Nikon S9500 vs Panasonic ZS5

Its time to take a deeper look at the Nikon S9500 and Panasonic ZS5, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by rivals Nikon and Panasonic. There is a sizable difference among the sensor resolutions of the S9500 (18MP) and ZS5 (12MP) but they possess the exact same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The S9500 was unveiled 2 years after the ZS5 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go straight into a full comparison, below is a short introduction of how the S9500 matches up vs the ZS5 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Nikon Coolpix S9500 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5. The full galleries are viewable at Nikon S9500 Gallery & Panasonic ZS5 Gallery.

If you are looking to carry around your camera frequently, you'll need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Nikon S9500 offers 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) whilst the Panasonic ZS5 has dimensions of 103mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs).

Check the Nikon S9500 and Panasonic ZS5 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen during that time. The following is the front view scale comparison of the S9500 vs the ZS5.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the S9500 and ZS5 is 92 and 92 respectively.

Generally, it's tough to see the contrast in sensor sizes purely by checking out a spec sheet. The image underneath should give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the S9500 and ZS5.

As you can see, both cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but not the same megapixels. You can anticipate the Nikon S9500 to provide extra detail having an extra 6MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop images somewhat more aggressively. The newer S9500 is going to have a benefit in sensor innovation.