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Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic ZS1

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
41
Overall
38
Nikon Coolpix S9100 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 front
Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
25
Overall
29

Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic ZS1 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
  • Later Model is Nikon S9300
Panasonic ZS1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 229g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Released May 2009
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ6
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Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic ZS1 Overview

Lets take a more detailed look at the Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic ZS1, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by brands Nikon and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the S9100 (12MP) and the ZS1 (10MP) is fairly similar but the S9100 (1/2.3") and ZS1 (1/2.5") have different sensor size.

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The S9100 was announced 2 years after the ZS1 which is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before delving straight to a thorough comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the S9100 scores against the ZS1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon S9100 over the Panasonic ZS1

 S9100 ZS1 
ReleasedJuly 2011May 2009More modern by 27 months
Manually focus Very precise focus
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS1 over the Nikon S9100

 ZS1 S9100 

Common features in the Nikon S9100 and Panasonic ZS1

 S9100 ZS1 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic ZS1 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry around your camera regularly, you need to think about its weight and size. The Nikon S9100 provides outer measurements of 105mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.4") and a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS1 has specifications of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).

Look at the Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic ZS1 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you choose at that moment. Underneath is a front view over all size comparison of the S9100 against the ZS1.

Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic ZS1 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the S9100 and ZS1 is 91 and 91 respectively.

Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic ZS1 top view buttons comparison

Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic ZS1 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is tough to imagine the contrast between sensor sizes purely by reviewing specs. The picture below should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the S9100 and ZS1.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The S9100 with its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF less difficult and the Nikon S9100 will offer more detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop pics a bit more aggressively. The younger S9100 should have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic ZS1 sensor size comparison

Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic ZS1 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic ZS1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon S9100 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS1 as a Portrait photography camera
33
you can focus manually
comes with face detection focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
25
has face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon S9100 Street photography features
Panasonic ZS1 Street photography features
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors (214g)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (229g)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Nikon S9100 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic ZS1 Sports photography highlights
36
amazing zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (270 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
24
image stabilization (Optical)
max fps very slow (3.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.5")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon S9100 Travel photography features
Panasonic ZS1 Travel photography features
61
lighter than competitors (214 grams)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
very long reach (450mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
not so great battery pack (270 CIPA)
megapixel count low (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
63
lighter than average (229g)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
great reach (300mm)
no Time Lapse function
megapixel count low (10MP)
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon S9100 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic ZS1 Landscape photography factors
40
you can focus manually
relatively wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
not so great battery pack (270 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse function
31
quite wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7")
manual mode not possible
megapixel count low (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW files
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon S9100 Vlogging advice
Panasonic ZS1 Vlogging advice
34
relatively wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors (214 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of external mic jack
31
quite wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection autofocus
lighter than average (229g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (640 x 480 resolution)
no external mic support
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Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic ZS1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon S9100 and Panasonic ZS1
 Nikon Coolpix S9100Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1
General Information
Brand Nikon Panasonic
Model type Nikon Coolpix S9100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-TZ6
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2011-07-19 2009-05-14
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed C2 -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.5"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 5.744 x 4.308mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 24.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 160 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 9 11
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-450mm (18.0x) 25-300mm (12.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.5-5.9 f/3.3-4.9
Macro focusing range 4cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 6.3
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 921 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 5.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 214g (0.47 lb) 229g (0.50 lb)
Physical dimensions 105 x 62 x 35mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.4") 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 270 images -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery ID EN-EL12 -
Self timer Yes (10 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $329 $0