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Panasonic FX48 vs Nikon S630 Comparison

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Panasonic FX48

12 MP | 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) CCD Sensor

Panasonic FX48
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Nikon S630

12 MP | 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) CCD Sensor

Nikon S630
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Panasonic FX48 vs Nikon S630 Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing FX48 and S630, two Small Sensor Compact cameras from Panasonic and Nikon. Both Panasonic FX48 and Nikon S630 cameras have 12.0MP 1/2.3-inch sensors. Panasonic FX48 was introduced to market in January 2009 and Nikon S630 was launched in February 2009. Both FX48 and S630 were launched within the same month so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and available technology level.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Panasonic FX48 and Nikon S630 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Panasonic FX48 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2009-01-27
  • 12MP - 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor
  • ISO 80 - 3200 ( expands to 6400)
  • 25-125 mm F2.8-5.9 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 2.5" Fixed Type Screen
  • 2 fps continuous shooting
  • - 640 x 480 video resolution
  • 150g. 95 x 53 x 22 mm
  • Also known as Lumix DMC-FX40

Nikon S630 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2009-02-03
  • 12MP - 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor
  • ISO 64 - 6400
  • 37-260 mm F3.5-5.3 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 2.7" Fixed Type Screen
  • 11 fps continuous shooting
  • - 640 x 480 video resolution
  • 140g. 58 x 97 x 26 mm

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Panasonic FX48 and Nikon S630 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48 over Nikon Coolpix S630
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs No very handy for portraits
Max Mech. Shutter
1/3000s vs 1/2000s faster mechanical shutter
Manual Exposure
Yes vs No better exposure control
Focal Length - Wide
25mm vs 37mm 12 mm wider coverage
Max Aperture - Wide
2.80 vs 3.50 faster lens at wide


Reasons to choose Nikon Coolpix S630 over Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48
Max ISO
6.400 vs 3.200 100% higher Max ISO
LCD Screen Size
2.7" vs 2.5" 0.2 inches larger display
Continuous Shooting
11.0fps vs 2.0fps 9 fps faster
Weight
140 g vs 150 g 10 g lighter
Focal Length - Tele
260mm vs 125mm 135 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
7× vs 5× more flexible focal coverage
Max Aperture - Tele
5.30 vs 5.90 faster lens at tele

Common Strengths of Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48 and Nikon Coolpix S630
Image Stabilization
Optical vs Optical Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
Common Weaknesses of Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48 and Nikon Coolpix S630
Fixed Screen
Fixed Type vs No No flexible viewing angles
External Flash Shoe
No vs No Not suitable for flash photography
Viewfinder
None vs None No eye-level shooting option
RAW Support
No vs No Lower image quality
LCD Screen Size
2.5" vs 2.7" Small display
LCD Screen Resolution
230k dots vs 230k dots Low resolution screens
Manual Focusing
No vs No No manual focusing modes
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
Panasonic FX48 vs Nikon S630: 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 Panasonic FX48 and Nikon S630 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Panasonic FX48 has external dimensions of 95 x 53 x 22 mm (3.74 x 2.09 x 0.87″) and weighs 150 g (0.33 lb / 5.29 oz) (including batteries). Nikon S630 has external dimensions of 58 x 97 x 26 mm (2.28 x 3.82 x 1.02″) and weighs 140 g (0.31 lb / 4.94 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Panasonic FX48 and Nikon S630. Panasonic FX48 is 44mm shorter and 4mm thinner than Nikon S630 but it is also 37mm wider.

Panasonic FX48 vs Nikon S630 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Panasonic FX48 and Nikon S630 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Panasonic FX48 and Nikon S630.

Panasonic FX48 vs Nikon S630 Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Panasonic FX48 and Nikon S630 Size and Weight - Back View

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Nikon S630 is 10g lighter than the Panasonic FX48 but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

FX48
S630
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

FX48
S630
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48 (Lumix DMC-FX40) nor Nikon Coolpix S630 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 S630's 2.7" LCD screen is slightly larger than Panasonic FX48's 2.5" screen.

