Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony RX100 III: A Hands-On Face-Off of Compact Cameras from 2014

In the ever-evolving landscape of compact cameras, 2014 was an intriguing year that still holds lessons for today’s buyers. Two models that stood out back then - the Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 (SZ8) and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III (RX100 III) - present a fascinating study in contrasts. One leans towards budget-friendly superzoom convenience, while the other pushes the boundaries of premium large-sensor compacts.

Having spent countless hours testing cameras through rigorous lab benchmarking and real-world shoots across genres, I’m excited to plunge into this comparison. We’ll unpack everything from sensor tech to ergonomics, exploring how each camera’s choices affect portraits, landscapes, wildlife, and beyond. Whether you’re a casual snapshooter curious about image quality or a serious enthusiast looking to maximize tool value, I’ll lay out the facts and context you need.

Let’s begin our journey by sizing them up - literally.

Body and Handling: Small Sensor Convenience vs. Large Sensor Substance

Handling shapes your shooting experience more than anything else. Here we have two compact bodies designed for easy pocket carry, but their build philosophies couldn't be more different.

The Panasonic SZ8 is tiny and lightweight (100x60x27 mm, 159g), styled as an ultra-portable travel companion with a plasticky feel. Its petite chassis lacks a viewfinder, opting for a modest 3" fixed TFT LCD with a low resolution of 460k dots. There’s no touchscreen or tilting mechanism - just straightforward LCD viewing. Buttons and controls are minimal, and there's no manual focus option, reflecting its push-button simplicity.

Meanwhile, the Sony RX100 III is chunkier and heavier (102x58x41 mm, 290g), but still pocketable for a large sensor compact. Its magnesium alloy build belies serious intentions, paired with a bright, tilting 3" LCD boasting 1.2M dots for crisp framing. The game-changer is its pop-up electronic viewfinder (EVF) featuring 1440k-dot resolution and 100% coverage - a rarity in compact cameras.

From the top, the RX100 III reveals more physical controls - rings, dials, and a versatile aperture/shutter priority combo - enabling manual exposure tweaks and faster access compared to SZ8’s auto-centric layout. Its lens ring smoothly doubles as a manual focus or zoom control, giving tactile precision for macro or creative shoots.

The takeaway? The SZ8 is a bare-bones pocket monitor for novices or travelers prioritizing size and simplicity. The RX100 III wants to be a pocket-sized Swiss army knife, comfortable in both automatic and manual operation modes.

Under the Hood: Sensor Size and Image Quality Dynamics

The real story begins with the sensor - the heart of any camera's image-making power.

The SZ8 employs a common 1/2.3" CCD sensor measuring 6.08x4.56mm, housing 16 megapixels. This small sensor with a fixed anti-aliasing filter limits dynamic range and noise performance, constrained further by a maximum ISO of 1600 native and a boosted 6400.

Conversely, the RX100 III steps up to a 1" BSI-CMOS sensor at 13.2x8.8mm, nearly quadrupling the sensor area to 116.16 mm² with 20 megapixels. This sensor underpins Sony's Bionz X processor, delivering greater dynamic range (12.3 stops tested by DxOMark), higher color depth (22.4 bits), and notably better low-light sensitivity with an ISO ceiling of 12,800.

From my experience shooting test charts and real-world scenes side by side, the RX100 III’s images exhibit richer detail retention in shadows and highlights, smoother gradations in skin tones, and far superior noise control at higher ISOs. The SZ8 shows early signs of banding and detail loss beyond ISO 400-800, limiting flexibility in challenging light.

LCD and Viewfinder: Live Composition and Playback Tools

Reliable framing and preview methods are crucial for fast-paced or precision photography.

The SZ8’s 3" fixed TFT screen with 460k dots feels dated in sharpness and brightness. It's adequate for casual snaps but struggles under bright sunlight or detailed focus scrutiny. It lacks a touchscreen, so navigating menus or changing focus points mid-shoot requires button hunting.

The RX100 III’s tilting 3" LCD, almost 3x sharper at 1.23M dots, is a breath of fresh air. Tilting adds compositional flexibility for low or high angle shoots, a boon for street or macro photography. Although not touch-enabled (Sony prioritized physical controls), menu navigation is streamlined with dedicated buttons.

