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Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic ZS8

Portability
65
Imaging
41
Features
38
Overall
39
Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
39
Overall
37

Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic ZS8 Key Specs

Panasonic L1
(Full Review)
  • 7MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 606g - 146 x 87 x 77mm
  • Introduced April 2007
Panasonic ZS8
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 210g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Introduced July 2011
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ18
  • Replaced the Panasonic ZS7
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Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic ZS8 Overview

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.

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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.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic L1 over the Panasonic ZS8

 L1 ZS8 
Manually focus Very exact focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS8 over the Panasonic L1

 ZS8 L1 
IntroducedJuly 2011April 2007More recent by 52 months
Display size3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution230k207kClearer display (+23k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic L1 and Panasonic ZS8

 L1 ZS8 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic ZS8 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic ZS8 size comparison

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

Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic ZS8 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic ZS8 Sensor Comparison

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.

Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic ZS8 sensor size comparison

Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic ZS8 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic ZS8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic L1
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS8
54
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
low megapixels (7 megapixels)
30
decent megapixels (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic L1 Street photography highlights
Panasonic ZS8 Street photography highlights
58
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than others in class (606 grams)
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (210g)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic L1 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS8 as a Sports photography camera
40
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (7MP)
47
incredible zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic L1 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS8 as a Travel photography camera
50
lighter than others in class (606g)
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
low megapixels (7MP)
display is not selfie friendly
69
lighter than average (210g)
decent megapixels (14MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
long zoom (384mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic L1 Landscape photography information
Panasonic ZS8 Landscape photography information
47
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inches)
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (7MP)
lack of Time Lapse function
44
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic L1
Vlogging with Panasonic ZS8
9
lack of video recording
30
reasonably wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (210g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic support
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Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic ZS8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic L1 and Panasonic ZS8
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8
General Information
Make Panasonic Panasonic
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8
Also called - Lumix DMC-TZ18
Type Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2007-04-11 2011-07-19
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 7 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3136 x 2352 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 3 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-384mm (16.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Amount of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.5" 3"
Screen resolution 207 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 13.00 m 5.00 m
Flash options Auto, Red-Eye Auto, On, Red-Eye On, Red-Eye Slow Sync, Off, Slow Sync (1&2) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video format - MPEG-4
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 606g (1.34 lbs) 210g (0.46 lbs)
Physical dimensions 146 x 87 x 77mm (5.7" x 3.4" x 3.0") 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 - 340 images
Battery style - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/MMC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $1,500 $275