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Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic ZS20

Portability
91 Imaging
35 Features
41 Overall
37
Nikon Coolpix S9100 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
Portability
92 Imaging
37 Features
46 Overall
40

Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic ZS20 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
  • Introduced July 2011
  • Refreshed by Nikon S9300
Panasonic ZS20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 206g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Launched April 2012
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ30
  • Older Model is Panasonic ZS15
  • Replacement is Panasonic ZS25
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Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic ZS20 Overview

Below, we will be contrasting the Nikon S9100 versus Panasonic ZS20, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by competitors Nikon and Panasonic. The image resolution of the S9100 (12MP) and the ZS20 (14MP) is pretty comparable and they possess the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The S9100 was brought out 9 months before the ZS20 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before going straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a short view of how the S9100 scores versus the ZS20 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon S9100 over the Panasonic ZS20

          

          

            
 S9100 ZS20 
Focus manually  Very exact focusing
Screen resolution921k460kCrisper screen (+461k dot)
          

        


        

          

            
Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Nikon S9100

          

          

            
 ZS20 S9100 
LaunchedApril 2012July 2011Fresher by 9 months
Touch friendly screen  Quickly navigate
          

        


        

          

            
Common features in the Nikon S9100 and Panasonic ZS20

          

          

            
 S9100 ZS20 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions
Selfie screen  Neither features selfie screen
          

        

        

	
	
	
	

        

          

            
Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic ZS20 Physical Comparison

          

          

            
For those who are aiming to carry your camera frequently, you will want to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Nikon S9100 enjoys outside dimensions of 105mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.4") with a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS20 has dimensions of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs).
Take a look at the Nikon S9100 versus Panasonic ZS20 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses
Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have during that time. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the S9100 vs the ZS20.
Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic ZS20 size comparison
Using size and weight, the portability score of the S9100 and ZS20 is 91 and 92 respectively.
Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic ZS20 top view buttons comparison          

        


        

          

            
Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic ZS20 Sensor Comparison

          

          

            
In many cases, it's difficult to envision the difference in sensor sizing merely by seeing a spec sheet. The visual underneath will offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the S9100 and ZS20.
As you can see, the 2 cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same megapixels. You can expect the Panasonic ZS20 to produce greater detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The older S9100 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

            Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic ZS20 sensor size comparison
          

        


        

          

            
Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and ViewFinder

          

          

                      

          Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison        


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Photography Type Scores

          

        

        
Portrait Comparison
 Nikon S9100 as a Portrait photography camera
 Panasonic ZS20 as a Portrait photography camera
32
 has manual focus
 features face detection autofocus
 no manual control
 cannot use external flash
 resolution not great (12 megapixels)
 sensor  is very small (1/2.3")
 no RAW files
30
 good megapixels (14MP)
 lack of manual focus
 external flash not possible
 very small sensor (1/2.3")
 doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison
Street photography with Nikon S9100
Street photography with Panasonic ZS20
60
 has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 lighter than average (214 grams)
 no articulating screen
 sensor  is very small (1/2.3")
 no RAW files
65
 image stabilization (Optical)
 features touch to focus
 lighter than average (206g)
 screen does not articulate
 very small sensor (1/2.3")
 doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison
Nikon S9100 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic ZS20 Sports photography highlights
36
 great zoom range (25-450mm  18.0 x zoom)
 has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 features tracking autofocus
 no shutter priority mode
 resolution not great (12 megapixels)
 sensor  is very small (1/2.3")
 terrible battery life (270 CIPA)
 no phase detect autofocus
47
 great zoom range (24-480mm  20.0 x zoom)
 image stabilization (Optical)
 good megapixels (14MP)
 provides tracking focus
 very small sensor (1/2.3")
 terrible battery (260 CIPA)
 doesn't have phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary
Travel Comparison
Nikon S9100 Travel photography factors
Panasonic ZS20 Travel photography factors
61
 lighter than average (214 grams)
 flash built-in
 relatively wide (25mm)
 long zoom (450mm)
 lack of Timelapse function
 terrible battery life (270 CIPA)
 resolution not great (12 megapixels)
 display isn't selfie friendly
 sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
68
 lighter than average (206g)
 features touch to focus
 good megapixels (14MP)
 flash built-in
 decently wide (24mm)
 long reach (480mm)
 missing Time Lapse function
 terrible battery (260 shots)
 doesn't posses selfie friendly display
 sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison
Nikon S9100 Landscape photography features
Panasonic ZS20 Landscape photography features
39
 has manual focus
 relatively wide (25mm)
 good sized screen (3 inches)
 has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
 sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
 no manual control
 resolution not great (12MP)
 sensor  is very small (1/2.3")
 no RAW files
 terrible battery life (270 per charge)
 lack of Timelapse function
42
 decently wide (24mm)
 screen size is good (3 inches)
 image stabilization (Optical)
 good megapixels (14MP)
 lack of manual focus
 lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
 sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
 very small sensor (1/2.3")
 doesn't have RAW files
 terrible battery (260 per charge)
 missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison
Nikon S9100 Vlogging information
Panasonic ZS20 Vlogging information
34
 relatively wide (25mm)
 has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 features face detection autofocus
 video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
 lighter than average (214 grams)
 sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
 display isn't selfie friendly
 lack of external microphone socket
34
 decently wide (24mm)
 touchscreen enabled
 image stabilization (Optical)
 video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
 lighter than average (206 grams)
 sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
 doesn't posses selfie friendly display
 missing mic socket
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Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic ZS20 Specifications

          

          

                      


          

            Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon S9100 and Panasonic ZS20
 Nikon Coolpix S9100Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
General Information
Brand Name Nikon Panasonic
Model type Nikon Coolpix S9100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
Alternative name - Lumix DMC-TZ30
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2011-07-19 2012-04-26
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Expeed C2 -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter    
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and  16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 160 100
RAW images    
Autofocusing
Focus manually    
Touch focus    
Continuous AF    
Single AF    
Tracking AF    
AF selectice    
AF center weighted    
AF multi area    
Live view AF    
Face detect AF    
Contract detect AF    
Phase detect AF    
Total focus points 9 23
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-450mm (18.0x) 24-480mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.5-5.9 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing distance 4cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 921 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly    
Liveview    
Touch function    
Display technology TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 15 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 10.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority    
Aperture priority    
Expose Manually    
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB    
Image stabilization    
Built-in flash    
Flash distance 4.00 m 6.40 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash    
Auto exposure bracketing    
White balance 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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port    
Headphone port    
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth    
NFC    
HDMI    
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing    
Water proofing    
Dust proofing    
Shock proofing    
Crush proofing    
Freeze proofing    
Weight 214 grams (0.47 lbs) 206 grams (0.45 lbs)
Dimensions 105 x 62 x 35mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.4") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
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 photographs 260 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack 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/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $329 $349