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Canon SX720 HS vs Panasonic ZS8

Portability
89
Imaging
46
Features
51
Overall
48
Canon PowerShot SX720 HS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
39
Overall
37

Canon SX720 HS vs Panasonic ZS8 Key Specs

Canon SX720 HS
(Full Review)
  • 20.3MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-960mm (F3.3-6.9) lens
  • 270g - 110 x 64 x 36mm
  • Revealed February 2016
  • Earlier Model is Canon SX710 HS
  • Renewed by Canon SX730 HS
Panasonic ZS8
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 210g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Released July 2011
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ18
  • Replaced the Panasonic ZS7
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Canon SX720 HS vs Panasonic ZS8 Overview

Its time to look a bit more closely at the Canon SX720 HS and Panasonic ZS8, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by competitors Canon and Panasonic. There exists a large gap between the image resolutions of the SX720 HS (20.3MP) and ZS8 (14MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SX720 HS was announced 4 years after the ZS8 which is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going through a in-depth comparison, below is a quick view of how the SX720 HS grades against the ZS8 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX720 HS over the Panasonic ZS8

 SX720 HS ZS8 
ReleasedFebruary 2016July 2011Newer by 56 months
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Screen resolution922k230kClearer screen (+692k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS8 over the Canon SX720 HS

 ZS8 SX720 HS 

Common features in the Canon SX720 HS and Panasonic ZS8

 SX720 HS ZS8 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Canon SX720 HS vs Panasonic ZS8 Physical Comparison

If you are going to travel with your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor its weight and proportions. The Canon SX720 HS has got physical measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 270 grams (0.60 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS8 has measurements of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 210 grams (0.46 lbs).

Look at the Canon SX720 HS and Panasonic ZS8 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Below is the front view overall size comparison of the SX720 HS compared to the ZS8.

Canon SX720 HS vs Panasonic ZS8 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SX720 HS and ZS8 is 89 and 92 respectively.

Canon SX720 HS vs Panasonic ZS8 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX720 HS vs Panasonic ZS8 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its difficult to envision the contrast between sensor dimensions only by going over technical specs. The picture below will give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the SX720 HS and ZS8.

As you have seen, each of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same MP. You can expect the Canon SX720 HS to deliver extra detail with its extra 6.3 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop pictures far more aggressively. The newer SX720 HS will have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon SX720 HS vs Panasonic ZS8 sensor size comparison

Canon SX720 HS vs Panasonic ZS8 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX720 HS vs Panasonic ZS8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX720 HS Portrait photography details
Panasonic ZS8 Portrait photography details
47
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (20.3MP)
offers face detect focus
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
30
good megapixels (14MP)
lack of manual focus
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX720 HS Street photography information
Panasonic ZS8 Street photography information
62
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (270 grams)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (210g)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX720 HS Sports photography factors
Panasonic ZS8 Sports photography factors
48
long zoom range (24-960mm 40.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20.3 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (5.9 frames per second)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (250 per charge)
no phase detect auto focus
47
long zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (2.0 frames per second)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX720 HS Travel photography info
Panasonic ZS8 Travel photography info
67
lighter than competitors (270g)
sensor resolution is decent (20.3MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (24mm)
great zoom (960mm)
no Time Lapse function
terrible battery power (250 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
69
lighter than others in class (210 grams)
good megapixels (14MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (24mm)
great reach (384mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SX720 HS
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS8
50
you can focus manually
rather wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20.3MP)
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
terrible battery power (250 shots)
no Time Lapse function
44
decently wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX720 HS Vlogging factors
Panasonic ZS8 Vlogging factors
34
rather wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors (270g)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no mic port
30
decently wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (210 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic port
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Canon SX720 HS vs Panasonic ZS8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX720 HS and Panasonic ZS8
 Canon PowerShot SX720 HSPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8
General Information
Company Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot SX720 HS Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8
Also called as - Lumix DMC-TZ18
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2016-02-18 2011-07-19
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by DIGIC 6 Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 20.3 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 5184 x 3888 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 9 11
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-960mm (40.0x) 24-384mm (16.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.3-6.9 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing range 1cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 922 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/3200 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 5.9fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 5.00 m
Flash options Auto, on, off, slow synchro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
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 270g (0.60 lbs) 210g (0.46 lbs)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
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 250 photos 340 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-13L -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $379 $275