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Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax E85

Portability
94
Imaging
40
Features
31
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 front
 
Pentax Optio E85 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
10
Overall
25

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax E85 Key Specs

Panasonic SZ8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Expand to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
  • 159g - 100 x 60 x 27mm
  • Introduced January 2014
Pentax E85
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 32-96mm (F2.9-5.2) lens
  • 145g - 93 x 58 x 24mm
  • Introduced September 2009
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Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax E85 Overview

Below is a comprehensive comparison of the Panasonic SZ8 and Pentax E85, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There is a large difference between the sensor resolutions of the SZ8 (16MP) and E85 (12MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SZ8 was manufactured 4 years later than the E85 and that is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a simple overview of how the SZ8 scores versus the E85 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ8 over the Pentax E85

 SZ8 E85 
IntroducedJanuary 2014September 2009More recent by 53 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax E85 over the Panasonic SZ8

 E85 SZ8 

Common features in the Panasonic SZ8 and Pentax E85

 SZ8 E85 
Manual focus Lack of manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Neither provides Touch screen

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax E85 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to lug around your camera regularly, you're going to have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Panasonic SZ8 provides outer dimensions of 100mm x 60mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") and a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs) while the Pentax E85 has proportions of 93mm x 58mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 0.9") with a weight of 145 grams (0.32 lbs).

Check the Panasonic SZ8 and Pentax E85 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the SZ8 compared to the E85.

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax E85 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ8 and E85 is 94 and 95 respectively.

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax E85 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax E85 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's tough to visualize the contrast between sensor measurements merely by reading through technical specs. The graphic underneath might give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ8 and E85.

As you can tell, both the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different MP. You can expect the Panasonic SZ8 to resolve more detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs more aggressively. The younger SZ8 provides an edge in sensor tech.

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax E85 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax E85 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax E85 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic SZ8
Portrait photography with Pentax E85
35
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
provides face detect focusing
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
21
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
cannot use external flash
low MP (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic SZ8
Street photography with Pentax E85
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (159g)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
47
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Sports photography advice
Pentax E85 Sports photography advice
34
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
max fps low (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (200 shots)
doesn't have phase detect AF
17
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
low MP (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Travel photography information
Pentax E85 Travel photography information
67
lighter than competitors in class (159g)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (24mm)
very long zoom (288mm)
missing Timelapse recording
terrible battery life (200 shots)
does not contain selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
51
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse function
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
wide angle not fantastic (32mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.9)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Landscape photography details
Pentax E85 Landscape photography details
42
quite wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not available
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
terrible battery life (200 per charge)
missing Timelapse recording
23
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (32mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.9)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
no manual control
no image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Vlogging factors
Pentax E85 Vlogging factors
32
quite wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focusing
lighter than competitors in class (159g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not contain selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing microphone port
22
wide angle not fantastic (32mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.9)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
video res low (640 x 480 pxls)
doesn't have mic port
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Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax E85 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ8 and Pentax E85
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8Pentax Optio E85
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 Pentax Optio E85
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2014-01-06 2009-09-17
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Maximum boosted ISO 6400 -
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-288mm (12.0x) 32-96mm (3.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.1-6.3 f/2.9-5.2
Macro focusing distance - 10cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8 secs 2 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.20 m 3.00 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off -
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 159 gr (0.35 pounds) 145 gr (0.32 pounds)
Physical dimensions 100 x 60 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") 93 x 58 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 200 images -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery ID - D-LI95
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $275 $0