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Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony TX30

Portability
94
Imaging
40
Features
31
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX30 front
Portability
96
Imaging
43
Features
43
Overall
43

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony TX30 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
  • Announced January 2014
Sony TX30
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 26-130mm (F3.5-4.8) lens
  • 141g - 96 x 59 x 15mm
  • Revealed July 2013
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Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony TX30 Overview

Let's take a deeper look at the Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony TX30, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Ultracompact by competitors Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the SZ8 (16MP) and the TX30 (18MP) is pretty well matched and they enjoy the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SZ8 was revealed 6 months later than the TX30 which means that they are both of a similar age. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic SZ8 being a Compact camera and the Sony TX30 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick overview of how the SZ8 matches up versus the TX30 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ8 over the Sony TX30

 SZ8 TX30 

Reasons to pick Sony TX30 over the Panasonic SZ8

 TX30 SZ8 
Manually focus Very precise focus
Screen dimension3.3"3"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1229k460kSharper screen (+769k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Panasonic SZ8 and Sony TX30

 SZ8 TX30 
RevealedJanuary 2014July 2013Similar age
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony TX30 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry your camera frequently, you'll need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic SZ8 provides outer dimensions of 100mm x 60mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") with a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs) while the Sony TX30 has dimensions of 96mm x 59mm x 15mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.6") having a weight of 141 grams (0.31 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony TX30 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have at the time. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the SZ8 and the TX30.

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony TX30 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ8 and TX30 is 94 and 96 respectively.

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony TX30 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony TX30 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very tough to see the contrast between sensor sizing purely by reading through technical specs. The visual underneath will give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ8 and TX30.

As you have seen, both cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same megapixels. You can expect the Sony TX30 to resolve greater detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop shots somewhat more aggressively.

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony TX30 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony TX30 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony TX30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic SZ8
Portrait photography with Sony TX30
35
good resolution (16 megapixels)
has face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
39
focusing manually
MP count good (18MP)
no manual control
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 as a Street photography camera
Sony TX30 as a Street photography camera
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (159g)
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
64
has image stabilization (Optical)
weather sealing
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Sports photography info
Sony TX30 Sports photography info
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16MP)
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (200 CIPA)
no phase detect autofocus
46
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18MP)
weather sealing
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Travel photography info
Sony TX30 Travel photography info
67
lighter than others in class (159 grams)
good resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (24mm)
very long reach (288mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
not so great battery power (200 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
69
weather sealing
MP count good (18MP)
built-in flash
relatively wide (26mm)
no Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Landscape photography factors
Sony TX30 Landscape photography factors
42
quite wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
not so great battery power (200 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
51
focusing manually
relatively wide (26mm)
nice screen size (3.3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18MP)
weather sealing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
no Timelapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Vlogging details
Sony TX30 Vlogging details
32
quite wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection autofocus
lighter than others in class (159 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone support
34
relatively wide (26mm)
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
no external microphone jack
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Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony TX30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ8 and Sony TX30
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX30
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX30
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Announced 2014-01-06 2013-07-26
Body design Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine -
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.16 x 4.62mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 18MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Max enhanced ISO 6400 -
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 9 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-288mm (12.0x) 26-130mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.1-6.3 f/3.5-4.8
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3.3 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 1,229 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech TFT LCD OLED monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8s 4s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.20 m -
Flash settings Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off -
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB 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) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format 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 159g (0.35 pounds) 141g (0.31 pounds)
Dimensions 100 x 60 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") 96 x 59 x 15mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) -
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal -
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $275 $230