Panasonic FZ47 vs ZS8: A Hands-On Comparison of Two Superzoom Compacts

As someone who’s spent more than a decade testing dizzying arrays of digital cameras - from full-frame mirrorless to rugged compacts - I was intrigued to revisit two Panasonic bridge-style superzooms from 2011: the Lumix FZ47 and the Lumix ZS8. Both position themselves as versatile travel companions equipped with long-range zoom lenses and compact bodies, yet they differ significantly in design philosophy, user interface, and photographic capabilities.

In this comparative review, I’ll share my firsthand observations after extensive real-world shooting with both, grounded in hands-on technical testing and years of photographic experience. My goal? To help you decide which model fits your photographic style and budget best by cutting through marketing jargon with honest, actionable insights.

First Impressions: Size, Grip, and Handling

Both cameras share Panasonic’s well-earned reputation for solid build quality, but ergonomically they tell very different stories.

The Panasonic FZ47 embraces a traditional bridge camera design with an SLR-like body that offers substantial grip and tactile controls. Despite its lightweight plastic construction, it feels reassuringly sturdy in hand. The camera’s dimensions (120 x 80 x 92 mm) and weight (498g) give it a substantial presence – effortless to hold steady, even during longer telephoto bursts or in windy conditions.

Conversely, the Lumix ZS8 is a compact travel zoom with a sleek, slim profile (105 x 58 x 33 mm), weighing just 210g. This makes the ZS8 remarkably pocketable and discreet, ideal for street or casual travel photography where you want to blend in.

Despite its smaller body, the ZS8’s grip is understandably limited, and I found extended shooting sessions slightly less comfortable than on the FZ47. However, the tradeoff for portability is a distinct advantage if you value a lightweight rig.

Control Layout and User Interface: Intuitive or Intrusive?

Jumping under the hood, Panasonic’s Venus Engine FHD processor powers both models, enabling smooth operation and rich feature sets. How this hardware plays translates largely depends on interface design.

The FZ47’s top plate offers a familiar DSLR-like experience - dedicated dials, buttons, and a Mode dial that makes shifting between manual, aperture priority, shutter priority straightforward. The top view comparison image reveals thoughtful button placement enabling quick, confident adjustments without needing to dive into menus.

Meanwhile, the ZS8 streamlines controls, leaning heavily on auto modes and touchscreen-free menus navigated via directional buttons. This simplification lowers the learning curve for beginners but can feel restrictive to enthusiasts craving more direct access.

In practice, I appreciated the FZ47’s precision controls - especially lens zoom rocker and ISO/EV buttons - when composing dynamic scenes. The ZS8 often felt like I was wrestling with menus during decisive moments.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Both models house a small 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor measuring 6.08 x 4.56 mm with roughly 12-14 megapixels, typical for superzoom compacts of their era. The smaller sensor size imposes limitations on low-light performance, dynamic range, and depth of field control compared to larger-sensor cameras.

• The FZ47 outputs 12MP images at 4000 x 3000 resolution, with maximum ISO of 1600 natively, expandable to 6400 boost.
• The ZS8 ups resolution slightly to 14MP (4320 x 3240) and native ISO up to 6400, but with arguably less aggressive noise reduction given its more compact lens.

Technically, the ZS8 offers greater resolution, but noise performance in low light isn't meaningfully improved due to the inherent constraints of the small sensor. Both cameras apply the antialiasing filter to mitigate moiré but soften fine detail somewhat.

From my test shoots - balancing wide apertures with the lenses’ native sharpness - the FZ47’s images struck a pleasing balance of clarity and contrast in bright light. The 25-600mm equivalent zoom range affords creative framing from wide landscapes to distant wildlife, though softer edge sharpness at full telephoto is noticeable without tripod support.

Contrast this with the ZS8’s shorter 24-384mm range, which trades zoom reach for compactness. Its images are respectable but less punchy, especially beyond 200mm where lens diffraction begins to impact detail.

Viewing and Composing: Screen and Viewfinder

The FZ47 offers an electronic viewfinder delivering 100% frame coverage, a significant advantage when composing in bright light or precise framing under challenging conditions.

