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Panasonic ZS8 vs Samsung NX20

Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
39
Overall
37
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 front
 
Samsung NX20 front
Portability
83
Imaging
62
Features
73
Overall
66

Panasonic ZS8 vs Samsung NX20 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS8
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • 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
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ18
  • Superseded the Panasonic ZS7
Samsung NX20
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 341g - 122 x 90 x 40mm
  • Introduced April 2012
  • Replaced the Samsung NX11
  • New Model is Samsung NX30
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Panasonic ZS8 vs Samsung NX20 Overview

Let's examine more in depth at the Panasonic ZS8 versus Samsung NX20, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by rivals Panasonic and Samsung. There exists a noticeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the ZS8 (14MP) and NX20 (20MP) and the ZS8 (1/2.3") and NX20 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The ZS8 was manufactured 9 months earlier than the NX20 so they are both of a similar age. The two cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic ZS8 being a Compact camera and the Samsung NX20 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving through a full comparison, below is a short introduction of how the ZS8 scores versus the NX20 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS8 over the Samsung NX20

 ZS8 NX20 

Reasons to pick Samsung NX20 over the Panasonic ZS8

 NX20 ZS8 
IntroducedApril 2012July 2011More recent by 9 months
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution614k230kSharper display (+384k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Panasonic ZS8 and Samsung NX20

 ZS8 NX20 
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Touch display Neither has Touch display

Panasonic ZS8 vs Samsung NX20 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to lug around your camera frequently, you will want to consider its weight and proportions. The Panasonic ZS8 has outer measurements of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") with a weight of 210 grams (0.46 lbs) whilst the Samsung NX20 has measurements of 122mm x 90mm x 40mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.6") with a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic ZS8 versus Samsung NX20 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have attached at the time. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the ZS8 vs the NX20.

Panasonic ZS8 vs Samsung NX20 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the ZS8 and NX20 is 92 and 83 respectively.

Panasonic ZS8 vs Samsung NX20 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS8 vs Samsung NX20 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be tough to see the contrast in sensor measurements purely by seeing specifications. The visual here will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the ZS8 and NX20.

Plainly, each of these cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The ZS8 due to its smaller sensor will make achieving shallower DOF harder and the Samsung NX20 will produce greater detail due to its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics much more aggressively. The older ZS8 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZS8 vs Samsung NX20 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS8 vs Samsung NX20 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS8 vs Samsung NX20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 as a Portrait photography camera
Samsung NX20 as a Portrait photography camera
30
good MP (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
77
manual focus
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic ZS8
Street photography with Samsung NX20
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (210g)
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
77
screen articulates fully
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
lighter than others in class (341 grams)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic ZS8
Sports photography with Samsung NX20
47
long zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14MP)
has tracking focus
low fps (2.0 frames/s)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
61
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
no image stabilization
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Travel photography factors
Samsung NX20 Travel photography factors
69
lighter than others in class (210g)
good MP (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
great zoom (384mm)
no Time Lapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
77
lighter than others in class (341g)
good MP (20MP)
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
does not have Timelapse mode
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 as a Landscape photography camera
Samsung NX20 as a Landscape photography camera
44
relatively wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
no Time Lapse function
70
manual focus
switch lenses (Samsung NX mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
no image stabilization
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Vlogging factors
Samsung NX20 Vlogging factors
30
relatively wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (210g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no mic port
78
screen is selfie friendly
supports face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have microphone socket
lighter than others in class (341g)
no image stabilization
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Panasonic ZS8 vs Samsung NX20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS8 and Samsung NX20
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8Samsung NX20
General Information
Company Panasonic Samsung
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 Samsung NX20
Also called Lumix DMC-TZ18 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced Mirrorless
Released 2011-07-19 2012-04-20
Physical type Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4320 x 3240 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 11 15
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Samsung NX
Lens zoom range 24-384mm (16.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focusing distance 3cm -
Available lenses - 32
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 614 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech TFT LCD Active Matrix OLED screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames/s 8.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.00 m 11.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, 1st/2nd Curtain, Smart Flash, Manual
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1920 x 810 (24 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 210 grams (0.46 lb) 341 grams (0.75 lb)
Dimensions 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") 122 x 90 x 40mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 75
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.4
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.9
DXO Low light rating not tested 785
Other
Battery life 340 images 360 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - BP1130
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 sec to 30 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $275 $1,100