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Nikon L20 vs Panasonic ZS8

Portability
94
Imaging
32
Features
17
Overall
26
Nikon Coolpix L20 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
39
Overall
37

Nikon L20 vs Panasonic ZS8 Key Specs

Nikon L20
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 38-136mm (F3.1-6.7) lens
  • 135g - 97 x 61 x 29mm
  • Revealed February 2009
Panasonic ZS8
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 210g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Introduced July 2011
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ18
  • Old Model is Panasonic ZS7
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Nikon L20 vs Panasonic ZS8 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Nikon L20 and Panasonic ZS8, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Nikon and Panasonic. There is a large difference between the sensor resolutions of the L20 (10MP) and ZS8 (14MP) but both cameras have the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The L20 was manufactured 3 years earlier than the ZS8 which is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going right into a more detailed comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the L20 grades vs the ZS8 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon L20 over the Panasonic ZS8

 L20 ZS8 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS8 over the Nikon L20

 ZS8 L20 
IntroducedJuly 2011February 2009More modern by 29 months

Common features in the Nikon L20 and Panasonic ZS8

 L20 ZS8 
Manual focus Lack of manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Nikon L20 vs Panasonic ZS8 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry around your camera frequently, you will have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Nikon L20 provides outside measurements of 97mm x 61mm x 29mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.1") and a weight of 135 grams (0.30 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS8 has proportions 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 Nikon L20 and Panasonic ZS8 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are using at that time. Underneath is a front view dimension comparison of the L20 versus the ZS8.

Nikon L20 vs Panasonic ZS8 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the L20 and ZS8 is 94 and 92 respectively.

Nikon L20 vs Panasonic ZS8 top view buttons comparison

Nikon L20 vs Panasonic ZS8 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's tough to imagine the contrast between sensor sizes merely by reading through technical specs. The picture underneath might give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the L20 and ZS8.

As you have seen, the two cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different MP. You can anticipate the Panasonic ZS8 to resolve extra detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images a bit more aggressively. The more aged L20 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Nikon L20 vs Panasonic ZS8 sensor size comparison

Nikon L20 vs Panasonic ZS8 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon L20 vs Panasonic ZS8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon L20
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS8
19
lack of manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
30
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Nikon L20 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZS8 as a Street photography camera
54
lighter than competition (135g)
no moving screen
no image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (210g)
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Nikon L20 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS8 as a Sports photography camera
16
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
low resolution sensor (10MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
47
long zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon L20 Travel photography details
Panasonic ZS8 Travel photography details
55
lighter than competition (135g)
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse mode
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
wide angle not good (38mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
69
lighter than competition in class (210g)
decent megapixels (14MP)
built-in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
great zoom (384mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon L20 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZS8 as a Landscape photography camera
26
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (38mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
no image stabilization
low resolution sensor (10MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
does not have Timelapse mode
44
pretty wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon L20
Vlogging with Panasonic ZS8
24
lighter than competition (135g)
wide angle not good (38mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
video resolution low (640 x 480 pxls)
does not have microphone jack
30
pretty wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (210 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have mic socket
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Nikon L20 vs Panasonic ZS8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon L20 and Panasonic ZS8
 Nikon Coolpix L20Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8
General Information
Make Nikon Panasonic
Model Nikon Coolpix L20 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-TZ18
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2009-02-03 2011-07-19
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 64 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 38-136mm (3.6x) 24-384mm (16.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.1-6.7 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus range 5cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate - 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 5.00 m
Flash options Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 135 gr (0.30 lb) 210 gr (0.46 lb)
Physical dimensions 97 x 61 x 29mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.1") 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 340 shots
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model 2 x AA -
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $120 $275