Nikon Coolpix
S8100
 vs
Panasonic Lumix
DMC-ZS7

Updated (July, 2011): Compare the Nikon Coolpix S8200 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10

Nikon Coolpix S8100

66
"The Nikon S8100 is very quick to find focus, locking onto your target in less than 0.2 seconds, regardless of the lighting conditions or which end of the zoom range you're using."
photographyblog.com | talking about the S8100's auto-focus
"The Nikon Coolpix S8100 is therefore recommended for more casual users looking for a versatile all-rounder."
photographyblog.com | talking about the S8100's overall-performance

Reasons to buy the Nikon Coolpix S8100

Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
921k dots
High-speed framerate
 High speed movies
240 fps
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
10 fps
Macro focus
 Great macro
1 cm
Fastest shutter speed
 Fast shutter speed
1/4000 of a second
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7

65
"The body is rectangular with gently rounded edges and a subtle ridge along the right front in the area of the shutter button and zoom control to help provide better grip."
digitalcamerareview.com | talking about the DMC-ZS7's feel
"Very good image quality."
digitalcamerareview.com | talking about the DMC-ZS7's image-quality

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7

GPS
 Built-in GPS
Great for travel
Longest exposure
 Long exposures
60 seconds

differences

Advantages of the Nikon S8100
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen 921k dots vs 460k dots
Help
 More than 2x higher resolution screen
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies 240 fps vs None
Help
 Capture events too fast for the naked eye and play them back in super-slow motion
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
 CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 10 fps vs 2.3 fps
Help
 Around 4.5x faster continuous shooting
Size Smaller 104x60x30 mm vs 103x60x33 mm
Help
 Around 10% smaller
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 3,200 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The S8100's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Macro focus Better macro capability 1 cm vs 3 cm
Help
 Focus on subjects 3x closer to the lens
Lowest price Much cheaper $99.99 vs $360.99
Help
 The best price we've seen is $261 cheaper (3.6x less)
Thickness Thinner 1.2" vs 1.3"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
True resolution Slightly higher true resolution 9.8 MP vs 9.8 MP
Help
 Almost the same
Fastest shutter speed Significantly faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/2000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor 1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm vs 1/2.3" 6.1x4.6mm
Help
 Almost the same
Weight Slightly lighter 209 g vs 218 g
Help
 Almost the same
Nikon Coolpix S8100 Learn more about
the Nikon S8100

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-ZS7
GPS Has a GPS Yes vs No
Help
 Automatically geotags your photos when traveling
Wide angle Much better wide angle 25 mm vs 30 mm
Help
 Around 20% better wide angle
Zoom More zoom 12x vs 10x
Help
 More than 40% more zoom
Aperture Wider aperture f/3.3 vs f/3.5
Help
 At its widest zoom, the DMC-ZS7's lens captures marginally more light (0.2 f-stops)
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 6,400 ISO vs None
Help
 Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Longest exposure Much longer exposures 60s vs 4s
Help
 15x longer exposures
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-ZS7
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent travel zooms, and ignoring price

Nikon Coolpix S8100 Nikon Coolpix S8100
66 vs 65
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7
Green arrow Too close to call! Snapsort considers these cameras too competitive to make a clear recommendation.

advice

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1
votes
by Julie-Woeltje last month
Panasonic ZS15 vs Panasonic DMC-ZS7

I am not a beginner but definitely not an expert. I want pictures to be the right color, I'd like ...

2 people recommend the Panasonic ZS15:

"I think both cameras will perform similarly in low light. But the overall advantage goes to the ZS..."

"I am not sure if you will find many point and shoot cameras that will last you 7 to 8 years, but i..."

similarities

Compared to recent compacts

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
S8100:Sensor shift, Lens
DMC-ZS7:Lens
Macro focus Good macro capabilities Help
S8100:1 cm
DMC-ZS7:3 cm
Weight Heavy Help
S8100:209 g
DMC-ZS7:218 g
Thickness Quite thick Help
S8100:1.2"
DMC-ZS7:1.3"
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Size Large Help
S8100:104x60x30 mm
DMC-ZS7:103x60x33 mm
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons

Compared to recent travel zooms

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Zoom Poor zoom Help
S8100:10x
DMC-ZS7:12x

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10

Travel zoom

$328
Zoom Has significantly more zoom
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Lowest price Is much more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Lumix DMC-ZS10 vs the Coolpix S8100
Compare the Lumix DMC-ZS10 vs the Lumix DMC-ZS7
Nikon Coolpix S9100

Nikon Coolpix S9100

Travel zoom

$237 - $289
Zoom Has much more zoom
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Compare the Coolpix S9100 vs the Coolpix S8100
Compare the Coolpix S9100 vs the Lumix DMC-ZS7
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20

Panasonic Lumix ZS20

Travel zoom

$290 - $350
Zoom Has way more more zoom
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Compare the Lumix ZS20 vs the Coolpix S8100
Compare the Lumix ZS20 vs the Lumix DMC-ZS7
Canon ELPH 300 HS

Canon ELPH 300 HS

Compact

$148 - $179
Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
Size Is significantly smaller
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Macro focus Slightly worse macro focusing
Compare the ELPH 300 HS vs the Coolpix S8100
Compare the ELPH 300 HS vs the Lumix DMC-ZS7
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8

Travel zoom

$159 - $271
Zoom Has significantly more zoom
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Lumix DMC-ZS8 vs the Coolpix S8100
Compare the Lumix DMC-ZS8 vs the Lumix DMC-ZS7
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5v

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5v

Travel zoom
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Sensor size Has a marginally smaller sensor
Compare the Cyber-shot DSC-HX5v vs the Coolpix S8100
Compare the Cyber-shot DSC-HX5v vs the Lumix DMC-ZS7
Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$356 - $430
Aperture Has a much wider aperture
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lowest price Is much more expensive
Compare the Powershot S100 vs the Coolpix S8100
Compare the Powershot S100 vs the Lumix DMC-ZS7

Nikon Coolpix S8100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon Coolpix S8200

Nikon Coolpix S8200

Travel zoom

$229
Wide angle Much better wide angle
Zoom More zoom
High-speed framerate Doesn't record high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots slower
Compare the Coolpix S8200 vs the Coolpix S8100
Nikon Coolpix S6300

Nikon Coolpix S6300

Travel zoom

$180 - $184
Wide angle Much better wide angle
Aperture Wider aperture
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
Compare the Coolpix S6300 vs the Coolpix S8100
Nikon Coolpix S6200

Nikon Coolpix S6200

Travel zoom

$177 - $223
Wide angle Much better wide angle
Aperture Wider aperture
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Compare the Coolpix S6200 vs the Coolpix S8100
Nikon Coolpix L120

Nikon Coolpix L120

Super zoom

$180 - $215
Zoom Much more zoom
Wide angle Much better wide angle
Size Much larger
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Compare the Coolpix L120 vs the Coolpix S8100

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15

Panasonic Lumix ZS15

Travel zoom

$270
Zoom More zoom
Movie format Higher resolution movies
GPS No built-in GPS
Compare the Lumix ZS15 vs the Lumix DMC-ZS7
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Pro digicam

$339
Sensor size Much larger sensor
Aperture Much wider aperture
GPS No built-in GPS
Zoom Significantly less zoom
Compare the Lumix DMC-LX5 vs the Lumix DMC-ZS7
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3

Travel zoom
GPS No built-in GPS
Weight Heavier
Compare the Lumix DMC-ZS3 vs the Lumix DMC-ZS7

appearance

Nikon Coolpix S8100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7
Nikon Coolpix S8100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7
Nikon Coolpix S8100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7

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