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Nikon P510 vs Panasonic SZ8

Portability
66
Imaging
40
Features
55
Overall
46
Nikon Coolpix P510 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 front
Portability
94
Imaging
40
Features
31
Overall
36

Nikon P510 vs Panasonic SZ8 Key Specs

Nikon P510
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1000mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
  • 555g - 120 x 83 x 102mm
  • Revealed July 2012
  • Earlier Model is Nikon P500
  • Later Model is Nikon P520
Panasonic SZ8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Increase to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
  • 159g - 100 x 60 x 27mm
  • Launched January 2014
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Nikon P510 vs Panasonic SZ8 Overview

Lets take a closer look at the Nikon P510 and Panasonic SZ8, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by rivals Nikon and Panasonic. The resolution of the P510 (16MP) and the SZ8 (16MP) is relatively comparable and they feature the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The P510 was brought out 18 months earlier than the SZ8 which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. The two cameras come with different body type with the Nikon P510 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic SZ8 being a Compact camera.

Before diving through a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the P510 scores versus the SZ8 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon P510 over the Panasonic SZ8

 P510 SZ8 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k460kSharper screen (+461k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ8 over the Nikon P510

 SZ8 P510 
LaunchedJanuary 2014July 2012More recent by 18 months

Common features in the Nikon P510 and Panasonic SZ8

 P510 SZ8 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen size
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Nikon P510 vs Panasonic SZ8 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to lug around your camera often, you will need to factor its weight and size. The Nikon P510 features physical measurements of 120mm x 83mm x 102mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 4.0") and a weight of 555 grams (1.22 lbs) and the Panasonic SZ8 has specifications of 100mm x 60mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") with a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs).

Take a look at the Nikon P510 and Panasonic SZ8 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you choose at the time. Here is the front view overall size comparison of the P510 versus the SZ8.

Nikon P510 vs Panasonic SZ8 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the P510 and SZ8 is 66 and 94 respectively.

Nikon P510 vs Panasonic SZ8 top view buttons comparison

Nikon P510 vs Panasonic SZ8 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its difficult to see the gap in sensor measurements just by checking out a spec sheet. The visual below should provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the P510 and SZ8.

Clearly, both of the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements and the same exact resolution and you can expect comparable quality of photographs however you will want to factor the age of the cameras into account. The older P510 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Nikon P510 vs Panasonic SZ8 sensor size comparison

Nikon P510 vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon P510 vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon P510
Portrait photography with Panasonic SZ8
44
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
provides face detection autofocus
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
35
good MP (16MP)
supports face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon P510 Street photography information
Panasonic SZ8 Street photography information
51
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
heavier than average (555 grams)
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (159 grams)
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon P510
Sports photography with Panasonic SZ8
51
long zoom range (24-1000mm 41.7 x zoom)
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
provides tracking autofocus
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery (200 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
34
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
low battery (200 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon P510 Travel photography factors
Panasonic SZ8 Travel photography factors
54
megapixel count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
great zoom (1000mm)
terrible battery (200 shots)
heavier than average (555 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
67
lighter than average in class (159 grams)
good MP (16MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
great reach (288mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
low battery (200 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon P510 Landscape photography info
Panasonic SZ8 Landscape photography info
47
focusing manually
reasonably wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
terrible battery (200 CIPA)
42
fairly wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not available
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
low battery (200 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon P510 Vlogging information
Panasonic SZ8 Vlogging information
27
reasonably wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of external mic jack
heavier than average (555g)
32
fairly wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection autofocus
lighter than average in class (159 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external microphone port
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Nikon P510 vs Panasonic SZ8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon P510 and Panasonic SZ8
 Nikon Coolpix P510Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
General Information
Company Nikon Panasonic
Model type Nikon Coolpix P510 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2012-07-05 2014-01-06
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Expeed C2 Venus Engine
Sensor type BSI-CMOS 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 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 3200 1600
Max boosted ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-1000mm (41.7x) 24-288mm (12.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.0-5.9 f/3.1-6.3
Macro focusing range 2cm -
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 921 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 8 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 7.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 5.20 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow-sync Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (15, 30fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (120, 30fps) 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 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 BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 555g (1.22 lbs) 159g (0.35 lbs)
Dimensions 120 x 83 x 102mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 4.0") 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 200 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL5 -
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $600 $275