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Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony W610

Portability
94
Imaging
39
Features
31
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W610 front
Portability
97
Imaging
37
Features
20
Overall
30

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony W610 Key Specs

Panasonic SZ8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Push 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 W610
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 26-105mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 113g - 93 x 52 x 19mm
  • Launched January 2012
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Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony W610 Overview

On this page, we will be looking at the Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony W610, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SZ8 (16MP) and the W610 (14MP) is relatively similar and both cameras offer the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SZ8 was brought out 2 years after the W610 which is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before delving right into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the SZ8 grades vs the W610 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ8 over the Sony W610

 SZ8 W610 
LaunchedJanuary 2014January 2012Newer by 25 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W610 over the Panasonic SZ8

 W610 SZ8 

Common features in the Panasonic SZ8 and Sony W610

 SZ8 W610 
Focus manually Lack of manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony W610 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera often, you will have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic SZ8 provides physical measurements of 100mm x 60mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") along with a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs) while the Sony W610 has dimensions of 93mm x 52mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.0" x 0.7") with a weight of 113 grams (0.25 lbs).

See the Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony W610 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are using at the time. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the SZ8 against the W610.

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony W610 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ8 and W610 is 94 and 97 respectively.

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony W610 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony W610 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very hard to envision the difference between sensor dimensions simply by going over a spec sheet. The picture underneath should provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ8 and W610.

As you can see, the two cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same megapixels. You can count on the Panasonic SZ8 to offer you greater detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop photographs more aggressively. The fresher SZ8 will have an advantage in sensor tech.

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony W610 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony W610 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony W610 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Portrait photography advice
Sony W610 Portrait photography advice
34
resolution is good (16MP)
provides face detect focus
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
28
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
no manual control
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic SZ8
Street photography with Sony W610
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (159 grams)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
56
lighter than competition in class (113 grams)
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Sports photography factors
Sony W610 Sports photography factors
33
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery power (200 CIPA)
lack of phase detect auto focus
26
megapixel count decent (14MP)
low frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Travel photography highlights
Sony W610 Travel photography highlights
67
lighter than others in class (159 grams)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (24mm)
long zoom (288mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
bad battery power (200 CIPA)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
69
lighter than competition in class (113g)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
really wide (26mm)
missing Timelapse function
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Landscape photography factors
Sony W610 Landscape photography factors
41
quite wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not available
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
bad battery power (200 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse mode
33
really wide (26mm)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.7")
no manual control
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Vlogging info
Sony W610 Vlogging info
32
quite wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focus
lighter than others in class (159 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone support
28
really wide (26mm)
lighter than competition in class (113g)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 pxls)
missing microphone socket
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Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony W610 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ8 and Sony W610
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W610
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W610
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2014-01-06 2012-01-10
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine BIONZ
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 16MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Maximum boosted ISO 6400 -
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 9 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-288mm (12.0x) 26-105mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.1-6.3 f/2.8-5.9
Macro focus distance - 4cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech TFT LCD Clear Photo TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8 secs 1 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.20 m 3.50 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone 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 159 grams (0.35 pounds) 113 grams (0.25 pounds)
Physical dimensions 100 x 60 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") 93 x 52 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.0" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 pictures 250 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-BN
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, microSD/micro SDHC, Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $275 $200