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Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax E90

Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
39
Overall
37
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 front
 
Pentax Optio E90 front
Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
11
Overall
24

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax E90 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS8
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 210g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Released July 2011
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ18
  • Replaced the Panasonic ZS7
Pentax E90
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 32-95mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 145g - 102 x 59 x 25mm
  • Introduced January 2010
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Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax E90 Overview

Below, we will be looking at the Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax E90, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. There is a large difference between the sensor resolutions of the ZS8 (14MP) and E90 (10MP) but they possess the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The ZS8 was unveiled 18 months after the E90 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving straight into a thorough comparison, below is a simple summary of how the ZS8 grades versus the E90 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS8 over the Pentax E90

 ZS8 E90 
IntroducedJuly 2011January 2010More modern by 18 months
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Pentax E90 over the Panasonic ZS8

 E90 ZS8 

Common features in the Panasonic ZS8 and Pentax E90

 ZS8 E90 
Manual focus Lack of manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither contains Touch friendly screen

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax E90 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry around your camera regularly, you will have to think about its weight and size. The Panasonic ZS8 has got outer dimensions of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") and a weight of 210 grams (0.46 lbs) whilst the Pentax E90 has specifications of 102mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0") accompanied by a weight of 145 grams (0.32 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax E90 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you select at that moment. Below is the front view over all size comparison of the ZS8 vs the E90.

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax E90 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the ZS8 and E90 is 92 and 94 respectively.

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax E90 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax E90 Sensor Comparison

Often, its tough to imagine the gap between sensor sizes just by checking a spec sheet. The pic underneath may give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS8 and E90.

As you can see, each of these cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit different MP. You can expect the Panasonic ZS8 to give extra detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures much more aggressively. The more modern ZS8 should have an advantage in sensor technology.

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax E90 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax E90 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax E90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Portrait photography info
Pentax E90 Portrait photography info
30
good megapixels (14MP)
manual focus not available
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
19
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
low MP (10 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Street photography highlights
Pentax E90 Street photography highlights
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (210g)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
47
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax E90 as a Sports photography camera
47
excellent zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (2.0 fps)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
16
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
low MP (10 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax E90 as a Travel photography camera
69
lighter than others in class (210 grams)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (24mm)
very long reach (384mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
50
built-in flash
no Timelapse recording
low MP (10MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
wide angle not good (32mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Landscape photography details
Pentax E90 Landscape photography details
44
fairly wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
lack of Time Lapse mode
22
focusing manually not possible
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (32mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.7")
no manual exposure
does not have image stabilization
low MP (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Vlogging highlights
Pentax E90 Vlogging highlights
30
fairly wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (210 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic socket
22
wide angle not good (32mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external microphone port
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Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax E90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS8 and Pentax E90
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8Pentax Optio E90
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 Pentax Optio E90
Also called Lumix DMC-TZ18 -
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2011-07-19 2010-01-25
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine FHD Prime
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 10MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4320 x 3240 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 11 3
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-384mm (16.0x) 32-95mm (3.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.3-5.9 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus distance 3cm 6cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.00 m 3.50 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro -
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (15 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4 Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 210g (0.46 pounds) 145g (0.32 pounds)
Dimensions 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") 102 x 59 x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0")
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 340 photographs -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery model - 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at launch $275 $100