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Nikon S9900 vs Panasonic ZR3

Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
60
Overall
48
Nikon Coolpix S9900 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 front
Portability
94
Imaging
37
Features
26
Overall
32

Nikon S9900 vs Panasonic ZR3 Key Specs

Nikon S9900
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-750mm (F3.7-6.4) lens
  • 289g - 112 x 66 x 40mm
  • Launched February 2015
  • Earlier Model is Nikon S9700
Panasonic ZR3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-200mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 159g - 98 x 55 x 26mm
  • Announced January 2010
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-ZX3
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Nikon S9900 vs Panasonic ZR3 Overview

Lets look a bit more in depth at the Nikon S9900 and Panasonic ZR3, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Nikon and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the S9900 (16MP) and the ZR3 (14MP) is relatively close and they come with the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The S9900 was brought out 5 years after the ZR3 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting through a in depth comparison, below is a short summary of how the S9900 scores against the ZR3 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon S9900 over the Panasonic ZR3

 S9900 ZR3 
AnnouncedFebruary 2015January 2010Newer by 62 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR3 over the Nikon S9900

 ZR3 S9900 

Common features in the Nikon S9900 and Panasonic ZR3

 S9900 ZR3 
Manually focus Lack of manual focus
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Nikon S9900 vs Panasonic ZR3 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you have to think about its weight and volume. The Nikon S9900 has physical measurements of 112mm x 66mm x 40mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 289 grams (0.64 lbs) while the Panasonic ZR3 has sizing of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") accompanied by a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs).

Check the Nikon S9900 and Panasonic ZR3 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. Here is the front view dimensions comparison of the S9900 vs the ZR3.

Nikon S9900 vs Panasonic ZR3 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the S9900 and ZR3 is 88 and 94 respectively.

Nikon S9900 vs Panasonic ZR3 top view buttons comparison

Nikon S9900 vs Panasonic ZR3 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is difficult to visualize the gap in sensor dimensions simply by researching a spec sheet. The picture below will give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the S9900 and ZR3.

Clearly, the 2 cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different megapixels. You should count on the Nikon S9900 to provide you with extra detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The more recent S9900 should have an edge in sensor innovation.

Nikon S9900 vs Panasonic ZR3 sensor size comparison

Nikon S9900 vs Panasonic ZR3 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon S9900 vs Panasonic ZR3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon S9900 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZR3 as a Portrait photography camera
37
megapixel count decent (16MP)
provides face detection autofocus
no manual focus
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
28
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon S9900
Street photography with Panasonic ZR3
68
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (289g)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
57
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Nikon S9900 Sports photography info
Panasonic ZR3 Sports photography info
53
excellent zoom range (25-750mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
37
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14MP)
has tracking autofocus
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,300s)
max frames per second low (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon S9900
Travel photography with Panasonic ZR3
77
lighter than competitors (289g)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
really wide (25mm)
great reach (750mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.7)
65
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
no Timelapse function
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon S9900
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZR3
47
really wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.7)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
37
decently wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
no manual exposure
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon S9900
Vlogging with Panasonic ZR3
73
really wide (25mm)
display is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors (289g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.7)
lack of external microphone jack
29
decently wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external microphone socket
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Nikon S9900 vs Panasonic ZR3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon S9900 and Panasonic ZR3
 Nikon Coolpix S9900Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3
General Information
Brand Name Nikon Panasonic
Model type Nikon Coolpix S9900 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3
Alternative name - Lumix DMC-ZX3
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2015-02-10 2010-01-26
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Venus Engine HD II
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-750mm (30.0x) 25-200mm (8.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.7-6.4 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing distance 1cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 921 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1300s
Continuous shutter rate 7.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.00 m (at Auto ISO) 5.30 m
Flash settings - Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD Lite
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 289g (0.64 lbs) 159g (0.35 lbs)
Dimensions 112 x 66 x 40mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.6") 98 x 55 x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 300 images -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery ID EN-EL19 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $300 $280