Panasonic SZ8 vs Panasonic ZS5

Here is a detailed comparison of the Panasonic SZ8 and Panasonic ZS5, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras and they are both designed by Panasonic. There is a noticeable difference among the resolutions of the SZ8 (16MP) and ZS5 (12MP) but they use the exact same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SZ8 was unveiled 3 years later than the ZS5 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving in to a thorough comparison, below is a simple view of how the SZ8 grades against the ZS5 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

The following is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5. The full galleries are provided at Panasonic SZ8 Gallery & Panasonic ZS5 Gallery.

If you are going to carry your camera often, you will have to consider its weight and proportions. The Panasonic SZ8 enjoys external dimensions of 100mm x 60mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS5 has measurements of 103mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic SZ8 and Panasonic ZS5 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are working with at that time. Following is the front view sizing comparison of the SZ8 versus the ZS5.

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ8 and ZS5 is 94 and 92 respectively.

In many cases, its difficult to visualize the gap in sensor sizing purely by researching technical specs. The photograph below might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ8 and ZS5.

As you have seen, both of these cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit different resolution. You can expect the Panasonic SZ8 to provide you with more detail having an extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop photographs much more aggressively. The fresher SZ8 provides an advantage in sensor tech.