Nikon D5500 vs Panasonic ZS70

Cameras
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Nikon D5500 vs Panasonic ZS70

APS-C 366.6mm²
24.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Nikon D5500 Review.
How does it shoot? Nikon D5500 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the D5500.
Compare Nikon D5500 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Nikon D5500 conclusion.

1/2.3 inch 28.1mm²
20.3 megapixels
24.00mm - 720.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Panasonic ZS70 Review.
How does it shoot? Panasonic ZS70 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the ZS70.

Succeeded by the Nikon D5600
Compare D5500 vs D5600

Succeeded by the Panasonic ZS80
Compare ZS70 vs ZS80

Compare NIKON D5600 vs PANASONIC ZS80

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Differences

Nikon D5500 advantages over Panasonic ZS70

Tilt-swivel screen
Tilt-swivel vs tilt-only
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Larger sensor
APS-C vs 1/2.3 inch
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Bigger pixels
~ 3.92 vs 1.19 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

820 vs 380 shots
Capture more photos
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Shoots 24p video
Yes vs No
Gives your movies a big-screen feel
Hot shoe
Hot shoe vs None
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
More viewfinder magnification
0.55x vs 0.46x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
24.2 vs 20.3 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Bulb shutter
Bulb vs No bulb
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
Higher extended ISO
25600 vs 6400 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Panasonic ZS70 advantages over Nikon D5500

Less expensive
$298* vs $697
Save money for lenses or accessories
Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Shoot 4K video
4K (UHD) vs 1080p
Make sure you have a fast computer
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Thinner
41 mm vs 70 mm
Thinner
Higher max flash sync
1/2000 vs 1/200 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
Faster JPEG shooting
10.0 fps vs 4.9 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
10.0 fps vs 4.0 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
10 vs 7 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Faster shutter
1/16000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

Similarities

Common Strengths

Rear display
Both provide
Review photos on the back of the camera
Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Touchscreen
Both provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
RAW file ability
Both provide
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Manual focus
Both provide
AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video

Common Weaknesses

NFC
Neither provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Top deck display
Neither provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
Integrated ND filter
Neither provide
Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video

User reviews

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Adorama
Read D5500 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read ZS70 User Reviews

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Body Only (Black)
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Kit with 18-140mm lens (Red)
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Kit with 18-55mm lens (Red)

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Buy the Panasonic ZS70

Panasonic ZS70 (Black)

Panasonic ZS70 (Black)
Panasonic ZS70 (Silver)

Review Excerpt

Amazingly small for a DSLR; Great image quality for its class, including superb low light and high ISO performance; Generous JPEG buffer depth; High resolution.
Buffer depths are shallow when shooting RAW; Lacks GPS from the predecessor; No AA filter means it's susceptible to aliasing artifacts.
Read our Nikon D5500 Review

We haven’t finished our review of the Panasonic ZS70, but we have extensive sample photos and a hands-on report.
Read our Panasonic ZS70 Shooter's Report

The Competition

Compared to Pentax K-S1

Nikon D5500

Pentax K-S1

$597
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Touchscreen

$502
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Pentax K-S1

Panasonic ZS70

Pentax K-S1

$348
1/2.3 inch

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

$502
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Panasonic ZS70 vs Pentax K-S1

Compared to Canon T6i

Nikon D5500

Canon T6i

$597
APS-C

Larger sensor
Fast startup

$549
APS-C

Less expensive
NFC

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Canon T6i

Panasonic ZS70

Canon T6i

$348
1/2.3 inch

Focus peaking
Less expensive

$549
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Larger sensor

Compare Panasonic ZS70 vs Canon T6i

Compared to Nikon D3400

Nikon D5500

Nikon D3400

$597
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Touchscreen

$497
APS-C

Less expensive
Built-in Bluetooth

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Nikon D3400

Panasonic ZS70

Nikon D3400

$348
1/2.3 inch

Focus peaking
Less expensive

$497
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Panasonic ZS70 vs Nikon D3400

Compared to Canon SX730 HS

Nikon D5500

Canon SX730 HS

$597
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Larger sensor

$399
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Canon SX730 HS

Panasonic ZS70

Canon SX730 HS

$348
1/2.3 inch

Focus peaking
Less expensive

$399
1/2.3 inch

NFC
Built-in Bluetooth

Compare Panasonic ZS70 vs Canon SX730 HS

Compared to Panasonic ZS80

Nikon D5500

Panasonic ZS80

$597
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Larger sensor

$398
1/2.3 inch

Focus peaking
Less expensive

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Panasonic ZS80

Panasonic ZS70

Panasonic ZS80

$348
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive

$398
1/2.3 inch

Built-in Bluetooth
Shoots 24p video

Compare Panasonic ZS70 vs Panasonic ZS80

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