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Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax W80

Portability
94
Imaging
40
Features
31
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 front
 
Pentax Optio W80 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
21
Overall
29

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax W80 Key Specs

Panasonic SZ8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Raise to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
  • 159g - 100 x 60 x 27mm
  • Announced January 2014
Pentax W80
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 156g - 100 x 56 x 25mm
  • Revealed June 2009
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Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax W80 Overview

Following is a in depth review of the Panasonic SZ8 versus Pentax W80, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a huge gap between the sensor resolutions of the SZ8 (16MP) and W80 (12MP) but they come with the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SZ8 was announced 4 years after the W80 which is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting through a complete comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the SZ8 grades vs the W80 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ8 over the Pentax W80

 SZ8 W80 
RevealedJanuary 2014June 2009More modern by 56 months
Display dimension3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax W80 over the Panasonic SZ8

 W80 SZ8 
Manually focus Very exact focus

Common features in the Panasonic SZ8 and Pentax W80

 SZ8 W80 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax W80 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Panasonic SZ8 provides outside dimensions of 100mm x 60mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") with a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs) and the Pentax W80 has measurements of 100mm x 56mm x 25mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") having a weight of 156 grams (0.34 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic SZ8 versus Pentax W80 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have during that time. Below is the front view over all size comparison of the SZ8 vs the W80.

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax W80 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ8 and W80 is 94 and 94 respectively.

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax W80 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax W80 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's difficult to envision the gap between sensor sizes only by checking technical specs. The picture underneath may give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ8 and W80.

As you have seen, both of these cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but not the same resolution. You should expect to see the Panasonic SZ8 to give you extra detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop photos much more aggressively. The more modern SZ8 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax W80 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax W80 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax W80 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax W80 Portrait photography highlights
35
good resolution (16MP)
has face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
27
manual focus
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 as a Street photography camera
Pentax W80 as a Street photography camera
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (159g)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
54
environment sealing
fixed screen
no image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Sports photography features
Pentax W80 Sports photography features
34
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery power (200 per charge)
no phase detect AF
24
environment sealing
max fps very slow (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax W80 as a Travel photography camera
67
lighter than others (159g)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (24mm)
great reach (288mm)
no Time Lapse recording
low battery power (200 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
64
environment sealing
has built in flash
decently wide (28mm)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Landscape photography details
Pentax W80 Landscape photography details
42
quite wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
low battery power (200 shots)
no Time Lapse recording
37
manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
environment sealing
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.5 inches)
lack of manual mode
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax W80 as a Vlogging camera
32
quite wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focusing
lighter than others (159g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic support
25
decently wide (28mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not offer selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external mic socket
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Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax W80 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ8 and Pentax W80
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8Pentax Optio W80
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 Pentax Optio W80
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2014-01-06 2009-06-25
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine -
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 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Maximum enhanced ISO 6400 -
Minimum native ISO 100 64
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-288mm (12.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.1-6.3 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus range - 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 2.5 inch
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8 seconds 4 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.20 m 3.90 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 159g (0.35 lb) 156g (0.34 lb)
Dimensions 100 x 60 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") 100 x 56 x 25mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0")
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 200 images -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model - D-LI78
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail price $275 $250