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Nikon Z5 vs Panasonic ZS8

Portability
62
Imaging
76
Features
86
Overall
80
Nikon Z5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
39
Overall
37

Nikon Z5 vs Panasonic ZS8 Key Specs

Nikon Z5
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Raise to 102400)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon Z Mount
  • 675g - 134 x 101 x 70mm
  • Announced July 2020
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
  • Introduced July 2011
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ18
  • Succeeded the Panasonic ZS7
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Nikon Z5 vs Panasonic ZS8 Overview

Following is a thorough analysis of the Nikon Z5 vs Panasonic ZS8, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Nikon and Panasonic. There is a sizeable difference among the resolutions of the Z5 (24MP) and ZS8 (14MP) and the Z5 (Full frame) and ZS8 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor measurements.

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The Z5 was unveiled 9 years after the ZS8 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Nikon Z5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS8 being a Compact camera.

Before delving right into a in depth comparison, here is a quick view of how the Z5 grades vs the ZS8 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon Z5 over the Panasonic ZS8

 Z5 ZS8 
IntroducedJuly 2020July 2011More modern by 110 months
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1040k230kSharper screen (+810k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS8 over the Nikon Z5

 ZS8 Z5 

Common features in the Nikon Z5 and Panasonic ZS8

 Z5 ZS8 
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Nikon Z5 vs Panasonic ZS8 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry around your camera often, you will need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Nikon Z5 has physical measurements of 134mm x 101mm x 70mm (5.3" x 4.0" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 675 grams (1.49 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS8 has dimensions of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") along with a weight of 210 grams (0.46 lbs).

Contrast the Nikon Z5 vs Panasonic ZS8 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you select at the time. Following is a front view size comparison of the Z5 vs the ZS8.

Nikon Z5 vs Panasonic ZS8 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the Z5 and ZS8 is 62 and 92 respectively.

Nikon Z5 vs Panasonic ZS8 top view buttons comparison

Nikon Z5 vs Panasonic ZS8 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor sizes purely by checking out specs. The pic below will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the Z5 and ZS8.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The Z5 with its bigger sensor will make shooting shallower DOF less difficult and the Nikon Z5 will produce extra detail having an extra 10 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop photographs more aggressively. The more modern Z5 is going to have a benefit in sensor tech.

Nikon Z5 vs Panasonic ZS8 sensor size comparison

Nikon Z5 vs Panasonic ZS8 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon Z5 vs Panasonic ZS8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon Z5
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS8
85
focusing manually
good resolution (24MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
offers face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
30
good megapixels (14MP)
manual focus not available
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Nikon Z5 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZS8 as a Street photography camera
74
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
great sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
boasts focus via touch
weather sealing
very good ISO range (51,200)
more heavy than others (675g)
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (210 grams)
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Nikon Z5 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS8 as a Sports photography camera
82
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (24 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
offers tracking autofocus
weather sealing
better than average battery power (470 CIPA)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
slow frames per second (4.5 frames/s)
47
amazing zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14MP)
provides tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon Z5 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS8 as a Travel photography camera
68
better than average battery power (470 shots)
weather sealing
connects via bluetooth
boasts focus via touch
good resolution (24 megapixels)
more heavy than others (675g)
display is not selfie friendly
69
lighter than competitors in class (210g)
good megapixels (14MP)
built-in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
long zoom (384mm)
no Timelapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon Z5 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZS8 as a Landscape photography camera
86
focusing manually
switch lenses (Nikon Z mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (24MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
very good ISO range (51,200)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
better than average battery power (470 shots)
has double storage slots
44
relatively wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon Z5 Vlogging details
Panasonic ZS8 Vlogging details
34
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detection autofocus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
includes external microphone port
display is not selfie friendly
more heavy than others (675g)
30
relatively wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (210 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external microphone jack
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Nikon Z5 vs Panasonic ZS8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon Z5 and Panasonic ZS8
 Nikon Z5Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8
General Information
Make Nikon Panasonic
Model Nikon Z5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-TZ18
Type Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2020-07-20 2011-07-19
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Expeed 6 Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Full frame 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 35.9 x 23.9mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 858.0mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 24MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 6016 x 4016 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 51200 6400
Highest enhanced ISO 102400 -
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Min enhanced ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 273 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Nikon Z fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-384mm (16.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Amount of lenses 15 -
Focal length multiplier 1 5.9
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3.2 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,040 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 3,690 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.8x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 4.5 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 5.00 m
Flash modes Front-curtain sync, slow sync, rear-curtain sync, red-eye reduction, red-eye reduction with slow sync, slow rear-curtain sync, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/200s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 25p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 24p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB Yes USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 675 grams (1.49 lb) 210 grams (0.46 lb)
Physical dimensions 134 x 101 x 70mm (5.3" x 4.0" x 2.8") 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 470 shots 340 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL15c -
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Dual Single
Retail price $1,399 $275