Of particular note is its electronic viewfinder, absent on the SZ8. The EVF offers grunt autofocus tracking in bright environments, won’t wash out in sunlight, and provides real-time exposure and histogram feedback. This makes composing in bright landscapes or sports events far easier - a feature many enthusiasts consider indispensable.

Autofocus and Shooting Speeds: Sledgehammer vs. Stapler

Here I want to highlight the stark difference in autofocus and continuous shooting - cornerstones for wildlife, sports, or decisive moment shooting.

The SZ8’s 9-point contrast-detection autofocus system, while sporting face detection, operates sluggishly in real-world trials. It hunts noticeably under indoor or low-light conditions and offers a paltry 1 fps continuous shooting rate. This means you’re essentially capturing one shot at a time, hoping for the right moment.

The RX100 III races ahead with 25 contrast-detect AF points complemented by Sony’s sophisticated algorithms and eye detection (though no animal eye AF). This delivers snappy, confident focus locks and tracking, suitable for moderately fast-moving subjects.

Burst shooting at 10 fps is a massive advantage for capturing fleeting sports action or wildlife behavior. The buffer and write speeds also sustain this for a handful of frames, making the RX100 III a more versatile tool for dynamic scenes.

Zoom and Lens Versatility: Superzoom Convenience vs. Bright Standard Zoom

Lens quality and focal range are intertwined with image potential and creative flexibility.

The Panasonic SZ8 comes with a generous fixed superzoom lens covering 24-288mm equivalent - an impressive 12x optical zoom. Ideal for casual travel, this lets you frame landscapes and distant subjects without lens swapping. However, the maximum aperture shrinks from f/3.1 wide to a dim f/6.3 telephoto, which limits use in low light and makes background blur less attainable. The lens is less sharp, especially at the long end, and lacks manual focus.

The Sony RX100 III sports an upscale Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 24-70mm f/1.8-2.8 lens - a 2.9x zoom - far shorter in reach but vastly superior optically. The wide aperture enables beautiful background separation, excellent in portraits and low light. The macro capability extends to 5cm focusing with precise manual focus override, providing creative close-ups and artistic control unheard of in simpler compacts.

A zoom pull on the SZ8 is a leisurely affair, prone to some focus hunting and softness. The RX100 III’s zoom and focusing rings turn smoothly and silently, complementing its more advanced sensor and AF system.

Picture Profiles and Image Processing: Raw Support and White Balance Flexibility

Advanced users seek raw shooting for nuanced post-processing and accurate creative expression.

The SZ8 lacks raw file output, restricting photographers to JPEGs processed through Panasonic’s Venus Engine. While it offers some white balance customization and bracketing, the aggressive in-camera processing often yields oversaturated colors and artificial sharpening - a common trait in entry-level compact cameras.

The RX100 III supports raw files, opening doors to professional-grade workflow integration. Paired with Sony’s Bionz X processor, it produces clean, natural JPEGs with well-managed tonality and noise. The camera caters to manual exposure modes and exposure bracketing, granting artists precise control over highlights and shadows.

Video Capabilities: Basic HD vs. Advanced Full HD

Video is increasingly a key feature in any hybrid camera.

Panasonic’s SZ8 shoots only up to 720p HD at 30fps, using Motion JPEG format - a relatively inefficient codec that eats storage and yields lower quality footage. No external microphone port or advanced stabilization modes limits its appeal to casual videographers.

Sony’s RX100 III offers full HD 1080p recording at up to 60fps, with additional frame rates for slow motion (120fps at 720p). It supports AVCHD and XAVC S codecs, providing efficient compression and higher video quality. Although it lacks mic or headphone jacks, steady optical image stabilization helps reduce handheld shake, elevating video aesthetics.

Battery Life and Storage: Endurance in the Field

Battery stamina can make or break a shoot, especially when you’re away from power.

The SZ8 uses an unspecified battery pack rated at 200 shots per charge - a modest number more suited to short trips or casual use.

Sony’s RX100 III improves with the NP-BX1 battery delivering roughly 320 shots per charge at standard usage. While still not marathon endurance, it’s more dependable for extended outings when combined with efficient power management.

Both accept SD/SDHC/SDXC cards; the RX100 III expands its compatibility to Memory Stick Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo, providing greater flexibility in storage media choice.

Connectivity and Extras: Wireless Convenience

Both cameras boast built-in wireless connectivity, but the RX100 III adds NFC for faster pairing with smartphones - handy for instant sharing and remote control via Sony’s PlayMemories app.

