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Nikon S9900 vs Panasonic ZS70 Comparison

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Camera to replace
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Nikon S9900

16 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) CMOS Sensor

Nikon S9900
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Panasonic ZS70

20 MP | 1/2.3 BSI-CMOS Sensor

Panasonic ZS70
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Nikon S9900 vs Panasonic ZS70 Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing S9900 and ZS70, two Small Sensor Superzoom cameras from Nikon and Panasonic. Nikon S9900 was introduced to market in February 2015 and Panasonic ZS70 was launched in April 2017. As you can see, S9900 is 2 years older than ZS70. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Nikon S9900 and Panasonic ZS70 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Nikon S9900 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2015-02-10
  • 16MP - 1/2.3' CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 25-750 mm F3.7-6.4 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Fully Articulated Screen
  • 7.0fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • Built-in GPS
  • 289g. 112 x 66 x 40 mm
  • Replaced Nikon Coolpix S9700 Compare

Panasonic ZS70 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2017-04-19
  • 20MP - 1/2.3 BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 80 - 3200 ( expands to 6400)
  • 24-720 mm F3.3-6.4 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Tilting Screen
  • 1166k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 10.0fps continuous shooting
  • 4K (UHD) - 3840 x 2160 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 322g. 112 x 67 x 41 mm
  • Also known as Lumix DMC-TZ90
  • Replaced Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS60 Compare

Panasonic ZS70 was replaced by Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS70 (Lumix DC-TZ90)
Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80 vs Nikon Coolpix S9900

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon S9900 and Panasonic ZS70 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


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**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Nikon Coolpix S9900 over Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS70
GPS
BuiltIn vs None track your location
Max ISO
6.400 vs 3.200 100% higher Max ISO
Max Mech. Shutter
1/4000s vs 1/2000s faster mechanical shutter
Weight
289 g vs 322 g 33 g lighter
Focal Length - Tele
750mm vs 720mm 30 mm longer tele reach
Flash Coverage
6.0m vs 5.6m 0.4m longer range
NFC Connection
Yes vs No Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices
CHECK S9900 PRICE


Reasons to choose Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS70 over Nikon Coolpix S9900
Touch Screen
Yes vs No Easy control of camera functions
Viewfinder
Electronic vs None Better framing and control
RAW Support
Yes vs No Better image quality
Sensor Resolution
20 MP vs 16 MP 25% more pixels
LCD Resolution
1.040k dots vs 921k dots 12% higher resolution screen
Continuous Shooting
10.0fps vs 7.0fps 3 fps faster
Battery Life
380 shots vs 300 shots 80 more frames with a single charge
Focal Length - Wide
24mm vs 25mm 1 mm wider coverage
Max Aperture - Wide
3.30 vs 3.70 faster lens at wide
Max Video Resolution
3840 x 2160 vs 1920 x 1080 Higher Resolution Video
AE Bracketing
Yes vs No Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
4K Photo Mode
Yes vs No Extract 8MP photos from 4K Video
Focus Bracketing
Yes vs No Take multiple photos shifting focus point
Focus Stacking
Yes vs No Stacks photos in-camera to maximize depth of field
Post Focus Mode
Yes vs No Change focus point after taking a shot
CHECK ZS70 PRICE

Common Strengths of Nikon Coolpix S9900 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS70
Wireless Connection
Yes vs Yes Better connectivity
Image Stabilization
Optical vs Optical Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Adjustable LCD Screen
Fully Articulated vs Tilting Flexible shooting positions
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
LCD Screen Resolution
921k dots vs 1.040k dots High resolution screens
Manual Exposure
Yes vs Yes better exposure control
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs Yes creative shooting
Focal Length - Tele
750mm vs 720mm Very good Telezoom
Selfie/Vlogger Friendly LCD
Yes vs Yes Rotate LCD for taking Selfies
Smartphone Remote
Yes vs Yes Remote control your camera with a smartphone
Common Weaknesses of Nikon Coolpix S9900 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS70
External Flash Shoe
No vs No Not suitable for flash photography
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
Max Aperture - Tele
6.40 vs 6.40 Slow lenses at tele
Nikon S9900 vs Panasonic ZS70: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Nikon S9900 and Panasonic ZS70 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Nikon S9900 has external dimensions of 112 x 66 x 40 mm (4.41 x 2.6 x 1.57″) and weighs 289 g (0.64 lb / 10.19 oz) (including batteries). Panasonic ZS70 has external dimensions of 112 x 67 x 41 mm (4.41 x 2.64 x 1.61″) and weighs 322 g (0.71 lb / 11.36 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon S9900 and Panasonic ZS70. Nikon S9900 has the same height with Panasonic ZS70. On the other hand, with a width of 66mm, it is 1 narrower and also with a thickness of 40mm, it is 1mm thinner than Panasonic ZS70.

Nikon S9900 vs Panasonic ZS70 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Nikon S9900 and Panasonic ZS70 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Nikon S9900 and Panasonic ZS70.

Nikon S9900 vs Panasonic ZS70 Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Nikon S9900 and Panasonic ZS70 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon S9900 and Panasonic ZS70.
Nikon S9900 vs Panasonic ZS70 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Nikon S9900 and Panasonic ZS70 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Nikon S9900 is 33g lighter than the Panasonic ZS70 but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

S9900
ZS70
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

S9900
ZS70
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Nikon Coolpix S9900 nor Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS70 (Lumix DC-TZ90) provides any type of weather sealing in their body, so you have to give extra care especially when you are shooting outdoors. If weather sealing is a must-have feature for you, check these sections:
Top Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Nikon S9900 and Panasonic ZS70's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 3.00".

