Panasonic Lumix ZS80 vs Samsung TL350: Compact Superzoom Showdown from an Experienced Photographer’s Lens

Choosing the right compact travel camera or casual superzoom can feel like wandering a photographic jungle. Two relics that often appear in “budget-friendly superzoom” conversations are Panasonic’s Lumix ZS80 - a fairly recent 2018 release - and Samsung’s TL350, a compact from as far back as 2010. On paper, these two look like distant cousins: both small sensor fixed lens compacts, but years apart in tech, specs, and feature ambitions.

Having handled thousands of cameras over the past decade and a half - from ultra-compacts to pro DSLRs and mirrorless beasts - I dug in to see what differences truly shape the experience of using these two cameras day-to-day. Beyond bullet points, I tested ergonomics, image quality, shooting speed, video, and features to provide a candid comparison relevant for both the enthusiast seeking a lightweight superzoom and professionals looking for a solid secondary shooter.

Expect a deep dive into sensor tech, autofocus systems, handling, lens range, and a real-world look from portraits to landscapes, wildlife, video, and more. Plus, I pepper in recommendations that factor both price and unique strengths.

Let’s start by sizing up these contenders physically and ergonomically.

A Tale of Two Compacts: Physical Size and Handling

If you’re like me, the feel of the camera in hand often seals the deal more than specs on a screen. The Samsung TL350 is a true minimalist lightweight, while the Panasonic ZS80 bulkier but packed with conveniences.

The Samsung TL350 measures a slim 100x59x22mm and weighs 195 grams, making it pocket-friendly and barely noticeable on day hikes or city strolls. The Panasonic ZS80 is noticeably chunkier at 112x69x42mm and 327 grams, closer to a mini DSLR grip than a slim point-and-shoot.

That extra girth on the ZS80 hides a larger zoom lens system and more extensive controls, but for discrete street shooting or travel light situations, the TL350 excels in simplicity and stealth.

The ergonomics also differ fundamentally - Panasonic’s lens barrel extends further when zooming, but the camera itself has a positively textured grip and an intelligently placed thumb rest. Samsung’s TL350 opts for no grip or protrusions, resulting in a clean but less secure hold - an issue if your hands are on the larger side.

Button layout plays a crucial role in usability, so let’s peek at the top controls.

The Panasonic ZS80 sports a relatively modern, well-thought-out control scheme - dedicated mode dial, exposure compensation dial, and programmable function buttons. The Samsung TL350’s top suffers from an austere design, with fewer buttons and reliance on menu diving for settings changes.

The ZS80’s better-balanced controls help speed up workflow, especially when you want to dart between modes or tweak exposure on the fly without fumbling. Samsung TL350 feels more retro and less agile in this respect.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Camera

Forget about bells and whistles for a moment: the sensor is where the magic starts transforming photons into photographs. Both cameras have 1/2.3" sensors, which are among the smallest in the market and naturally impose image quality limits - but even in this small size segment, technology differences nearly a decade apart impact results.

The Panasonic ZS80 pairs a 20MP backside-illuminated CMOS sensor with Panasonic’s Venus Engine processor. A sizeable sensor diagonal of approximately 6.17x4.55mm and relatively modern BSI design boost low-light capabilities and dynamic range above older sensor tech.

Meanwhile, the Samsung TL350 packs a 10MP CMOS sensor, roughly half the resolution and reflecting dated generation tech from 2010. Its sensor size is very similar physically (6.08x4.56mm), but without the benefits of BSI, noise performance and color fidelity lag behind.

Practically speaking, this means the Panasonic ZS80 consistently produces images with more fine detail, richer colors, and cleaner high ISO performance. The ZS80’s images exhibit more latitude in post-processing thanks to solid RAW support; Samsung TL350 also shoots RAW but with lower resolution and less headroom for tuning.

In landscape or daylight portrait scenarios, the Panasonic shines with crispness, while Samsung often struggles with softness and lower color saturation. Low light, a notorious weak point for small sensor compacts, is manageable with ZS80 but frankly challenging with the TL350.

LCD and Viewfinder: Composing Your Shot

Composing on bright sunny days or framed shots requiring quick reaction depend heavily on the camera’s screen and viewfinder.

The Panasonic ZS80 sports a 3" tilting touchscreen LCD with 1040k dots of resolution - offering vivid, sharp previews and the tactile convenience of touch-to-focus and touch shutter. This is a big usability win for both casual shooting and complex manual settings adjustment.