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.
Panasonic FX48 vs Nikon S630: Sensor Comparison

Both Panasonic FX48 and Nikon S630 have 1/2.3-inch sized 12.0 MP resolution sensors so sensor size and resolution is not a differentiator between these two cameras.

Below you can see the FX48 and S630 sensor size comparison.

Panasonic FX48 vs Nikon S630 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Panasonic FX48 and Nikon S630 Cameras


Panasonic FX48 and Nikon S630 have sensor sizes so they will provide same level of control over the depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

Panasonic FX48 vs Nikon S630 Lens Specs Comparison

Panasonic FX48 features a 25-125 mm F2.8-5.9 5× zoom lens whereas Nikon S630 features a 37-260 mm F3.5-5.3 7× zoom lens.

Panasonic FX48 has 12mm wider coverage than the Nikon S630. At f2.80, it is also faster at widest end. On the tele end, Nikon S630 has 135mm longer reach than the Panasonic FX48. At f5.30, it is also faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

FX48
S630
Widest - Ricoh WG-M1
Average
Telezoom

Compact Cameras

FX48
S630
Longest - Canon SX520 HS
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

FX48
S630
Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

FX48
S630
Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
Average
What types of Photography are Panasonic FX48 and Nikon S630 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Panasonic FX48 and Nikon S630 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.

Panasonic FX48 for Portrait Photography

POOR

Nikon S630 for Portrait Photography

POOR
Image Stabilization
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 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
Image Stabilization
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Panasonic FX48 for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Nikon S630 for Street Photography

AVERAGE
Image Stabilization
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.80
25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Small Body
Live-view
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
37 mm - Poor Wide Angle Coverage
Read the details

Panasonic FX48 for Sports Photography

POOR

Nikon S630 for Sports Photography

POOR
Image Stabilization
Manual Exposure Mode
11 Focus Points
Average Max shutter speed: 1/3000s
125 mm Tele Lens
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Slow Continuous Shooting: 2.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.90
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Fast Continuous Shooting: 11.0fps
260 mm Tele Lens
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Focus Points
Read the details

Panasonic FX48 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Nikon S630 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE
Compact Body
150g
Body Thickness 22mm
5.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details
Compact Body
140g
7.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details

Panasonic FX48 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Nikon S630 for Landscape Photography

POOR
Manual Exposure Mode
25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Focus Mode
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
No Environmental Sealings
37 mm - Poor Wide Angle Coverage
Read the details

Panasonic FX48 vs Nikon S630: 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 Panasonic FX48 and Nikon S630, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 63 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 Panasonic FX48 and Nikon S630 scores compare:

Panasonic FX48
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #299 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #930 out of 1223 in all Cameras
Nikon S630
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #414 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #1106 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Panasonic FX48 has a higher Overall Score than the Nikon S630 and would be our choice if we have to decide between these two cameras.

Panasonic FX48
Panasonic FX48
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Nikon S630
Nikon S630
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Nikon S630 vs Panasonic FX48 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48 Nikon Coolpix S630
Brand Panasonic Nikon
Announced 2009-01-27 2009-02-03
Body Type Compact Compact
Sensor
Type CCD CCD
Size 1/2.3-inch 1/2.3-inch
Dimensions 6.08 x 4.56 mm 6.08 x 4.56 mm
Area 27.72mm2 27.72mm2
Megapixels 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Max Resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Max Native Light sensitivity 3,200 ISO 6,400 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity 6400 ISO -
Min Native Light sensitivity 80 ISO 64 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 11 n/a
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 25-125 mm (5×) 37-260 mm (7×)
Max Aperture F2.8-5.9 F3.5-5.3
Macro Focus Range 5cm n/a
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 2.5" 2.7"
Resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder None None
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/3000s 1/2000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization Optical Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 6.00 m n/a
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 2.0 fps 11.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 640 x 480 640 x 480
Video Formats Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity None None
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 150g 140g
Dimensions 95 x 53 x 22mm 58 x 97 x 26mm
Battery Life n/a n/a
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
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