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Panasonic FZ1000 vs Panasonic SZ8

Portability
55
Imaging
51
Features
80
Overall
62
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 front
Portability
94
Imaging
40
Features
31
Overall
36

Panasonic FZ1000 vs Panasonic SZ8 Key Specs

Panasonic FZ1000
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-400mm (F2.8-4.0) lens
  • 831g - 137 x 99 x 131mm
  • Announced June 2014
  • Renewed by Panasonic FZ2500
Panasonic SZ8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Raise to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
  • 159g - 100 x 60 x 27mm
  • Revealed January 2014
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Panasonic FZ1000 vs Panasonic SZ8 Overview

Lets look closer at the Panasonic FZ1000 vs Panasonic SZ8, one is a Large Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both designed by Panasonic. There is a big difference between the image resolutions of the FZ1000 (20MP) and SZ8 (16MP) and the FZ1000 (1") and SZ8 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor sizes.

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The FZ1000 was brought out 6 months after the SZ8 and they are of a similar generation. The two cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FZ1000 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic SZ8 being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a detailed comparison, here is a concise summary of how the FZ1000 matches up versus the SZ8 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ1000 over the Panasonic SZ8

 FZ1000 SZ8 
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution921k460kCrisper screen (+461k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ8 over the Panasonic FZ1000

 SZ8 FZ1000 

Common features in the Panasonic FZ1000 and Panasonic SZ8

 FZ1000 SZ8 
RevealedJune 2014January 2014Similar generation
Screen size3"3"Same screen dimensions
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Panasonic FZ1000 vs Panasonic SZ8 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry around your camera regularly, you're going to have to take into account its weight and volume. The Panasonic FZ1000 comes with physical measurements of 137mm x 99mm x 131mm (5.4" x 3.9" x 5.2") having a weight of 831 grams (1.83 lbs) whilst the Panasonic SZ8 has sizing of 100mm x 60mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") having a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic FZ1000 vs Panasonic SZ8 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. The following is a front view proportions comparison of the FZ1000 compared to the SZ8.

Panasonic FZ1000 vs Panasonic SZ8 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the FZ1000 and SZ8 is 55 and 94 respectively.

Panasonic FZ1000 vs Panasonic SZ8 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FZ1000 vs Panasonic SZ8 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its tough to envision the contrast between sensor sizes purely by going over specs. The image underneath may give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the FZ1000 and SZ8.

All in all, both cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The FZ1000 featuring a bigger sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field simpler and the Panasonic FZ1000 will deliver extra detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop pictures a good deal more aggressively.

Panasonic FZ1000 vs Panasonic SZ8 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FZ1000 vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FZ1000 vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FZ1000 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic SZ8 Portrait photography factors
70
manual focus
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
features face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
35
good MP (16MP)
features face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FZ1000 Street photography details
Panasonic SZ8 Street photography details
70
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is nice (1")
delivers RAW formats
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (159g)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FZ1000 Sports photography info
Panasonic SZ8 Sports photography info
67
incredible zoom range (25-400mm 16.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
features tracking focus
lacks phase detect autofocus
34
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
low frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery (200 CIPA)
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FZ1000 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic SZ8 as a Travel photography camera
65
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
relatively wide (25mm)
very long reach (400mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
67
lighter than competition (159g)
good MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (24mm)
very long reach (288mm)
missing Timelapse mode
not so great battery (200 CIPA)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FZ1000 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic SZ8 as a Landscape photography camera
64
manual focus
relatively wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
delivers RAW formats
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
42
decently wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual exposure
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
not so great battery (200 shots)
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FZ1000 Vlogging info
Panasonic SZ8 Vlogging info
66
relatively wide (25mm)
display is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect autofocus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
has microphone socket
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
32
decently wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect autofocus
lighter than competition (159 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone port
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Panasonic FZ1000 vs Panasonic SZ8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FZ1000 and Panasonic SZ8
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
Type Large Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2014-06-12 2014-01-06
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 13.2 x 8.8mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 116.2mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 5472 x 3648 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 12800 1600
Maximum boosted ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 125 100
RAW support
Min boosted ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 49 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-400mm (16.0x) 24-288mm (12.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-4.0 f/3.1-6.3
Macro focusing distance 3cm -
Crop factor 2.7 5.9
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 921 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,359 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 12.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 13.50 m (at Auto ISO) 5.20 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync, Slow Sync/Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 3840x2160 (30p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p) 1280x720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 831 gr (1.83 lbs) 159 gr (0.35 lbs)
Physical dimensions 137 x 99 x 131mm (5.4" x 3.9" x 5.2") 100 x 60 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 64 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.1 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.7 not tested
DXO Low light rating 517 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 photographs 200 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID DMW-BLC12PP -
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage - SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $800 $275