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Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony A35

Portability
94
Imaging
40
Features
31
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 front
 
Sony SLT-A35 front
Portability
69
Imaging
57
Features
70
Overall
62

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony A35 Key Specs

Panasonic SZ8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Raise to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
  • 159g - 100 x 60 x 27mm
  • Revealed January 2014
Sony A35
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 415g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Revealed September 2011
  • Earlier Model is Sony A33
  • Refreshed by Sony A37
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Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony A35 Overview

Let's look more in depth at the Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony A35, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the SZ8 (16MP) and the A35 (16MP) is relatively close but the SZ8 (1/2.3") and A35 (APS-C) have totally different sensor size.

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The SZ8 was launched 2 years later than the A35 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic SZ8 being a Compact camera and the Sony A35 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go into a complete comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the SZ8 grades against the A35 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ8 over the Sony A35

 SZ8 A35 
RevealedJanuary 2014September 2011More recent by 28 months

Reasons to pick Sony A35 over the Panasonic SZ8

 A35 SZ8 
Focus manually More precise focusing
Screen resolution921k460kClearer screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic SZ8 and Sony A35

 SZ8 A35 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen size
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony A35 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to lug around your camera often, you will have to think about its weight and size. The Panasonic SZ8 provides outer measurements of 100mm x 60mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") having a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs) while the Sony A35 has specifications of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") along with a weight of 415 grams (0.91 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony A35 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are working with at that time. The following is a front view size comparison of the SZ8 vs the A35.

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony A35 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ8 and A35 is 94 and 69 respectively.

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony A35 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony A35 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be difficult to see the contrast in sensor measurements merely by viewing technical specs. The visual below should offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ8 and A35.

As you can tell, each of these cameras come with the identical megapixel count albeit not the same sensor measurements. The SZ8 provides the smaller sensor which will make obtaining shallow DOF trickier. The newer SZ8 is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony A35 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony A35 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony A35 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic SZ8
Portrait photography with Sony A35
35
good resolution (16 megapixels)
provides face detect focusing
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
74
focusing manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 as a Street photography camera
Sony A35 as a Street photography camera
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (159g)
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
71
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
lighter than competition in class (415g)
great ISO range (25,600)
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Sports photography features
Sony A35 Sports photography features
34
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
slow fps (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery (200 per charge)
lack of phase detect AF
61
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
slow fps (6.0 frames/s)
terrible battery power (440 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Travel photography highlights
Sony A35 Travel photography highlights
67
lighter than others (159 grams)
good resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
great reach (288mm)
no Time Lapse mode
bad battery (200 CIPA)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
59
lighter than competition in class (415 grams)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse mode
terrible battery power (440 CIPA)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic SZ8
Landscape photography with Sony A35
42
relatively wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not available
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
bad battery (200 per charge)
no Time Lapse mode
69
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
great ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
terrible battery power (440 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Vlogging advice
Sony A35 Vlogging advice
32
relatively wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focusing
lighter than others (159 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
no mic jack
36
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external mic support
lighter than competition in class (415g)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
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Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony A35 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ8 and Sony A35
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8Sony SLT-A35
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 Sony SLT-A35
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2014-01-06 2011-09-20
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 1600 25600
Highest boosted ISO 6400 -
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 9 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 24-288mm (12.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.1-6.3 -
Amount of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.20 m 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160s
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) 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
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 159g (0.35 pounds) 415g (0.91 pounds)
Physical dimensions 100 x 60 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 74
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.3
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.7
DXO Low light score not tested 763
Other
Battery life 200 photographs 440 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Retail cost $275 $598