Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony S950
94 Imaging
40 Features
31 Overall
36


94 Imaging
32 Features
17 Overall
26
Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony S950 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- ISO 100 - 1600 (Increase to 6400)
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1280 x 720 video
- 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
- 159g - 100 x 60 x 27mm
- Released January 2014
(Full Review)
- 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 2.7" Fixed Display
- ISO 80 - 3200
- Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
- No Video
- 33-132mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
- 167g - 93 x 56 x 24mm
- Released February 2009

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony S950 Overview
The following is a extensive review of the Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony S950, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. There exists a significant gap among the sensor resolutions of the SZ8 (16MP) and S950 (10MP) but they feature the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

The SZ8 was launched 4 years after the S950 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).
Before delving straight into a thorough comparison, below is a simple view of how the SZ8 matches up against the S950 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony S950 Gallery
The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950. The complete galleries are provided at Panasonic SZ8 Gallery and Sony S950 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ8 over the Sony S950
SZ8 | S950 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Released | January 2014 | ![]() | February 2009 | Newer by 60 months |
Display sizing | 3" | ![]() | 2.7" | Larger display (+0.3") |
Display resolution | 460k | ![]() | 230k | Clearer display (+230k dot) |
Reasons to pick Sony S950 over the Panasonic SZ8
S950 | SZ8 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Focus manually | ![]() | Dial accurate focusing |
Common features in the Panasonic SZ8 and Sony S950
SZ8 | S950 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed display |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Neither provides selfie screen | ||
Touch display | ![]() | Neither provides Touch display |
Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony S950 Physical Comparison
For anybody who is looking to travel with your camera, you need to factor its weight and size. The Panasonic SZ8 provides outside dimensions of 100mm x 60mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") and a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs) and the Sony S950 has specifications of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).
Check the Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony S950 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are employing at that moment. Underneath is the front view sizing comparison of the SZ8 versus the S950.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ8 and S950 is 94 and 94 respectively.

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony S950 Sensor Comparison
Quite often, its tough to picture the gap in sensor dimensions simply by checking out technical specs. The picture below might offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ8 and S950.
As you can tell, both the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but different megapixels. You should expect to see the Panasonic SZ8 to provide more detail utilizing its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images a little more aggressively. The newer SZ8 should have a benefit in sensor tech.

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony S950 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony S950 Specifications
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Manufacturer | Panasonic | Sony |
Model type | Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950 |
Type | Small Sensor Superzoom | Small Sensor Compact |
Released | 2014-01-06 | 2009-02-17 |
Body design | Compact | Compact |
Sensor Information | ||
Chip | Venus Engine | - |
Sensor type | CCD | CCD |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | 1/2.3" |
Sensor measurements | 6.08 x 4.56mm | 6.17 x 4.55mm |
Sensor surface area | 27.7mm² | 28.1mm² |
Sensor resolution | 16 megapixels | 10 megapixels |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 |
Full resolution | 4608 x 3456 | 4000 x 3000 |
Max native ISO | 1600 | 3200 |
Max boosted ISO | 6400 | - |
Min native ISO | 100 | 80 |
RAW photos | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focusing | ||
Touch focus | ||
Continuous AF | ||
AF single | ||
Tracking AF | ||
AF selectice | ||
Center weighted AF | ||
AF multi area | ||
Live view AF | ||
Face detection focusing | ||
Contract detection focusing | ||
Phase detection focusing | ||
Total focus points | 9 | 9 |
Lens | ||
Lens support | fixed lens | fixed lens |
Lens zoom range | 24-288mm (12.0x) | 33-132mm (4.0x) |
Maximal aperture | f/3.1-6.3 | f/3.3-5.2 |
Macro focusing range | - | 10cm |
Crop factor | 5.9 | 5.8 |
Screen | ||
Range of screen | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Screen size | 3 inches | 2.7 inches |
Resolution of screen | 460 thousand dot | 230 thousand dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch friendly | ||
Screen tech | TFT LCD | - |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | None | None |
Features | ||
Lowest shutter speed | 8s | 2s |
Highest shutter speed | 1/2000s | 1/1600s |
Continuous shooting speed | 1.0 frames per second | 1.0 frames per second |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manually set exposure | ||
Change WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash distance | 5.20 m | 3.50 m |
Flash options | Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync |
External flash | ||
Auto exposure bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Exposure | ||
Multisegment metering | ||
Average metering | ||
Spot metering | ||
Partial metering | ||
AF area metering | ||
Center weighted metering | ||
Video features | ||
Supported video resolutions | 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p) | - |
Max video resolution | 1280x720 | None |
Video format | Motion JPEG | Motion JPEG |
Microphone input | ||
Headphone input | ||
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 lbs) | 167 gr (0.37 lbs) |
Dimensions | 100 x 60 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") | 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" 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 photographs | - |
Style of battery | Battery Pack | - |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse feature | ||
Storage media | SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal | Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal |
Storage slots | One | One |
Launch pricing | $275 | $130 |