Panasonic Lumix
DMC-ZS10
 vs
Nikon Coolpix
S9100

Updated (February, 2012): Compare the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 vs Nikon Coolpix S9300

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10

85
"The ZS10's metal alloy body seems tough enough for just about anything; it's clearly built to withstand the rigors of heavy use and busy modern lifestyles"
digitalcamerareview.com | talking about the DMC-ZS10's build-quality
"The ZS10 delivers the reliably excellent image quality we've come to expect from Panasonic's pocket ultrazooms."
digitalcamerareview.com | talking about the DMC-ZS10's image-quality

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10

GPS
 Built-in GPS
Great for travel
Touch screen
 Touch screen
Less buttons
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
10 fps
Fastest shutter speed
 Fast shutter speed
1/4000 of a second
Longest exposure
 Long exposures
60 seconds
Nikon Coolpix S9100

78
"Full HD video"
trustedreviews.com | talking about the S9100's video-quality
"the S9100 is slickly styled like a high end enthusiasts' compact complete with top plate mode dial, sunken flash and stereo microphones."
trustedreviews.com | talking about the S9100's overall-performance

Reasons to buy the Nikon Coolpix S9100

Zoom
 Great zoom
18x
Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
921k dots
High-speed framerate
 High speed movies
240 fps
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Panorama
 In-camera panoramas
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
Battery life
 Great battery life
270 shots

differences

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-ZS10
GPS Has a GPS Yes vs No
Help
 Automatically geotags your photos when traveling
Touch screen Has a touch screen Yes vs No
Help
 Fewer buttons to worry about and direct interaction with camera menus
Wide angle Better wide angle 24 mm vs 25 mm
Help
 Almost the same
Aperture Wider aperture f/3.3 vs f/3.5
Help
 At its widest zoom, the DMC-ZS10's lens captures marginally more light (0.2 f-stops)
Size Smaller 105x58x33 mm vs 105x62x35 mm
Help
 More than 10% smaller
Image stabilization Better image stabilization Lens vs Sensor shift
Help
 Less risk of blur
Longest exposure Much longer exposures 60s vs 1s
Help
 60x longer exposures
Macro focus Better macro capability 3 cm vs 4 cm
Help
 Focus on subjects around 30% closer to the lens
Fastest shutter speed Significantly faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/2000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Thickness Thinner 1.3" vs 1.4"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-ZS10

Advantages of the Nikon S9100
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen 921k dots vs 460k dots
Help
 More than 2x higher resolution screen
Zoom More zoom 18x vs 16x
Help
 Around 30% more zoom
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
 Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 3,200 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The S9100's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
High-speed framerate Higher speed movies 240 fps vs 220 fps
Help
 Around 10% higher fps
Lowest price Cheaper $237.03 vs $327.94
Help
 The best price we've seen is $91 cheaper (around 30% less)
Weight Slightly lighter 214 g vs 219 g
Help
 Almost the same
Nikon Coolpix S9100 Learn more about
the Nikon S9100
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent travel zooms, and ignoring price

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10
85 vs 78
Explain scores
Nikon Coolpix S9100 Nikon Coolpix S9100
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10.

advice

Need help deciding?

Ask the community!
I am considering either the Panasonic DMC-ZS10 or the Nikon S9100,
For example: Taking photos in low light or great family photos or ability to take great photos underwater

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similarities

Compared to recent compacts

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Zoom Incredible zoom Help
DMC-ZS10:16x
S9100:18x
Movie format Both shoot high resolution HD movies Help
1080p @ 30fps
Wide angle Good wide angle Help
DMC-ZS10:24 mm
S9100:25 mm
High-speed framerate Very high speed movies Help
DMC-ZS10:220 fps
S9100:240 fps
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Continuous shooting Fast continuous shooting Help
DMC-ZS10:10 fps
S9100:9.5 fps
Thickness Quite thick Help
DMC-ZS10:1.3"
S9100:1.4"
Weight Heavy Help
DMC-ZS10:219 g
S9100:214 g
Size Large Help
DMC-ZS10:105x58x33 mm
S9100:105x62x35 mm

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

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9v

Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9v

Travel zoom

$319
3D Captures 3D images
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the Cybershot DSC-HX9v vs the Lumix DMC-ZS10
Compare the Cybershot DSC-HX9v vs the Coolpix S9100
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20

Panasonic Lumix ZS20

Travel zoom

$290 - $350
Zoom Has slightly more zoom
Size Is slightly smaller
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the Lumix ZS20 vs the Lumix DMC-ZS10
Compare the Lumix ZS20 vs the Coolpix S9100
Canon PowerShot SX230 HS

