Panasonic ZS80 vs. Samsung WB1100F: A Thorough Comparison for the Superzoom Enthusiast

When diving into the realm of small sensor superzoom cameras, choices like the Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80 (announced in 2018) and Samsung WB1100F (from 2014) often pop up as affordable, versatile contenders. Both blend compact form with long zoom reach - but how do they truly compare under the hood and in real-world shooting? Having put these cameras through hands-on testing, I’m going to walk you through their nuances, strengths, and trade-offs across the most important photography disciplines and use cases.

Design and Handling: Compact vs. Bridge-Style Ergonomics

Looking at the body type, we’re juxtaposing Panasonic’s compact-style ZS80 with the slightly bulkier, bridge-style Samsung WB1100F. At 112x69x42 mm and 327 grams, the ZS80 is impressively svelte, weighing nearly 40% less than the WB1100F’s 512 grams and measuring considerably smaller (125x87x96 mm). That difference makes Panasonic’s option far more travel-friendly and pocketable, with a slimmer profile that doesn’t demand a dedicated carrying case.

The ZS80 sports a contemporary tilting 3-inch touchscreen LCD with 1040k dot resolution, while Samsung opted for a fixed 3-inch screen at 460k dots without touch capabilities. The Panasonic’s tilt mechanism is a boon for composing tricky angles, such as low media or selfies - the latter aided by its selfie-friendly design. The ZS80 also boasts an electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 2.33M dots and 100% coverage, a feature sorely missed on the WB1100F, which has no EVF at all.

Controls on the ZS80 leverage a more modern layout with intuitive menus, AF joystick, and generous customization options, whereas the WB1100F feels somewhat dated with basic controls and no illuminated buttons to assist in low light. Both cameras feature fixed lenses zooming into super telephoto - but we’ll get into the optical detail later.

Ergonomically, if you’re shooting handheld for extended periods, the Panasonic’s lighter weight and comfortable grip suggest less fatigue, particularly important if you’re a traveler or street photographer. On the other hand, the heftier Samsung offers a solid feel with an SLR-like silhouette that some users may find reassuring for stability.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality

One of the biggest differentiators between these two cameras is their sensor. Both use the common 1/2.3-inch sensor format (6.17 x 4.55 mm), but Panasonic’s ZS80 sports a 20MP BSI-CMOS sensor, an advancement in back-illuminated sensor design that improves light gathering efficiency and noise performance. Samsung’s WB1100F, by contrast, relies on a 16MP CCD sensor - a technology now largely considered legacy and less proficient in low light.

Maximum native ISO tops out at 3200 in both, with Panasonic enabling an extended ISO 6400 for emergencies, while Samsung lacks an extended ISO range. The Panasonic also supports RAW file capture, crucial for professionals and enthusiasts wanting maximum post-processing flexibility; Samsung is limited to JPEG only.

Testing in daylight and controlled studio settings, the ZS80 delivers more detailed and cleaner images, especially at ISO 800 and above. The noise suppression is more effective on the Panasonic, preserving fine textures without smearing, which is something I noticed clearly in my portrait skin tone tests - subtle gradients and natural color rendition came through more faithfully.

In addition, Panasonic’s inclusion of a low-pass (anti-aliasing) filter aids in minimizing moiré patterns prevalent in high-frequency scenes such as foliage or textiles, though it can slightly soften micro detail. Samsung’s CCD sensor, meanwhile, struggles with fine detail retaining at maximum resolution and tends toward a more muted dynamic range.

Autofocus and Performance Under Pressure

Autofocus (AF) performance can make or break your shoot, especially for wildlife, sports, or even street photography. Panasonic’s ZS80 features contrast-detection AF with face detection and tracking capabilities, continuous AF, and touch-to-focus via its display. It supports AF tracking, selective AF, and different AF area modes, allowing flexible control over focus targets.

Samsung’s WB1100F is a much simpler affair - no continuous AF, no AF tracking, no face detection, and no touch focus. It uses a contrast-detect only system but with significantly fewer focus points (unspecified, but less developed). Burst shooting maxes out at 10fps in Panasonic, while Samsung caps at a sluggish 1fps, effectively eliminating it from action or sports candidacy.

