Panasonic FP5 vs Panasonic SZ8
95 Imaging
37 Features
33 Overall
35


94 Imaging
40 Features
31 Overall
36
Panasonic FP5 vs Panasonic SZ8 Key Specs
(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
(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

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").

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.

Panasonic FP5 vs Panasonic SZ8 Gallery
Here is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP5 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8. The whole galleries are available at Panasonic FP5 Gallery & Panasonic SZ8 Gallery.
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 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Announced | January 2014 | ![]() | January 2011 | Fresher by 36 months |
Screen resolution | 460k | ![]() | 230k | Sharper screen (+230k dot) |
Common features in the Panasonic FP5 and Panasonic SZ8
FP5 | SZ8 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Focus manually | ![]() | No manual focusing | ||
Screen type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed screen |
Screen dimension | 3" | ![]() | 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.
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.

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

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 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FP5 vs Panasonic SZ8 Specifications
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP5 | Panasonic 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 |