Samsung’s TL350 sticks with a fixed 3" LCD, lower res at 920k dots, with no touchscreen. The inability to tilt limits shooting versatility, especially from awkward angles, and menu navigation can be a bit clunky.

What about the viewfinder? The ZS80 includes a bright electronic viewfinder at 2330k dots and 100% coverage, useful in bright conditions or for steady framing. The TL350 lacks any viewfinder, meaning all compositions must rely on the LCD - challenging in direct sunlight or when extra stability is needed.

For me, the ZS80’s combination of touch LCD and EVF makes all the difference for travel and spontaneous shots where speed counts.

Lenses and Zoom Power: Telephoto Versus Wide-Angle Feast

Zoom capability is a huge factor for small-sensor superzoom cameras. The Panasonic ZS80’s lens runs an impressive 24-720mm equivalent, a 30x optical zoom monster, with maximum apertures ranging f/3.3-6.4. The Samsung TL350 delivers 24-120mm equivalent (5x zoom) with a faster aperture range of f/2.4-5.8.

Translation: Panasonic offers an ultra-long reach for wildlife, sports, or distant landscapes; Samsung sports a wider aperture at the wide end, good for indoor or dim photos but limited telephoto flexibility.

Panasonic ZS80 front Panasonic ZS80 screen back Samsung TL350 front Samsung TL350 screen back

In real-world shooting, Panasonic’s extended zoom allowed me to frame birds perched at a distance and distant spires in landscapes without lugging extra gear - remarkable for a compact. However, the narrow aperture at long zooms demands steady hands or tripod use to avoid soft shots.

Samsung TL350’s faster wide aperture delivers pleasing bokeh and low-light backgrounds for portraits, but zoom length maxes out quickly. For telephoto needs, it struggles.

Macro shooting also reveals the difference: the Panasonic’s 3cm close focus with post-focus and focus stacking delivers better precision and creative flexibility compared to TL350’s fixed 5cm minimum.

Autofocus Performance and Speed: The Race to Lock Sharpness

Let me tell you - autofocus can either inspire confidence or drive you up a wall, especially with moving subjects.

Panasonic ZS80 uses contrast-detection autofocus with face detection and evaluative multi-area focus, plus touch AF. It also offers continuous autofocus and tracking modes, handy for wildlife or street subjects. The addition of focus bracketing and stacking is a nice feature for macro and landscape use.

Samsung TL350 relies on contrast detection as well but offers single AF without continuous or tracking capabilities; no face detection is a real drawback by modern standards.

Testing both cameras in fast-moving sports and street scenarios, the ZS80 was noticeably faster and more reliable to lock focus and track subjects in motion. The TL350 lagged, often hunting or producing out-of-focus frames when action accelerated.

Continuous shooting tops out at 10 fps for both cameras - decent for the class - with Panasonic’s buffer and speed marginally better for sustained bursts.

Video Capabilities: More Than Just Pictures

For enthusiasts dabbling in video, both cameras offer HD recording but with big differences.

Panasonic ZS80 shoots 4K UHD video at 30 fps, along with 1080p at 60 fps and slow-motion options. It supports 4K photo mode, ideal for grabbing stills from video streams. Electronic image stabilization combined with optical makes handheld recording smooth. However, the lack of microphone or headphone jacks limits audio control - typically sacrificed for compactness.

Samsung TL350 offers 1080p at 30 fps maximum, no 4K, and with no stabilization beyond optical. It lacks advanced video features and controls.

So, if video is part of your creative toolkit, especially travel or vlogging, Panasonic ZS80 is the obvious winner.

Build Quality and Weatherproofing: How Tough Are They?

Neither of these models offer weather sealing or ruggedized features. Both are typical compacts with plastic bodies and no dustproofing or waterproofing.

The ZS80’s body feels more solid with a textured grip and tighter tolerances, while Samsung TL350 feels more plastic and fragile in direct comparison. Given typical use cases for compact zooms, exercise care in wet or harsh conditions.

Battery Life and Storage Options: How Long Can You Shoot?

The Panasonic ZS80 uses a proprietary Lithium-ion battery rated for about 380 shots per charge, typical for small sensor compacts with features like EVF and LCD. Samsung TL350’s battery specs are less documented, but the SLB-11A battery supports roughly 300-350 shots.