From my real-world testing: the ZS80 nails focus in daylight and reasonable indoor lighting, even on moving subjects, thanks to its advanced AF algorithms and the help of its touch interface. That rapid acquisition and tracking, combined with a silent electronic shutter option that runs at 1/16,000s, make it great for discrete or low-light shooting where shutter sound would otherwise alert subjects.

The Samsung, by contrast, often hunts for focus in anything but ideal light, struggles with moving subjects, and overall feels laggy. While its longer zoom (up to 875mm equivalent) is attractive, the lack of AF precision and speed severely restricts utility in fast-action environments.

Lens and Zoom Capability: Reach vs. Speed

Speaking of zoom, these cameras pack serious reach. Panasonic’s 24-720mm (30x zoom) lens has a maximum aperture range of f/3.3 at the wide end to f/6.4 at telephoto. Samsung stretches to 25-875mm (35x zoom) with a slightly faster f/3.0-5.9 aperture.

While Samsung offers a longer reach on paper by 155mm, image quality at its longest focal lengths suffers from softness and more pronounced chromatic aberrations. The Panasonic lens, although a touch slower at full tele, produces sharper images across the zoom range. Optical image stabilization on both helps counteract handshake, but Panasonic’s implementation is noticeably more effective, allowing for sharper shots handheld beyond 300mm equivalents.

Panasonic also brings focus stacking, focus bracketing, and post focus capabilities - tools often reserved for higher-end cameras - fantastic for macro and creative investigations into depth-of-field play.

Display and User Interface

Modern usability hinges on interface, and here the Panasonic ZS80 shines. Its 3-inch tilt touchscreen offers 1040k dot resolution, crisp detail, and vibrant colors. Touch UI for AF point selection, menu navigation, and playback makes the camera a joy for photographers accustomed to smartphones.

The Samsung WB1100F’s fixed, non-touch 3-inch screen, with only 460k dots, looks outdated even by 2014 standards. Menus feel clunky, response is slower, and composing at awkward angles requires guesswork without a tilt or EVF.

Notably, Panasonic’s electronic viewfinder reinstates classic, eye-level shooting - vital in bright sunlight or when precise framing is key, such as portrait or landscape work.

Image Samples: Real-World Versus Lab Benchmarks

To solidify these observations, I shot a range of test scenes outdoors and indoors with both cameras under controlled settings. Sharpness, color reproduction, dynamic range, and noise behavior come through clearly in this comparison.

Panasonic ZS80 front Panasonic ZS80 screen back Samsung WB1100F front Samsung WB1100F screen back

The Panasonic images offer richer colors, smoother gradations, better detail retention, and reliable exposure across shadows and highlights. Samsung’s output feels flatter, slightly noisier, and with less punch - especially in dim conditions or complex lighting.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance

Neither camera claims comprehensive environmental sealing, dustproofing, or freezeproofing. Panasonic’s ZS80 presents a sturdier build with a quality polycarbonate and metal chassis, whereas Samsung’s WB1100F, while robust, feels more plastic and less refined. For travel photographers caught in adverse conditions, neither camera is ideal, but the slightly better Panasonic weather tolerance makes it a safer bet.

Battery Life and Storage

Panasonic’s 380-shot battery life rating is relatively solid for a compact superzoom, matching the needs of a day-long shoot without frequent recharges. Samsung’s battery life is unspecified but, from experience and its older SLB-10A battery type, expect fewer shots - a downside if you’re traveling or shooting in remote conditions.

Both cameras rely on SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards with one slot available. Panasonic supports modern UHS-I standards, enabling faster write speeds during burst and 4K video recording. Samsung is less clear here, likely lacking UHS support.

Video and Connectivity: Who’s Got the Edge?

Panasonic delivers 4K UHD video at 30p and Full HD up to 60p, with H.264 compression. It supports 4K photo mode, allowing extraction of high-res stills from video frames - a very useful feature for wildlife and sports photographers who need “click-after-the-fact” capabilities.

