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Panasonic FP5 vs Panasonic SZ8

Portability
95
Imaging
37
Features
33
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 front
Portability
94
Imaging
40
Features
31
Overall
36

Panasonic FP5 vs Panasonic SZ8 Key Specs

Panasonic FP5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 141g - 101 x 59 x 18mm
  • Announced January 2011
Panasonic SZ8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Expand to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
  • 159g - 100 x 60 x 27mm
  • Announced January 2014
Photography Glossary

Panasonic FP5 vs Panasonic SZ8 Overview

Its time to take a deeper look at the Panasonic FP5 vs Panasonic SZ8, former being a Ultracompact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are offered by Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the FP5 (14MP) and the SZ8 (16MP) is pretty comparable and they use the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The FP5 was introduced 4 years earlier than the SZ8 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FP5 being a Ultracompact camera and the Panasonic SZ8 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the FP5 matches up vs the SZ8 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FP5 over the Panasonic SZ8

 FP5 SZ8 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ8 over the Panasonic FP5

 SZ8 FP5 
AnnouncedJanuary 2014January 2011Fresher by 36 months
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FP5 and Panasonic SZ8

 FP5 SZ8 
Focus manually No manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Panasonic FP5 vs Panasonic SZ8 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry your camera, you will need to think about its weight and volume. The Panasonic FP5 has got external measurements of 101mm x 59mm x 18mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 0.7") with a weight of 141 grams (0.31 lbs) whilst the Panasonic SZ8 has sizing of 100mm x 60mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") along with a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic FP5 vs Panasonic SZ8 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen at the time. Here is the front view dimension comparison of the FP5 against the SZ8.

Panasonic FP5 vs Panasonic SZ8 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the FP5 and SZ8 is 95 and 94 respectively.

Panasonic FP5 vs Panasonic SZ8 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FP5 vs Panasonic SZ8 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be hard to see the gap in sensor sizing purely by checking out specs. The graphic underneath will give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the FP5 and SZ8.

All in all, each of these cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same megapixels. You can expect the Panasonic SZ8 to produce greater detail using its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots much more aggressively. The older FP5 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Panasonic FP5 vs Panasonic SZ8 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FP5 vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FP5 vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FP5 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic SZ8 as a Portrait photography camera
33
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
features face detection focusing
manual focus not available
no manual control
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
35
megapixel count good (16MP)
features face detection focusing
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FP5 Street photography details
Panasonic SZ8 Street photography details
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
boasts touch focus
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (159 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FP5 Sports photography advice
Panasonic SZ8 Sports photography advice
43
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
great battery pack (260 per charge)
continuous shooting slow (6.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (200 CIPA)
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FP5 Travel photography info
Panasonic SZ8 Travel photography info
65
great battery pack (260 shots)
boasts touch focus
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (35mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
67
lighter than others (159g)
megapixel count good (16MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (24mm)
long zoom (288mm)
lack of Timelapse function
not so great battery life (200 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FP5 Landscape photography details
Panasonic SZ8 Landscape photography details
40
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14MP)
great battery pack (260 shots)
manual focus not available
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (35mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
does not have Time Lapse function
42
decently wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual exposure
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
not so great battery life (200 per charge)
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FP5 Vlogging factors
Panasonic SZ8 Vlogging factors
30
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focusing
wide angle not good (35mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external mic support
32
decently wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focusing
lighter than others (159g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external microphone jack
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Panasonic FP5 vs Panasonic SZ8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FP5 and Panasonic SZ8
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP5Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Panasonic
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
Type Ultracompact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2011-01-05 2014-01-06
Body design Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine IV Venus Engine
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4320 x 3240 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 1600
Max enhanced ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 35-140mm (4.0x) 24-288mm (12.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.5-5.9 f/3.1-6.3
Macro focus distance 10cm -
Crop factor 5.9 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech TFT Touch Screen LCD TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 8s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 6.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.90 m 5.20 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 141g (0.31 lb) 159g (0.35 lb)
Dimensions 101 x 59 x 18mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 0.7") 100 x 60 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1")
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 260 shots 200 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $199 $275