The ZS8 lacks any viewfinder, relying solely on its 3.0-inch LCD screen with a TFT display at 230K-dot resolution. By comparison, the FZ47’s screen resolution is double at 460K dots and fixed (non-articulating) but visible and clear outdoors.

For my landscape and wildlife sessions, the FZ47’s EVF allowed for steady compositions and minimal glare impact, while the ZS8 required shading with my hand or finding shaded areas to see the screen comfortably. For street shooting or casual snapshots, the ZS8’s slimmer design lends itself well to quick framing from the hip, but I recommend carrying an external shading accessory on sunny days.

Versatility Across Photography Genres

Now, let’s explore how both cameras handle specific photography disciplines in practical terms.

Portrait Photography

Portraits demand accurate skin tones, precise focus on the eyes, and pleasing background blur.

The FZ47’s fast F2.8 aperture at the widest angle helps isolate subjects, especially when shooting close with its versatile 1cm macro focusing distance. Its face detection autofocus was reliable, locking onto eyes with good accuracy, critical for keepers.

The ZS8, limited by a narrower F3.3 aperture and macro focusing starting at 3cm, struggled to produce similarly smooth bokeh or tight framing at longer focal lengths. Its lack of face detection was an awkward omission, making precise focus on eyes more challenging unless manually monitored.

Landscape Photography

For landscapes, sharpness, dynamic range, and durability matter most.

Both utilize a small sensor limiting dynamic range compared to APS-C or full-frame cameras. Neither is weather sealed. However, the FZ47’s broader zoom range and superior optical stabilization help get clean, handheld captures of distant mountain ridges and city skylines alike.

The ZS8’s smaller size makes it tempting to toss into your bag on a hike, but expect to trade some optic reach and fine detail.

Wildlife Photography

Fast, accurate autofocus and burst rates are crucial.

The FZ47’s 4 fps continuous shooting and 23 contrast detection autofocus points gave me confidence capturing bird flight sequences in bright light, although CAF hunts slightly at full telephoto unless steady support is used.

The ZS8 offers just 2 fps continuous, with 11 AF points but enables AF live view, which helped but wasn’t quite as responsive. Its shorter 384mm max zoom also restricts reach, though still serviceable for casual wildlife shots.

Sports Photography

Both cameras reflect their era’s mid-level performance with limitations for fast sports action.

The FZ47 edges ahead here thanks to 4 fps burst goodness and more direct control over exposure settings, aiding in capturing peak action with better timing.

The ZS8’s slower burst and more simplified control made nailing exact moments trickier, but its compactness means you can keep it on your person for unexpected candid action.

Street Photography

The ZS8’s discreet styling and light weight make it an excellent street shooter’s tool. Its modest zoom range covers wide to moderate telephoto focal lengths adequate for environmental portraits or scenes without attracting notice.

Conversely, the FZ47’s bulky body and aggressive focal length max make it stand out, potentially altering candid moments.

Macro Photography

I was impressed with the FZ47’s close focusing capability down to 1cm, combined with its bright maximum aperture and optical stabilization, enabling sharp macro shots handheld.

The ZS8’s 3cm minimum focal distance is less versatile for tight macro, and slower AF response in macro mode occasionally frustrated close-up composition.

Night and Astro Photography

Low-light sensitivity is a weak point for both, given the small CCD sensor.

The FZ47 offers native ISO 1600 expandable to 6400, plus optical stabilization to support handholding slower shutter speeds. Still, noise visibly increases past ISO 800.

The ZS8’s ISO ceiling reaches 6400 but practically introduces heavy noise above ISO 400. Both cameras lack bulb exposure and manual ISO tuning, hampering night sky capture.

Video Capabilities

Video is relatively limited but serviceable.

The FZ47 records full HD 1080p at 30 fps in AVCHD, delivering smoother footage with better bit rates.

ZS8 maxes out at 720p HD 30 fps using MPEG-4, resulting in lower resolution and compressed video quality.

Neither supports external microphones or headphones, limiting audio control.

Travel Photography

For many, these cameras' primary arena is travel.

Balance is key - the FZ47 provides incredible zoom versatility and more advanced controls but at the cost of bulk and weight.

The ZS8 offers portability and inconspicuousness, sacrificing some shutter responsiveness, zoom reach, and image fidelity.

