Panasonic FZ300 vs Pentax P80

The following is a thorough review of the Panasonic FZ300 versus Pentax P80, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the FZ300 (12MP) and the P80 (12MP) is relatively close and both cameras boast the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The FZ300 was introduced 6 years after the P80 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FZ300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax P80 being a Compact camera.

Before going into a thorough comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the FZ300 matches up vs the P80 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 & Pentax Optio P80. The whole galleries are viewable at Panasonic FZ300 Gallery & Pentax P80 Gallery.

If you're aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you are going to need to think about its weight and volume. The Panasonic FZ300 comes with physical dimensions of 132mm x 92mm x 117mm (5.2" x 3.6" x 4.6") having a weight of 691 grams (1.52 lbs) whilst the Pentax P80 has sizing of 102mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0") having a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs).

See the Panasonic FZ300 versus Pentax P80 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have attached during that time. Underneath is a front view proportions comparison of the FZ300 versus the P80.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the FZ300 and P80 is 59 and 95 respectively.

Usually, it is tough to visualise the gap in sensor dimensions purely by researching technical specs. The picture underneath will give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the FZ300 and P80.

As you can tell, both cameras provide the same sensor dimensions and the same exact megapixels so you can expect comparable quality of photos but you need to take the launch date of the cameras into account. The newer FZ300 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.