Panasonic ZS70 features a Tilting only screen which is mostly only good for shooting from waist or over the head levels. On the other hand, Nikon S9900 sports a Fully Articulated screen which is more flexible and useful especially for taking Selfie shots and video.
Nikon S9900 vs Panasonic ZS70: Sensor Comparison

Nikon S9900 has a 16.0MP 1/2.3' (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CMOS sensor . On the other hand, Panasonic ZS70 has a 20.0MP 1/2.3 (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features Venus Engine processor.

Below you can see the S9900 and ZS70 sensor size comparison.

Nikon S9900 vs Panasonic ZS70 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon S9900 and Panasonic ZS70 Cameras


Nikon S9900 and Panasonic ZS70 have the same sensor sizes so they will provide same level of control over the depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

Nikon S9900 vs Panasonic ZS70 Lens Specs Comparison

Nikon S9900 features a 25-750 mm F3.7-6.4 30× zoom lens whereas Panasonic ZS70 features a 24-720 mm F3.3-6.4 30x zoom lens.

Panasonic ZS70 has 1mm wider coverage than the Nikon S9900. At f3.30, it is also faster at widest end. On the tele end, Nikon S9900 has 30mm longer reach than the Panasonic ZS70. Both cameras has a max aperture of f6.40 at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

S9900
ZS70
Widest - Olympus TG-850 iHS
Average
Telezoom

Compact Cameras

S9900
ZS70
Longest - Canon SX520 HS
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

S9900
ZS70
Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

S9900
ZS70
Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
Average
What types of Photography are Nikon S9900 and Panasonic ZS70 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon S9900 and Panasonic ZS70 for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Nikon S9900 for Portrait Photography

POOR

Panasonic ZS70 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE
Image Stabilization
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Small 1/2.3 sensor
No External Flash Shoe
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Nikon S9900 for Street Photography

GOOD

Panasonic ZS70 for Street Photography

EXCELLENT
Image Stabilization
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fully Articulated LCD Screen
25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
Slow Lens at Wide: f3.70
Read the details
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3 sensor
Read the details

Nikon S9900 for Sports Photography

POOR

Panasonic ZS70 for Sports Photography

POOR
Image Stabilization
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 7.0fps
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
Wireless Connection
750 mm Tele Lens
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Focus Points
Slow Lens at Tele: f6.40
Read the details
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
49 Focus Points
Wireless Connection
720 mm Tele Lens
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
No External Flash Shoe
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Slow Lens at Tele: f6.40
Read the details

Nikon S9900 for Daily Photography

GOOD

Panasonic ZS70 for Daily Photography

GOOD
Compact Body
289g
30.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Body Thickness 40mm
Read the details
RAW shooting capability
Compact Body
30.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3 sensor
322g
Body Thickness 41mm
Read the details

Nikon S9900 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Panasonic ZS70 for Landscape Photography

POOR
Manual Exposure Mode
25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Built-in GPS
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Focus Mode
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3 sensor
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Nikon S9900 vs Panasonic ZS70: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Nikon S9900 and Panasonic ZS70, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 69 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Nikon S9900 and Panasonic ZS70 scores compare:

Nikon S9900
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #72 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #534 out of 1244 in all Cameras
Panasonic ZS70
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #6 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #287 out of 1244 in all Cameras

Panasonic ZS70 is the overall winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Nikon S9900 in all criteria except one: Portability.
If small size and light body is a big priority for you, choose Nikon S9900. Otherwise, Panasonic ZS70 is the better camera overall.

Nikon S9900
Nikon S9900
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Panasonic ZS70
Panasonic ZS70
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Panasonic ZS70 vs Nikon S9900 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon Coolpix S9900 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS70
Brand Nikon Panasonic
Announced 2015-02-10 2017-04-19
Body Type Compact Compact
Sensor
Type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Size 1/2.3' 1/2.3
Dimensions 6.17 x 4.55 mm 6.17 x 4.55 mm
Area 28.07mm2 28.07mm2
Megapixels 16 megapixels 20 megapixels
Max Resolution 4608 x 3456 5184 x 3888
Max Native Light sensitivity 6,400 ISO 3,200 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity - 6400 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 100 ISO 80 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points n/a 49
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 25-750 mm (30×) 24-720 mm (30x)
Max Aperture F3.7-6.4 F3.3-6.4
Macro Focus Range 1cm 3cm
Screen
Type Fully Articulated Tilting
Size 3.00" 3.00"
Resolution 921k dots 1,040k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution no electronic viewfinder 1,166k dots
Viewfinder Coverage n/a 100%
Viewfinder Magnification n/a 0.46x
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/4000s 1/2000s
Max Electronic Shutter n/a 1/16000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization Optical Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 6.00 m (at Auto ISO) 5.60 m (at Auto ISO)
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 7.0 fps 10.0 fps
Multi-Segment Metering
Average Metering
Spot Metering
Partial Metering
AF-Area Metering
Center Weighted Metering
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 1920 x 1080 3840 x 2160
Video Formats MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Built-In Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 289g 322g
Dimensions 112 x 66 x 40mm 112 x 67 x 41mm
Battery Life 300 shots 380 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS Built-in None
DxO Sensor Scores
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