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Nikon S9500 vs Panasonic LZ30

Portability
92
Imaging
41
Features
37
Overall
39
Nikon Coolpix S9500 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30 front
Portability
66
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36

Nikon S9500 vs Panasonic LZ30 Key Specs

Nikon S9500
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-550mm (F) lens
  • 205g - 110 x 60 x 31mm
  • Launched January 2013
  • Older Model is Nikon S9300
  • Replacement is Nikon S9700
Panasonic LZ30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-875mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
  • 552g - 124 x 84 x 92mm
  • Revealed January 2013
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic LZ20
  • Successor is Panasonic LZ40
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Nikon S9500 vs Panasonic LZ30 Overview

Below is a extensive review of the Nikon S9500 and Panasonic LZ30, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by manufacturers Nikon and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the S9500 (18MP) and the LZ30 (16MP) is relatively similar and both cameras boast the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The S9500 was launched at a similar time to the LZ30 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both the cameras have different body design with the Nikon S9500 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic LZ30 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving straight to a detailed comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the S9500 grades versus the LZ30 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon S9500 over the Panasonic LZ30

 S9500 LZ30 
Screen resolution614k460kSharper screen (+154k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ30 over the Nikon S9500

 LZ30 S9500 

Common features in the Nikon S9500 and Panasonic LZ30

 S9500 LZ30 
RevealedJanuary 2013January 2013Similar age
Manual focus Lack of manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Nikon S9500 vs Panasonic LZ30 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to lug around your camera regularly, you will want to factor its weight and dimensions. The Nikon S9500 has external dimensions of 110mm x 60mm x 31mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.2") with a weight of 205 grams (0.45 lbs) while the Panasonic LZ30 has dimensions of 124mm x 84mm x 92mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 3.6") and a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs).

Look at the Nikon S9500 and Panasonic LZ30 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you select at that moment. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the S9500 compared to the LZ30.

Nikon S9500 vs Panasonic LZ30 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the S9500 and LZ30 is 92 and 66 respectively.

Nikon S9500 vs Panasonic LZ30 top view buttons comparison

Nikon S9500 vs Panasonic LZ30 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is tough to picture the gap between sensor measurements simply by going over technical specs. The visual below might provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the S9500 and LZ30.

As you have seen, both cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different megapixels. You can count on the Nikon S9500 to offer you more detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots a bit more aggressively.

Nikon S9500 vs Panasonic LZ30 sensor size comparison

Nikon S9500 vs Panasonic LZ30 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon S9500 vs Panasonic LZ30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon S9500
Portrait photography with Panasonic LZ30
31
decent MP (18MP)
no manual focus
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
31
MP count decent (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon S9500 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic LZ30 as a Street photography camera
62
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (205 grams)
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
43
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
heavier than others (552g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon S9500
Sports photography with Panasonic LZ30
41
long zoom range (25-550mm 22.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (18 megapixels)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (230 shots)
lacks phase detect AF
47
incredible zoom range (25-875mm 35.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
good battery power (380 per charge)
slow fps (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon S9500 Travel photography features
Panasonic LZ30 Travel photography features
71
lighter than competition in class (205g)
decent MP (18MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
great reach (550mm)
fast max aperture (f)
does not have Time Lapse recording
not so great battery pack (230 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
56
good battery power (380 shots)
MP count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
long reach (875mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
heavier than others (552g)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon S9500 Landscape photography information
Panasonic LZ30 Landscape photography information
46
reasonably wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (18MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
lack of manual mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
not so great battery pack (230 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse recording
44
really wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
good battery power (380 shots)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon S9500
Vlogging with Panasonic LZ30
36
reasonably wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (205g)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have mic socket
22
really wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic jack
heavier than others (552g)
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Nikon S9500 vs Panasonic LZ30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon S9500 and Panasonic LZ30
 Nikon Coolpix S9500Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30
General Information
Brand Nikon Panasonic
Model type Nikon Coolpix S9500 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2013-01-29 2013-01-07
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.16 x 4.62mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 18MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Maximum resolution 4896 x 3672 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 125 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 99 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-550mm (22.0x) 25-875mm (35.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.0-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 614 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology OLED monitor TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 15 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/1500 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 7.5 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 4.40 m
Flash modes - Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format - Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 205g (0.45 lb) 552g (1.22 lb)
Physical dimensions 110 x 60 x 31mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.2") 124 x 84 x 92mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 3.6")
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 230 pictures 380 pictures
Battery format Battery Pack AA
Battery ID EN-EL12 4 x AA
Self timer - Yes (2 0r 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $230 $230