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Panasonic FH8 vs Pentax WS80

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8 front
 
Pentax Optio WS80 front
Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
20
Overall
27

Panasonic FH8 vs Pentax WS80 Key Specs

Panasonic FH8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.5-6.4) lens
  • 123g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Announced January 2012
Pentax WS80
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-175mm (F3.8-4.7) lens
  • 125g - 92 x 60 x 22mm
  • Introduced August 2009
Photography Glossary

Panasonic FH8 vs Pentax WS80 Overview

Here is a thorough analysis of the Panasonic FH8 and Pentax WS80, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Waterproof by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There is a considerable difference between the resolutions of the FH8 (16MP) and WS80 (10MP) but they use the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The FH8 was announced 2 years later than the WS80 and that is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving in to a in-depth comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the FH8 grades against the WS80 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH8 over the Pentax WS80

 FH8 WS80 
IntroducedJanuary 2012August 2009Fresher by 30 months
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Pentax WS80 over the Panasonic FH8

 WS80 FH8 
Manually focus Very exact focus

Common features in the Panasonic FH8 and Pentax WS80

 FH8 WS80 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Panasonic FH8 vs Pentax WS80 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry your camera regularly, you should factor in its weight and volume. The Panasonic FH8 provides outer dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 123 grams (0.27 lbs) whilst the Pentax WS80 has sizing of 92mm x 60mm x 22mm (3.6" x 2.4" x 0.9") along with a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs).

Check the Panasonic FH8 and Pentax WS80 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you select at that time. Here is the front view scale comparison of the FH8 compared to the WS80.

Panasonic FH8 vs Pentax WS80 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the FH8 and WS80 is 96 and 95 respectively.

Panasonic FH8 vs Pentax WS80 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH8 vs Pentax WS80 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's difficult to visualise the contrast between sensor sizing simply by reviewing specifications. The visual below should offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the FH8 and WS80.

To sum up, both the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same resolution. You can count on the Panasonic FH8 to offer more detail with its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The fresher FH8 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic FH8 vs Pentax WS80 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH8 vs Pentax WS80 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH8 vs Pentax WS80 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FH8 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax WS80 Portrait photography highlights
34
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
comes with face detect focus
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
26
has manual focus
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
low megapixels (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic FH8
Street photography with Pentax WS80
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (123g)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
59
environment sealing
lighter than competition in class (125g)
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FH8 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax WS80 as a Sports photography camera
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
low fps (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
23
environment sealing
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FH8 Travel photography info
Pentax WS80 Travel photography info
69
lighter than competitors in class (123 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (24mm)
missing Timelapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.5)
61
lighter than competition in class (125 grams)
environment sealing
built-in flash
low megapixels (10MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (35mm)
slow max aperture (f3.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FH8 Landscape photography details
Pentax WS80 Landscape photography details
43
rather wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.5)
manual mode not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
missing Timelapse recording
31
has manual focus
environment sealing
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (35mm)
slow max aperture (f3.8)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
no manual exposure
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic FH8
Vlogging with Pentax WS80
33
rather wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focus
lighter than competitors in class (123g)
slow maximum aperture (f2.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing microphone support
25
lighter than competition in class (125g)
wide angle not the best (35mm)
slow max aperture (f3.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic support
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Panasonic FH8 vs Pentax WS80 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH8 and Pentax WS80
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8Pentax Optio WS80
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8 Pentax Optio WS80
Class Small Sensor Compact Waterproof
Announced 2012-01-09 2009-08-05
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Prime
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 64
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) 35-175mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.5-6.4 f/3.8-4.7
Macro focusing distance 4cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8 secs 4 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/1500 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.60 m 3.40 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4 Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 123g (0.27 lb) 125g (0.28 lb)
Dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 92 x 60 x 22mm (3.6" x 2.4" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 260 images -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery ID - D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch price $149 $220