Nikon S9700 vs Panasonic ZS40

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.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Nikon Coolpix S9700 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40. The entire galleries are provided at Nikon S9700 Gallery and Panasonic ZS40 Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.