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Canon SX30 IS vs Panasonic SZ8

Portability
64
Imaging
37
Features
42
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot SX30 IS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 front
Portability
94
Imaging
40
Features
31
Overall
36

Canon SX30 IS vs Panasonic SZ8 Key Specs

Canon SX30 IS
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-840mm (F2.7-5.8) lens
  • 601g - 123 x 92 x 108mm
  • Introduced September 2010
  • Succeeded the Canon SX20 IS
  • Replacement is Canon SX40 HS
Panasonic SZ8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Bump to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
  • 159g - 100 x 60 x 27mm
  • Announced January 2014
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Canon SX30 IS vs Panasonic SZ8 Overview

Its time to look a little more closely at the Canon SX30 IS vs Panasonic SZ8, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by competitors Canon and Panasonic. The image resolution of the SX30 IS (14MP) and the SZ8 (16MP) is very well matched and they use the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SX30 IS was announced 4 years earlier than the SZ8 which is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Canon SX30 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic SZ8 being a Compact camera.

Before getting through a in depth comparison, below is a quick overview of how the SX30 IS scores vs the SZ8 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon SX30 IS over the Panasonic SZ8

 SX30 IS SZ8 
Manually focus More exact focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ8 over the Canon SX30 IS

 SZ8 SX30 IS 
AnnouncedJanuary 2014September 2010Newer by 40 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX30 IS and Panasonic SZ8

 SX30 IS SZ8 
Touch display Missing Touch display

Canon SX30 IS vs Panasonic SZ8 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to travel with your camera, you'll have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Canon SX30 IS has got outer measurements of 123mm x 92mm x 108mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 4.3") along with a weight of 601 grams (1.32 lbs) whilst the Panasonic SZ8 has measurements of 100mm x 60mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs).

Check out the Canon SX30 IS vs Panasonic SZ8 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you use at that time. The following is the front view scale comparison of the SX30 IS compared to the SZ8.

Canon SX30 IS vs Panasonic SZ8 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SX30 IS and SZ8 is 64 and 94 respectively.

Canon SX30 IS vs Panasonic SZ8 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX30 IS vs Panasonic SZ8 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is hard to imagine the difference between sensor dimensions purely by checking specifications. The picture underneath will give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the SX30 IS and SZ8.

Plainly, both the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but different megapixels. You should expect to see the Panasonic SZ8 to give you extra detail with its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The more aged SX30 IS is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Canon SX30 IS vs Panasonic SZ8 sensor size comparison

Canon SX30 IS vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX30 IS vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon SX30 IS
Portrait photography with Panasonic SZ8
42
focusing manually
MP count good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
35
good MP (16MP)
includes face detection focusing
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX30 IS Street photography factors
Panasonic SZ8 Street photography factors
49
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
heavier than competition (601 grams)
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (159 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX30 IS as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic SZ8 as a Sports photography camera
43
great zoom range (24-840mm 35.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14MP)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
34
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
bad battery (200 shots)
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX30 IS Travel photography highlights
Panasonic SZ8 Travel photography highlights
58
MP count good (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
decently wide (24mm)
long reach (840mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition (601g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
67
lighter than competitors in class (159 grams)
good MP (16MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (24mm)
long reach (288mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
bad battery (200 shots)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX30 IS Landscape photography advice
Panasonic SZ8 Landscape photography advice
41
focusing manually
decently wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
tiny screen (2.7")
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
42
decently wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual exposure
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
bad battery (200 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX30 IS Vlogging factors
Panasonic SZ8 Vlogging factors
50
decently wide (24mm)
selfie friendly screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external mic jack
heavier than competition (601g)
32
decently wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focusing
lighter than competitors in class (159g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone port
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Canon SX30 IS vs Panasonic SZ8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX30 IS and Panasonic SZ8
 Canon PowerShot SX30 ISPanasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
General Information
Brand Name Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot SX30 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2010-09-14 2014-01-06
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 4 Venus Engine
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4320 x 3240 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 1600
Highest boosted ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-840mm (35.0x) 24-288mm (12.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.7-5.8 f/3.1-6.3
Macro focusing distance 0cm -
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 secs 8 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/3200 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.80 m 5.20 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 601g (1.32 lb) 159g (0.35 lb)
Dimensions 123 x 92 x 108mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 4.3") 100 x 60 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 200 shots
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-7L -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail price $400 $275