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Nikon Z50 vs Panasonic S2

Portability
74
Imaging
68
Features
84
Overall
74
Nikon Z50 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
29
Overall
33

Nikon Z50 vs Panasonic S2 Key Specs

Nikon Z50
(Full Review)
  • 21MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Bump to 204800)
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon Z Mount
  • 397g - 127 x 94 x 60mm
  • Announced October 2019
Panasonic S2
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 112g - 98 x 57 x 21mm
  • Introduced January 2012
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Nikon Z50 vs Panasonic S2 Overview

In this article, we are looking at the Nikon Z50 versus Panasonic S2, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Nikon and Panasonic. There is a crucial difference among the sensor resolutions of the Z50 (21MP) and S2 (14MP) and the Z50 (APS-C) and S2 (1/2.3") possess different sensor measurements.

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The Z50 was released 7 years later than the S2 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Nikon Z50 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic S2 being a Compact camera.

Before diving through a in depth comparison, below is a quick summation of how the Z50 matches up vs the S2 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon Z50 over the Panasonic S2

 Z50 S2 
IntroducedOctober 2019January 2012Fresher by 95 months
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3.2"2.7"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1040k230kCrisper display (+810k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic S2 over the Nikon Z50

 S2 Z50 

Common features in the Nikon Z50 and Panasonic S2

 Z50 S2 

Nikon Z50 vs Panasonic S2 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry your camera regularly, you'll need to take into account its weight and size. The Nikon Z50 has got outer measurements of 127mm x 94mm x 60mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.4") having a weight of 397 grams (0.88 lbs) whilst the Panasonic S2 has specifications of 98mm x 57mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") and a weight of 112 grams (0.25 lbs).

Contrast the Nikon Z50 versus Panasonic S2 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. Underneath is the front view scale comparison of the Z50 versus the S2.

Nikon Z50 vs Panasonic S2 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the Z50 and S2 is 74 and 96 respectively.

Nikon Z50 vs Panasonic S2 top view buttons comparison

Nikon Z50 vs Panasonic S2 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is tough to visualize the difference in sensor sizing just by going through technical specs. The photograph below may offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the Z50 and S2.

As you have seen, each of the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The Z50 featuring a larger sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF less difficult and the Nikon Z50 will provide extra detail as a result of its extra 7MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop pics a little more aggressively. The fresher Z50 should have an edge in sensor tech.

Nikon Z50 vs Panasonic S2 sensor size comparison

Nikon Z50 vs Panasonic S2 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon Z50 vs Panasonic S2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon Z50 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic S2 Portrait photography advice
80
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (21MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect focusing
supports RAW files
33
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
offers face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Nikon Z50 Street photography advice
Panasonic S2 Street photography advice
73
tilting screen
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
supports focus by touch
weather proofing
very good high ISO (51,200)
no image stabilization
heavier than others in class (397g)
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (112 grams)
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Nikon Z50 Sports photography information
Panasonic S2 Sports photography information
75
decent sensor resolution (21 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking focus
weather proofing
supports phase detect AF
no image stabilization
39
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
better than average battery (280 CIPA)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Nikon Z50 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic S2 as a Travel photography camera
77
weather proofing
has bluetooth
supports focus by touch
decent sensor resolution (21MP)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
heavier than others in class (397 grams)
70
better than average battery (280 per charge)
lighter than competitors (112 grams)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon Z50
Landscape photography with Panasonic S2
79
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Nikon Z mount)
screen is a decent size (3.2")
decent sensor resolution (21MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
very good high ISO (51,200)
supports RAW files
weather proofing
no image stabilization
41
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
better than average battery (280 shots)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
no manual control
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon Z50 Vlogging features
Panasonic S2 Vlogging features
71
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen
has face detect focusing
high quality video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
comes with mic port
no image stabilization
heavier than others in class (397g)
32
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
lighter than competitors (112g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external mic jack
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Nikon Z50 vs Panasonic S2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon Z50 and Panasonic S2
 Nikon Z50Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2
General Information
Make Nikon Panasonic
Model Nikon Z50 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2019-10-10 2012-01-09
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed 6 -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.7mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 369.0mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 21 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 5568 x 3712 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 51200 6400
Highest boosted ISO 204800 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 209 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Nikon Z fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.1-6.5
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Number of lenses 15 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.9
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3.2" 2.7"
Screen resolution 1,040k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 8 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 11.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.30 m
Flash settings - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
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 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 397g (0.88 lbs) 112g (0.25 lbs)
Dimensions 127 x 94 x 60mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.4") 98 x 57 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" 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 320 shots 280 shots
Type of battery Built-in Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL25 -
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-II supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $857 $109