Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic ZS8

Here, we are reviewing the Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic ZS8, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both offered by Panasonic. There exists a crucial gap among the sensor resolutions of the L1 (7MP) and ZS8 (14MP) and the L1 (Four Thirds) and ZS8 (1/2.3") posses different sensor size.

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

The L1 was revealed 5 years earlier than the ZS8 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic L1 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic ZS8 being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a complete comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the L1 scores against the ZS8 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8. The full galleries are available at Panasonic L1 Gallery and Panasonic ZS8 Gallery.

For anybody who is aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you will have to think about its weight and measurements. The Panasonic L1 enjoys outer measurements of 146mm x 87mm x 77mm (5.7" x 3.4" x 3.0") with a weight of 606 grams (1.34 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS8 has proportions of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 210 grams (0.46 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic ZS8 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are working with at that time. Following is a front view proportions comparison of the L1 versus the ZS8.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the L1 and ZS8 is 65 and 92 respectively.

Sometimes, it's difficult to visualize the gap in sensor measurements only by viewing a spec sheet. The graphic underneath might offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the L1 and ZS8.

As you can see, the two cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The L1 using its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field simpler and the Panasonic ZS8 will provide you with extra detail because of its extra 7MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The older L1 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.