Panasonic ZS80 vs Panasonic SZ5

Let's look more closely at the Panasonic ZS80 vs Panasonic SZ5, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both offered by Panasonic. There exists a significant gap between the sensor resolutions of the ZS80 (20MP) and SZ5 (14MP) but they feature the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The ZS80 was introduced 5 years later than the SZ5 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a brief view of how the ZS80 scores vs the SZ5 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5. The whole galleries are viewable at Panasonic ZS80 Gallery and Panasonic SZ5 Gallery.

In case you're intending to lug around your camera, you'll need to think about its weight and size. The Panasonic ZS80 comes with physical dimensions of 112mm x 69mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.7") along with a weight of 327 grams (0.72 lbs) whilst the Panasonic SZ5 has specifications of 104mm x 58mm x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") along with a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic ZS80 vs Panasonic SZ5 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you select during that time. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the ZS80 vs the SZ5.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the ZS80 and SZ5 is 86 and 95 respectively.

Normally, its hard to envision the contrast between sensor measurements only by looking at a spec sheet. The visual here will help give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS80 and SZ5.

As you can see, the two cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same megapixels. You should anticipate the Panasonic ZS80 to give you greater detail using its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop images a little more aggressively. The fresher ZS80 is going to have a benefit in sensor tech.