Storage-wise, both cameras use SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, with Panasonic supporting UHS-I cards for faster write speeds, especially handy when shooting burst or 4K video.

Connectivity and Extra Features: Wireless or Wired?

Here is where the divide widens further.

Panasonic ZS80 offers built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for wireless image transfer and remote control via smartphone apps - a boon for quick sharing and tethered shooting. The presence of USB 2.0 and HDMI connections adds versatility.

Samsung TL350 lacks wireless connectivity entirely, relying solely on USB 2.0 and HDMI cables.

Price and Value: How Much Bang for the Buck?

Currently, Panasonic ZS80 hovers around $448, while Samsung TL350 can be found for roughly $400, though availability is limited given its age.

For similar budgets, the Panasonic delivers far more modern features, greater zoom range, better image quality, and versatility. Samsung’s TL350 might appeal to minimalists or those with tight pockets who prioritize compactness over performance.

Diving into Genre-Specific Performance

Different photography styles demand unique camera strengths. I compiled a detailed performance breakdown to clarify which camera suits which type of shooting.

Portrait Photography

Panasonic ZS80’s sharper sensor, face detection AF, and wider lens aperture at wide settings deliver better skin tone rendering and pleasing background blur. Samsung’s TL350, despite the f/2.4 aperture wide end, struggles with detail and lacks face detection.

Landscape Photography

High resolution and superior dynamic range of ZS80 allow for detailed, well-exposed landscapes. TL350 lacks resolution and dynamic range headroom required for large prints or intensive editing.

Wildlife Photography

Panasonic’s 30x zoom and focus tracking make it the clear choice for snapping elusive birds or critters. Samsung’s 5x zoom and slower AF response disappoint here.

Sports Photography

Neither camera is ideal in sports, but ZS80’s continuous AF and 10 fps burst rate provide a fighting chance at capturing action sequences, whereas TL350 is too sluggish.

Street Photography

Samsung’s compactness and quiet operation might appeal to street shooters valuing discretion; however, Panasonic’s faster AF and EVF support give it the edge for spontaneous moments.

Macro Photography

Panasonic’s 3cm macro focusing, focus bracketing, and focus stacking create creative possibilities absent in the TL350.

Night/Astro Photography

ZS80 offers better high ISO capabilities and exposure modes to assist night shooting, while TL350’s older sensor struggles with noise severely.

Video

Panasonic’s 4K video and stabilization are ambitious features the TL350 can’t match.

Travel Photography

For travelers wanting lightweight versatility, TL350’s small size is attractive, but Panasonic’s extended zoom and connectivity features pack more punch.

Professional Use

Neither camera replaces professional-grade tools, but Panasonic’s richer file format supports, and faster workflow tools tip the balance.

Overall Performance Scores and Close

Here’s a snapshot of how each camera stands up overall based on extensive testing.

The Panasonic ZS80 naturally scores higher across all categories, most notably in image quality, zoom range, autofocus, and video. Samsung TL350’s merit is in compactness and simplicity, but that’s about it.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

After hands-on experience and testing in multiple scenarios, here’s how I’d cut it:

• Choose the Panasonic Lumix ZS80 if:
  You want a versatile, travel-friendly superzoom camera with modern sensor tech, 4K video, EVF, excellent zoom range, and smart autofocus. It balances performance and portability for enthusiasts who want decent image quality without lugging larger bodies. Ideal for wildlife, portrait, landscape, and video enthusiasts on a budget.

• Choose the Samsung TL350 if:
  You prioritize the smallest pocketable size and simplicity, with modest zoom and basic image needs. It makes sense as a secondary compact backup or for casual snapshotters undeterred by older tech and limited features. Not recommended for serious low light or action photography.

Despite the Samsung TL350’s charm as a tiny, straightforward camera, the Panasonic ZS80’s technological leaps (even at a relatively affordable price) make it the more compelling choice for most users seeking superzoom capability packed into a compact form factor.

In the competitive landscape of travel and superzoom cameras, the ZS80 stands as a testament to what focused engineering and a sensible feature set can deliver without breaking the bank.

If you’re ready to upgrade your pocket powerhouse, the Panasonic ZS80 definitely merits a closer look in 2024 - and hey, if you want a second opinion or have other cameras in mind, I’m all ears in the comments below! Always happy to nerd out on photo gear.

Thanks for reading, and happy shooting!