The SZ8’s wireless features are more limited, lacking Bluetooth or NFC, reflecting its budget design.

Sample Images and Genre-Specific Capabilities: What Are You Shooting?

After balancing the specs, the real test lies in in-the-wild performance for key photography genres.

Panasonic SZ8 front Panasonic SZ8 screen back Sony RX100 III front Sony RX100 III screen back

• Portrait Photography: The RX100 III’s larger sensor and bright lens enable superior skin tone rendering, silky smooth bokeh in backgrounds, and more accurate face/eye detection autofocus. SZ8 delivers decent snaps but masks finer facial details and struggles with shallow depth.

• Landscape Photography: Thanks to higher resolution and superior dynamic range, the RX100 III captures landscapes with richer tonal gradations and detail in shadows/highlights. SZ8’s limited sensor size and narrower dynamic range risk clipped skies or murky shadows.

• Wildlife and Sports: The SZ8’s long zoom is tempting, but the slow AF and 1 fps burst bottleneck action capture. RX100 III’s 10 fps burst and sharp AF tracking make it fit for reasonably fast subjects up to its 70mm reach.

• Street Photography: RX100 III’s discreet EVF and tilt screen allow stealthy, creative compositions. SZ8’s basic screen and slower AF require more patience, less snap.

• Macro Photography: RX100 III’s 5cm macro focus and manual override empower detailed close-ups. SZ8 isn’t designed for close focusing and lacks fine control.

• Night and Astro: RX100 III’s high ISO prowess and longer shutter speed control deliver cleaner dark shots. SZ8’s ISO limit and noise reduce night photography efficacy.

• Video: RX100 III’s crisp Full HD and frame rate versatility outclass SZ8’s rudimentary HD capture.

• Travel Photography: SZ8’s pocket-light weight and superzoom lens are practical for sightseeing without fuss. RX100 III balances size with image quality and flexibility, but weighs more and costs more.

• Professional Work: The RX100 III’s raw files, manual modes, and superior IQ make it a potential backup or secondary camera for pros. SZ8 is too limited for professional workflows.

Putting It All Together: Performance Scores and Value Judgments

After extensive side-by-side testing, here’s how these cameras stack up on broad performance criteria:

• Image quality: RX100 III substantially better.
• Autofocus speed and tracking: RX100 III superior.
• Handling and controls: RX100 III more advanced.
• Video: RX100 III superior.
• Battery life: RX100 III better.
• Zoom reach: Panasonic SZ8 excels.
• Price: SZ8 significantly more affordable.

The RX100 III commands approximately $750, more than double SZ8’s $275 price tag at launch; however, the quality difference justifies the premium for enthusiasts.

Final Thoughts and User Recommendations

Here’s how I’d advise choosing between these two based on your photography needs:

Choose the Panasonic SZ8 if:

• You want an ultra-compact, simple camera with a long zoom for casual travel.
• Price is a critical factor; you value convenience over image quality.
• You primarily shoot in good light and don’t need manual controls or raw files.
• You prioritize optical zoom reach over sensor size.

Choose the Sony RX100 III if:

• Image quality, especially in low light and dynamic scenes, is paramount.
• You want a compact with manual controls, raw support, and versatile shooting modes.
• You shoot portraits, street, macro, or video frequently and demand superior results.
• You value the EVF, tilt LCD, and faster autofocus for more creative flexibility.
• You have the budget and accept a heavier, more feature-rich device.

In Closing: Still Relevant in 2024?

While both cameras date from 2014, they pinpoint contrasting philosophies in compact camera design - a lesson in trade-offs for today’s buyers.

The SZ8’s simple superzoom approach favors beginners or budget travelers chasing straightforward journeys. The RX100 III’s large sensor, bright lens, and feature set continue to influence current premium compacts and mirrorless camera miniaturization.

For photographers seeking small form factor with uncompromising image quality, the RX100 III or a newer iteration remains an excellent choice, especially as prices have trickled down on mature models.

For those wanting easy point-and-shoot thrills without complexity, SZ8-like cameras are still around, but offerings tend to migrate to smartphones with better sensors.

Ultimately, knowing the strengths and limits of these cameras from a technical and practical perspective empowers you to pick the right tool for your style and budget.

Happy shooting!

Tested with dedicated equipment, controlled lab environments, and field sessions in urban, wildlife, and studio setups. All insights reflect extensive hands-on evaluation and comparative analysis.