Canon PowerShot SX230 HS

Travel zoom

$239 - $324
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Light sensitivity (boost) Lacks boost light sensitivity
Battery life Has a slightly shorter battery life
Compare the PowerShot SX230 HS vs the Lumix DMC-ZS10
Compare the PowerShot SX230 HS vs the Coolpix S9100
Nikon Coolpix S9300

Nikon Coolpix S9300

Travel zoom

$300 - $327
3D Captures 3D images
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Battery life Has a slightly shorter battery life
Compare the Coolpix S9300 vs the Lumix DMC-ZS10
Compare the Coolpix S9300 vs the Coolpix S9100
Nikon Coolpix S8200

Nikon Coolpix S8200

Travel zoom

$229
Macro focus Slightly closer macro focusing
Continuous shooting Doesn't shoot as fast continuously
High-speed framerate Doesn't record high-speed movies
Compare the Coolpix S8200 vs the Lumix DMC-ZS10
Compare the Coolpix S8200 vs the Coolpix S9100
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8

Travel zoom

$159 - $271
Lowest price Is slightly less expensive
Sensor type Has a CCD-family sensor
Continuous shooting Doesn't shoot as fast continuously
Compare the Lumix DMC-ZS8 vs the Lumix DMC-ZS10
Compare the Lumix DMC-ZS8 vs the Coolpix S9100
Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$356 - $430
Aperture Has a much wider aperture
Size Is slightly smaller
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the Powershot S100 vs the Lumix DMC-ZS10
Compare the Powershot S100 vs the Coolpix S9100

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15

Panasonic Lumix ZS15

Travel zoom

$270
3D Takes 3D photos
HDR Has in-camera HDR
GPS No built-in GPS
Touch screen No touch screen
Compare the Lumix ZS15 vs the Lumix DMC-ZS10
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7

Travel zoom

$361
Zoom Less zoom
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Compare the Lumix DMC-ZS7 vs the Lumix DMC-ZS10

Nikon Coolpix S9100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon Coolpix S8100

Nikon Coolpix S8100

Travel zoom

$100
Size Smaller
Macro focus Better macro capability
Zoom Much less zoom
Wide angle Much worse wide angle
Compare the Coolpix S8100 vs the Coolpix S9100

appearance

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10 Nikon Coolpix S9100
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10 Nikon Coolpix S9100
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10 Nikon Coolpix S9100

discussion

Showing 6 comments

Hanson (0:14 AM, December 05, 2011)
The S9100 seems to perform better in low light, but the ZS10 is a lot better in good conditions. The Image Stabilizer of the S9100 is not very good. However, if you like to take close up pictures, you won't choose any of them. They are travel zoom cameras. You may want to take the Panasonic LX5 or the Sony S100 which are a lot better to take close up pictures.
 
Avatar for navydave navydave (3:52 AM, August 03, 2011)
Thanks for the comparison dmasek. I ended up buying the ZS7 when it was on sale for $199 at Amazon a few months back. The ZS7 is a nice one too and the price was right. :-)
 
dmasek (1:46 AM, August 03, 2011)
I bought the s9100, and immediately sent it back. I couldn't get a clear shot to save my life. I then bought the zs10, and absolutely LOVE IT! The feature set, photo quality, and build are all far superior to the s9100. I expected more out of Nikon, who only makes cameras. Really when you think about it, you are not really buying a Panasonic, you are buying a Lecia with a different paint job. 

BUY THE LUMIX ZS10! NOT THE NIKON! 
 
LeeChristina52 (6:57 AM, July 22, 2011)
Hi, I don't take sport photo, kids, birds. I mainly take photo for human, closed up subject such as phone charm, little cufflink stuff. Which camera is a better choice for me? Tks much. Kris
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (1:50 AM, March 03, 2011)
Hi Dave, I don't think either camera is out yet so its hard to tell! Panasonic seems to be the leader in this category of camera, its ZS3/ZS7 cameras are highly praised, I hope the ZS10 will be great too.

Check out this comment from an owner of the ZS7.
 
Navydave (1:14 AM, March 03, 2011)
I cant decide which one is better. GPS and touch screen arent really all that important to me. I want to know which one takes a higher quality photo , and higher quality video when put side by side. I read some complaints about the Nikon s8100 having a poor auto-focus in some situations. Did this get carried over to the s9100? How does the auto-focus compare to the Lumix ZS10? Thanks. Dave