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Panasonic SZ1 vs Panasonic ZS8

Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
39
Overall
37

Panasonic SZ1 vs Panasonic ZS8 Key Specs

Panasonic SZ1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 131g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Released January 2012
Panasonic ZS8
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • 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
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-TZ18
  • Succeeded the Panasonic ZS7
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Panasonic SZ1 vs Panasonic ZS8 Overview

Lets look a bit more closely at the Panasonic SZ1 vs Panasonic ZS8, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both designed by Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the SZ1 (16MP) and the ZS8 (14MP) is pretty well matched and they use the exact same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SZ1 was launched 6 months later than the ZS8 so they are both of a similar age. Each of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting in to a complete comparison, below is a brief summation of how the SZ1 scores against the ZS8 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ1 over the Panasonic ZS8

 SZ1 ZS8 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS8 over the Panasonic SZ1

 ZS8 SZ1 

Common features in the Panasonic SZ1 and Panasonic ZS8

 SZ1 ZS8 
IntroducedJanuary 2012July 2011Similar age
Manual focus Lack of manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Screen resolution230k230kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Panasonic SZ1 vs Panasonic ZS8 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry your camera, you'll have to factor its weight and size. The Panasonic SZ1 has external dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") with a weight of 131 grams (0.29 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS8 has specifications of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") having a weight of 210 grams (0.46 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic SZ1 vs Panasonic ZS8 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are employing during that time. Here is the front view dimension comparison of the SZ1 compared to the ZS8.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Panasonic ZS8 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ1 and ZS8 is 95 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Panasonic ZS8 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ1 vs Panasonic ZS8 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is hard to envision the contrast between sensor sizing merely by checking a spec sheet. The photograph below may provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ1 and ZS8.

As you can see, the 2 cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same MP. You can expect the Panasonic SZ1 to give more detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop shots much more aggressively.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Panasonic ZS8 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ1 vs Panasonic ZS8 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ1 vs Panasonic ZS8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic SZ1
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS8
34
decent MP (16MP)
provides face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
30
megapixel count decent (14MP)
no manual focus
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Street photography advice
Panasonic ZS8 Street photography advice
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (131g)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (210g)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Sports photography details
Panasonic ZS8 Sports photography details
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
47
great zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (2.0 frames per second)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Travel photography features
Panasonic ZS8 Travel photography features
70
lighter than competition in class (131 grams)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
great zoom (250mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
69
lighter than others in class (210 grams)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
great zoom (384mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
does not contain selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZS8 as a Landscape photography camera
43
reasonably wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not available
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse mode
44
pretty wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic SZ1
Vlogging with Panasonic ZS8
32
reasonably wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
lighter than competition in class (131g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone port
30
pretty wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (210 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external mic port
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Panasonic SZ1 vs Panasonic ZS8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ1 and Panasonic ZS8
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8
General Information
Company Panasonic Panasonic
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8
Other name - Lumix DMC-TZ18
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2012-01-09 2011-07-19
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 23 11
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-250mm (10.0x) 24-384mm (16.0x)
Max aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus range 4cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology TFT Color LCD TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.60 m 5.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4 MPEG-4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 131 grams (0.29 lb) 210 grams (0.46 lb)
Dimensions 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 250 shots 340 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $179 $275