Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic ZS8

Following is a detailed assessment of the Canon SX120 IS versus Panasonic ZS8, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Canon and Panasonic. There is a big difference among the sensor resolutions of the SX120 IS (10MP) and ZS8 (14MP) and the SX120 IS (1/2.5") and ZS8 (1/2.3") have different sensor sizing.

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The SX120 IS was announced 23 months prior to the ZS8 making them a generation away from each other. Both cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before getting into a in depth comparison, here is a simple overview of how the SX120 IS scores vs the ZS8 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Canon PowerShot SX120 IS and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8. The whole galleries are available at Canon SX120 IS Gallery and Panasonic ZS8 Gallery.

When you are planning to carry around your camera often, you will want to take into account its weight and measurements. The Canon SX120 IS provides external measurements of 111mm x 71mm x 45mm (4.4" x 2.8" x 1.8") with a weight of 285 grams (0.63 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS8 has proportions of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") along with a weight of 210 grams (0.46 lbs).

See the Canon SX120 IS versus Panasonic ZS8 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you select at the time. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the SX120 IS and the ZS8.

Using size and weight, the portability score of the SX120 IS and ZS8 is 87 and 92 respectively.

Oftentimes, it's tough to picture the contrast in sensor sizes only by checking out a spec sheet. The picture below may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the SX120 IS and ZS8.

As you can see, the two cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The SX120 IS having a smaller sensor is going to make shooting bokeh more difficult and the Panasonic ZS8 will show greater detail with its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images more aggressively. The more aged SX120 IS will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.