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Nikon S9100 Travel photography features
Panasonic SZ5 Travel photography features
61
lighter than others in class (214 grams)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
great reach (450mm)
missing Timelapse function
bad battery power (270 shots)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
70
lighter than competition in class (136 grams)
good resolution (14MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
long zoom (250mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
doesn't have selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon S9100 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic SZ5 as a Landscape photography camera
39
manual focus
rather wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not available
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
bad battery power (270 CIPA)
missing Timelapse function
42
fairly wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon S9100
Vlogging with Panasonic SZ5
34
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others in class (214 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
missing external microphone socket
32
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focusing
lighter than competition in class (136g)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have microphone port
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Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic SZ5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon S9100 and Panasonic SZ5
 Nikon Coolpix S9100Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
General Information
Brand Nikon Panasonic
Model Nikon Coolpix S9100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2011-07-19 2012-07-18
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Expeed C2 -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 3200 1600
Maximum boosted ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 160 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 9 23
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-450mm (18.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.5-5.9 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus distance 4cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 921k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating TFT Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 8 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 10.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.00 m 5.60 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720p ( 30,25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 214 grams (0.47 lbs) 136 grams (0.30 lbs)
Physical dimensions 105 x 62 x 35mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.4") 104 x 58 x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8")
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 270 pictures 250 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL12 -
Self timer Yes (10 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $329 $195