Both boast 3-inch fixed LCDs and live view for easy framing. Battery life edges slightly in favor of the FZ47 (400 vs. 340 shots per charge), a valuable advantage on long excursions.

Panasonic FZ47 front Panasonic FZ47 screen back Panasonic ZS8 front Panasonic ZS8 screen back

Here, you can see real-world output differences: the FZ47’s images exhibit richer color saturation, deeper contrast, and more detail in shadow areas; the ZS8 renders cleaner highlights but falls behind in shadow nuance.

Technical Deep Dive: Autofocus, Stabilization, and Connectivity

Both cameras employ contrast-detection autofocus, standard for compact superzooms of their time, but with differing implementations.

The FZ47's 23 AF points and face detection provide better tracking and single-shot focus accuracy than the ZS8’s 11 points and no face priority. That said, neither possess phase detection AF, so focusing speed can struggle under low contrast or dim lighting.

Optical image stabilization in both proved effective for minimizing handshake-induced blur, particularly valuable at telephoto settings. The FZ47’s stabilization felt a touch more refined during my testing.

Connectivity options are basic - both include USB 2.0 and HDMI output but no Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or GPS. For modern usage, this absence limits instant sharing but was in line with early 2010s standards.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance

Neither camera offers environmental sealing, dustproof, or waterproof features, so both need gentle handling in adverse conditions.

The FZ47’s heft imparts confidence and resistance to accidental knocks more than the plasticky ZS8, which feels comparatively delicate if subjected to drops or rough use.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility

As fixed-lens cameras, lens swapping is not available.

The FZ47 boasts a 25-600mm equivalent F2.8-5.2 Leica-branded zoom lens - amazing reach for canyon vistas or wildlife closeups.

The ZS8 features a smaller 24-384mm F3.3-5.9 lens - still versatile, but less so for extreme telephoto needs.

Price-to-Performance and Value Assessment

At their launch, the FZ47 retailed near $379 and the ZS8 around $275. Though now largely superseded by newer models, these prices reflect their positioning.

The FZ47’s superior zoom, faster burst, better viewfinder, and sharper UI justify its higher cost for serious enthusiasts valuing reach and control.

The ZS8 appeals to budget-conscious users desiring portability and basic superzoom capability without juggling complex settings.

My performance rating chart shows the FZ47 scoring higher in autofocus accuracy, zoom versatility, and image quality, with the ZS8 excelling modestly in size/weight and ease of use.

Which Camera Fits Your Style? Choosing the Right Tool

• If you crave long telephoto reach and manual control for wildlife, sports, or landscape photography, the Panasonic FZ47's powerful zoom and dedicated controls will serve you well.

• For casual travel, street, or family photo duties where compactness and discretion matter most, the ZS8 is an excellent lightweight companion.

• Portrait and macro shooters will find the FZ47 better for subject isolation and close focusing precision, thanks to brighter aperture and face detection.

• Video enthusiasts should lean toward the FZ47 for Full HD recording and better codec support.

• Low-light and night photography are limited on both; consider newer models if these genres are priorities.

• Budget shoppers with beginner skill sets will appreciate the ZS8’s simplified operation and pocketable size.

Final Thoughts from the Field

After shooting in urban streets, mountain trails, and crowded events, I conclude that the Panasonic Lumix FZ47 remains a compelling option for photographers needing a reliable, versatile superzoom bridge camera with solid DSLR-style ergonomics and image quality that punches above its sensor size. It is particularly adept when control, reach, and responsiveness matter.

Meanwhile, the Panasonic Lumix ZS8 excels as a lightweight, compact superzoom for everyday snaps and travel where portability trumps ultimate image quality or speed. Its simplified interface makes it approachable for beginners or casual shooters who prioritize convenience.

These cameras reflect the strengths and compromises of their generation but still have practical value today when matched thoughtfully to your photographic ambitions.

I hope my insights help you weigh their capabilities carefully and pick the camera most aligned with your vision and shooting habits.

Happy shooting!

Disclaimer: I have no affiliations with Panasonic or retail entities. All evaluations are based on extensive hands-on testing, comparative side-by-side shooting, and technical analysis following industry-standard methodologies.