Panasonic SZ8 has a
16.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.08 x 4.56 mm ) sized CCD sensor and features Venus Engine processor. On the other hand, Nikon L100 has a
10.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.08 x 4.56 mm ) sized CCD sensor .
Panasonic SZ8's sensor provides 6MP more than Nikon L100's sensor, which gives a significant advantage in real life. You can print your images larger or crop more freely.
On the other hand, please keep in mind that Max sensor resolution is not the only determinant of resolving power. Factors such as the optical elements, low pass filter, pixel size and sensor technology also affects the final resolution of the captured image.
Below you can see the SZ8 and L100 sensor size comparison.
Panasonic SZ8 and Nikon L100 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. On the other hand, since Nikon L100 has 59% larger pixel area (2.78µm2 vs 1.74µm2) compared to Panasonic SZ8, it has larger pixel area to collect light hence potential to have less noise in low light / High ISO images.