Clicky

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony S950

Portability
94
Imaging
40
Features
31
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950 front
Portability
94
Imaging
32
Features
17
Overall
26

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony S950 Key Specs

Panasonic SZ8
(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
Sony S950
(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
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

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").

Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

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.

Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

        

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ8 over the Sony S950

 SZ8 S950 
ReleasedJanuary 2014February 2009Newer by 60 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer 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 typeFixed 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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony S950 size comparison

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

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony S950 top view buttons comparison

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 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony S950 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony S950 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Portrait photography information
Sony S950 Portrait photography information
35
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
has face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
no manual control
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
25
manual focus
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Street photography highlights
Sony S950 Street photography highlights
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (159g)
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
56
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 as a Sports photography camera
Sony S950 as a Sports photography camera
34
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (200 per charge)
lack of phase detect autofocus
24
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 as a Travel photography camera
Sony S950 as a Travel photography camera
67
lighter than competitors in class (159g)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
very long reach (288mm)
no Time Lapse function
not so great battery pack (200 per charge)
does not have selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
50
flash built-in
missing Timelapse recording
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic SZ8
Landscape photography with Sony S950
42
reasonably wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
not so great battery pack (200 per charge)
no Time Lapse function
31
manual focus
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inch)
manual mode not available
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
missing Timelapse recording
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 as a Vlogging camera
Sony S950 as a Vlogging camera
32
reasonably wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection autofocus
lighter than competitors in class (159 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not have selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external mic jack
9
no video recording
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony S950 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ8 and Sony S950
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8Sony 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