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Nikon S9700 vs Panasonic SZ5

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
48
Overall
43
Nikon Coolpix S9700 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 front
Portability
95
Imaging
37
Features
34
Overall
35

Nikon S9700 vs Panasonic SZ5 Key Specs

Nikon S9700
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-750mm (F3.7-6.4) lens
  • 232g - 110 x 64 x 35mm
  • Revealed February 2014
  • Previous Model is Nikon S9500
  • New Model is Nikon S9900
Panasonic SZ5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Expand to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 104 x 58 x 21mm
  • Launched July 2012
Photography Glossary

Nikon S9700 vs Panasonic SZ5 Overview

On this page, we are analyzing the Nikon S9700 versus Panasonic SZ5, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Nikon and Panasonic. The resolution of the S9700 (16MP) and the SZ5 (14MP) is very similar and both cameras have the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The S9700 was manufactured 19 months later than the SZ5 making them a generation apart from one another. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick summation of how the S9700 grades against the SZ5 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon S9700 over the Panasonic SZ5

 S9700 SZ5 
LaunchedFebruary 2014July 2012More recent by 19 months
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ5 over the Nikon S9700

 SZ5 S9700 

Common features in the Nikon S9700 and Panasonic SZ5

 S9700 SZ5 
Manually focus No manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither features Touch friendly display

Nikon S9700 vs Panasonic SZ5 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to lug around your camera regularly, you should factor its weight and measurements. The Nikon S9700 enjoys outer measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 35mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") with a weight of 232 grams (0.51 lbs) and the Panasonic SZ5 has proportions of 104mm x 58mm x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs).

Look at the Nikon S9700 versus Panasonic SZ5 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the S9700 vs the SZ5.

Nikon S9700 vs Panasonic SZ5 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the S9700 and SZ5 is 90 and 95 respectively.

Nikon S9700 vs Panasonic SZ5 top view buttons comparison

Nikon S9700 vs Panasonic SZ5 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's hard to imagine the difference between sensor measurements just by reading a spec sheet. The graphic here will give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the S9700 and SZ5.

As you can see, each of the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different resolution. You can expect to see the Nikon S9700 to offer greater detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will let you crop photos more aggressively. The fresher S9700 should have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Nikon S9700 vs Panasonic SZ5 sensor size comparison

Nikon S9700 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon S9700 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon S9700 Portrait photography features
Panasonic SZ5 Portrait photography features
37
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
supports face detect focusing
manual focus not available
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
33
decent megapixels (14MP)
provides face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon S9700
Street photography with Panasonic SZ5
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (232g)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (136 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Nikon S9700 Sports photography features
Panasonic SZ5 Sports photography features
53
great zoom range (25-750mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
39
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14MP)
provides tracking autofocus
low frames per second (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon S9700 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic SZ5 as a Travel photography camera
69
lighter than competition in class (232 grams)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
great zoom (750mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.7)
70
lighter than competition in class (136g)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
long zoom (250mm)
no Time Lapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon S9700 Landscape photography info
Panasonic SZ5 Landscape photography info
45
pretty wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.7)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
does not have Timelapse mode
42
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
no manual exposure
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon S9700 Vlogging info
Panasonic SZ5 Vlogging info
34
pretty wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (232 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.7)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
does not have microphone socket
32
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
lighter than competition in class (136g)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic socket
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Nikon S9700 vs Panasonic SZ5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon S9700 and Panasonic SZ5
 Nikon Coolpix S9700Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
General Information
Manufacturer Nikon Panasonic
Model Nikon Coolpix S9700 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2014-02-07 2012-07-18
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 6400 1600
Highest boosted ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 125 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 99 23
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-750mm (30.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.7-6.4 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus distance 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 921k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology TFT LCD with anti-reflection coating TFT Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8s 8s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 7.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.00 m 5.60 m
Flash settings TTL auto flash with monitor preflashes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AE 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 (30/25p, 60/50i) 1280 x 720 (60/50/30/25/15/12.5p) 960 x 540 (30/25p) 640 x 480 (120/30/25p) 320 x 240 (240p) 1280 x 720p ( 30,25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
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 232g (0.51 lb) 136g (0.30 lb)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 35mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") 104 x 58 x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8")
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 300 photographs 250 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL12 -
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $350 $195