Samsung maxes out at HD 720p video only, seriously limiting its usefulness in today’s multimedia environment. No microphone input or headphone jack exists on either camera, which constrains serious video work, but Panasonic’s advanced sensor and processor still make it the better pick for casual videography.

Wireless connectivity differs: Panasonic offers built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for seamless transfer to mobile and remote control. Samsung lacks Bluetooth but supports NFC for one-touch pairing, albeit a more niche and less versatile system.

HDMI output is present only on Panasonic, giving professionals a pathway to external monitors or recorders.

Genre-Specific Performance Breakdown

Photographers have varied needs, so here’s a quick genre analysis:

• Portraits: Panasonic’s better skin tone rendition, face & eye detection AF, and shallow DOF potential at wide apertures make it far superior. Samsung’s lack of face detection and weaker sensor hold it back.

• Landscapes: Higher resolution, dynamic range, and post-focus stacking on Panasonic deliver superior landscapes with detail and tonal depth. Samsung’s 16MP CCD and no focus bracketing limit sharpness and flexibility.

• Wildlife and Sports: Fast burst (10fps), AF tracking, and silent shutter on ZS80 beat Samsung’s 1fps single shot and slow AF. The slight zoom length difference is outweighed by Panasonic’s reliability and speed.

• Street Photography: Panasonic’s small body, EVF, silent shutter, and touchscreen layering make it a nimble street shooter. Samsung feels too bulky and sluggish.

• Macro: Panasonic’s 3cm minimum focus distance and advanced focus bracketing/stacking enable detailed macro shots. Samsung lists no macro specs and lacks these tools.

• Night / Astrophotography: Panasonic extends ISO to 6400, offers manual exposure, and better noise control; Samsung’s fixed exposure modes and noisy CCD make it less practical.

• Video: Panasonic takes it by a mile with 4K and 60fps Full HD compared to Samsung’s 720p ceiling.

• Travel: Smaller size, lightweight, longer battery life, and versatile zoom favor the Panasonic - great for enthusiasts and travelers needing a carry-everywhere camera.

• Professional Work: Neither is a pro body per se, but Panasonic’s RAW support, quality optics, EVF, and touchscreen improve workflow integration substantially over Samsung.

Performance Scores and Value Assessment

Though neither camera has official DxOMark scores, hands-on results and synthetic benchmarks from lab and users help summarize overall value:

• Panasonic ZS80 rates higher in overall image quality, autofocus speed, video capabilities, battery life, and ergonomics.

• Samsung WB1100F benefits in price (roughly half of ZS80) and slightly longer telephoto reach, but sacrifices sharpness, speed, and modern user interface.

Recommendations: Whom Each Camera Serves Best

Panasonic ZS80 is the clear winner for photography enthusiasts seeking a versatile, compact superzoom with modern features. Its excellent autofocus, image quality, RAW support, and 4K video make it suitable from casual travel, street and macro photography, through to mid-level wildlife and portrait work. Plus, its tilt screen, EVF, and wireless connectivity round out a very capable package.

Samsung WB1100F may appeal to entry-level users on tight budgets needing the longest zoom reach, with the caveat that image quality, focusing, and video do not match modern expectations. It’s a reasonable “set and forget” snapshot camera but falls short for anyone wanting creative control or dynamic shooting styles.

Final Thoughts

I find the Panasonic ZS80 to be a solid performer in the superzoom compact segment - not cutting edge in any one respect but a well-balanced and practical tool with smart ergonomics and imaging technology that stands up well years after release. Samsung’s WB1100F shows its age more clearly and is limited by sensor and focusing tech. For anyone serious about grab-and-go superzoom photography, the ZS80 is, hands down, the better investment.

Photography gear is always about compromise - but if you're aiming to maximize quality, flexibility, and ease, the Panasonic ZS80 is that dog who’s a good boy and plays nicely across most photo genres. Just remember to bring enough batteries for a full day exploring.

Thanks for reading! If you have any questions about these cameras or want shooting tips with superzooms, feel free to ask.