Nikon S9700 vs Panasonic ZS1

Its time to take a deeper look at the Nikon S9700 and Panasonic ZS1, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by manufacturers Nikon and Panasonic. There exists a considerable gap among the sensor resolutions of the S9700 (16MP) and ZS1 (10MP) and the S9700 (1/2.3") and ZS1 (1/2.5") offer totally different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The S9700 was manufactured 4 years after the ZS1 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before we go into a more detailed comparison, here is a concise view of how the S9700 grades against the ZS1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Nikon Coolpix S9700 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1. The entire galleries are provided at Nikon S9700 Gallery & Panasonic ZS1 Gallery.

In case you're going to carry around your camera, you should factor in its weight and size. The Nikon S9700 has external measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 35mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") along with a weight of 232 grams (0.51 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS1 has specifications of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).

Analyze the Nikon S9700 and Panasonic ZS1 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the S9700 compared to the ZS1.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the S9700 and ZS1 is 90 and 91 respectively.

Quite often, it is very hard to see the gap in sensor sizes merely by viewing technical specs. The picture below may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the S9700 and ZS1.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The S9700 due to its bigger sensor will make achieving bokeh simpler and the Nikon S9700 will result in greater detail due to its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The newer S9700 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.