Clicky

Nikon S9500 vs Panasonic ZS1

Portability
92
Imaging
42
Features
37
Overall
40
Nikon Coolpix S9500 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 front
Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
25
Overall
29

Nikon S9500 vs Panasonic ZS1 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
  • Released January 2013
  • Previous Model is Nikon S9300
  • Updated by Nikon S9700
Panasonic ZS1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 229g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Launched May 2009
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ6
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Nikon S9500 vs Panasonic ZS1 Overview

Its time to look more in depth at the Nikon S9500 vs Panasonic ZS1, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by companies Nikon and Panasonic. There is a substantial difference among the image resolutions of the S9500 (18MP) and ZS1 (10MP) and the S9500 (1/2.3") and ZS1 (1/2.5") boast totally different sensor dimensions.

President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

The S9500 was revealed 3 years after the ZS1 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the S9500 scores against the ZS1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary

        

Reasons to pick Nikon S9500 over the Panasonic ZS1

 S9500 ZS1 
LaunchedJanuary 2013May 2009More modern by 46 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution614k230kCrisper screen (+384k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS1 over the Nikon S9500

 ZS1 S9500 

Common features in the Nikon S9500 and Panasonic ZS1

 S9500 ZS1 
Manually focus Lack of manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Nikon S9500 vs Panasonic ZS1 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry around your camera often, you should think about its weight and dimensions. The Nikon S9500 has physical dimensions of 110mm x 60mm x 31mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.2") with a weight of 205 grams (0.45 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS1 has dimensions of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).

Analyze the Nikon S9500 vs Panasonic ZS1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen during that time. Following is a front view scale comparison of the S9500 versus the ZS1.

Nikon S9500 vs Panasonic ZS1 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the S9500 and ZS1 is 92 and 91 respectively.

Nikon S9500 vs Panasonic ZS1 top view buttons comparison

Nikon S9500 vs Panasonic ZS1 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very hard to visualise the gap in sensor sizes only by seeing specifications. The picture here should give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the S9500 and ZS1.

Plainly, each of the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The S9500 with its bigger sensor will make getting shallower depth of field simpler and the Nikon S9500 will produce more detail because of its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop shots more aggressively. The younger S9500 will have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Nikon S9500 vs Panasonic ZS1 sensor size comparison

Nikon S9500 vs Panasonic ZS1 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon S9500 vs Panasonic ZS1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon S9500 Portrait photography features
Panasonic ZS1 Portrait photography features
31
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
25
comes with face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.5")
no RAW format
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Street Comparison

Nikon S9500 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZS1 as a Street photography camera
62
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (205g)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (229 grams)
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.5")
no RAW format
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Sports Comparison

Nikon S9500 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic ZS1 Sports photography highlights
42
long zoom range (25-550mm 22.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (18MP)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
low battery power (230 shots)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
24
image stabilization (Optical)
slow frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
low megapixels (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.5")
no phase detect autofocus
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Travel Comparison

Nikon S9500 Travel photography advice
Panasonic ZS1 Travel photography advice
71
lighter than competition (205g)
megapixel count decent (18MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
long reach (550mm)
good maximum aperture (f)
missing Timelapse mode
low battery power (230 shots)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
63
lighter than average in class (229g)
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
great zoom (300mm)
missing Timelapse function
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.3)
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Landscape Comparison

Nikon S9500 Landscape photography features
Panasonic ZS1 Landscape photography features
46
pretty wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (18MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
lack of manual exposure
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
low battery power (230 per charge)
missing Timelapse mode
31
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not possible
low megapixels (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.5")
no RAW format
missing Timelapse function
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Vlogging Comparison

Nikon S9500 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS1 as a Vlogging camera
36
pretty wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f)
image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (205 grams)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
missing microphone jack
31
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect autofocus
lighter than average in class (229 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (640 x 480 pixels)
missing microphone socket
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Nikon S9500 vs Panasonic ZS1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon S9500 and Panasonic ZS1
 Nikon Coolpix S9500Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1
General Information
Manufacturer Nikon Panasonic
Model Nikon Coolpix S9500 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1
Alternative name - Lumix DMC-TZ6
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2013-01-29 2009-05-14
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.5"
Sensor measurements 6.16 x 4.62mm 5.744 x 4.308mm
Sensor area 28.5mm² 24.7mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Maximum resolution 4896 x 3672 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 125 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 99 11
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-550mm (22.0x) 25-300mm (12.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-4.9
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 6.3
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 614k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech OLED monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1500 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 7.5 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 5.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video data format - Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 205 grams (0.45 lb) 229 grams (0.50 lb)
Physical dimensions 110 x 60 x 31mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.2") 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
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 230 shots -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model EN-EL12 -
Self timer - Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $230 $0