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Nikon S9700 vs Panasonic ZS40

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
48
Overall
43
Nikon Coolpix S9700 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 front
Portability
90
Imaging
43
Features
58
Overall
49

Nikon S9700 vs Panasonic ZS40 Key Specs

Nikon S9700
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • 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
  • Replaced the Nikon S9500
  • Successor is Nikon S9900
Panasonic ZS40
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Boost to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 240g - 111 x 64 x 34mm
  • Introduced January 2014
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-TZ60
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic ZS35
  • Renewed by Panasonic ZS45
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Nikon S9700 vs Panasonic ZS40 Overview

Lets look a little more closely at the Nikon S9700 and Panasonic ZS40, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by companies Nikon and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the S9700 (16MP) and the ZS40 (18MP) is very well matched and they come with the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The S9700 was manufactured 2 months later than the ZS40 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting in to a in-depth comparison, below is a brief view of how the S9700 matches up against the ZS40 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon S9700 over the Panasonic ZS40

 S9700 ZS40 
Display resolution921k920kCrisper display (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS40 over the Nikon S9700

 ZS40 S9700 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing

Common features in the Nikon S9700 and Panasonic ZS40

 S9700 ZS40 
IntroducedFebruary 2014January 2014Similar generation
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Nikon S9700 vs Panasonic ZS40 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to lug around your camera often, you will need to factor in its weight and volume. The Nikon S9700 offers outer dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 35mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 232 grams (0.51 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS40 has sizing of 111mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

Compare the Nikon S9700 and Panasonic ZS40 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have attached at the time. Below is the front view size comparison of the S9700 versus the ZS40.

Nikon S9700 vs Panasonic ZS40 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the S9700 and ZS40 is 90 and 90 respectively.

Nikon S9700 vs Panasonic ZS40 top view buttons comparison

Nikon S9700 vs Panasonic ZS40 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's tough to see the difference between sensor measurements just by reading through a spec sheet. The graphic below will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the S9700 and ZS40.

Clearly, the two cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same resolution. You should expect to see the Panasonic ZS40 to give you extra detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images a little more aggressively.

Nikon S9700 vs Panasonic ZS40 sensor size comparison

Nikon S9700 vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon S9700 vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon S9700 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS40 as a Portrait photography camera
37
MP count decent (16MP)
has face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
52
focusing manually
MP count good (18 megapixels)
includes face detect focus
exports RAW files
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Nikon S9700 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZS40 as a Street photography camera
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (232 grams)
fixed screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
69
image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
lighter than competition (240g)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon S9700
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS40
53
long zoom range (25-750mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
has tracking focus
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
54
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18MP)
includes tracking focus
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon S9700
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS40
69
lighter than others (232g)
MP count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
long zoom (750mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
does not offer selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.7)
69
lighter than competition (240 grams)
MP count good (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (24mm)
great zoom (720mm)
missing Timelapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon S9700
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS40
45
pretty wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.7)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
lack of Time Lapse mode
56
focusing manually
quite wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18MP)
exports RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon S9700 Vlogging info
Panasonic ZS40 Vlogging info
34
pretty wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others (232g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.7)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
lack of mic support
34
quite wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (240 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing microphone jack
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Nikon S9700 vs Panasonic ZS40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon S9700 and Panasonic ZS40
 Nikon Coolpix S9700Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
General Information
Manufacturer Nikon Panasonic
Model Nikon Coolpix S9700 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
Also called as - Lumix DMC-TZ60
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2014-02-07 2014-01-06
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Venus Engine
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 18MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Highest boosted ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 125 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 99 23
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-750mm (30.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Max aperture f/3.7-6.4 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus range 1cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 921 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech TFT LCD with anti-reflection coating TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 200 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 7.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.00 m 6.40 m
Flash settings TTL auto flash with monitor preflashes Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported 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) 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 232g (0.51 lb) 240g (0.53 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 35mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") 111 x 64 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" 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 300 images 300 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL12 -
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $350 $450