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Panasonic ZS8 vs Samsung SL30

Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
39
Overall
37
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 front
 
Samsung SL30 front
Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
14
Overall
25

Panasonic ZS8 vs Samsung SL30 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
  • Revealed July 2011
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ18
  • Superseded the Panasonic ZS7
Samsung SL30
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 38-114mm (F2.8-5.7) lens
  • 140g - 94 x 61 x 23mm
  • Introduced February 2009
  • Additionally referred to as ES15
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Panasonic ZS8 vs Samsung SL30 Overview

In this article, we will be evaluating the Panasonic ZS8 and Samsung SL30, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Panasonic and Samsung. There is a significant difference among the resolutions of the ZS8 (14MP) and SL30 (10MP) but they feature the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The ZS8 was manufactured 2 years after the SL30 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving straight into a full comparison, below is a quick summation of how the ZS8 grades vs the SL30 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS8 over the Samsung SL30

 ZS8 SL30 
IntroducedJuly 2011February 2009More modern by 30 months
Screen sizing3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")

Reasons to pick Samsung SL30 over the Panasonic ZS8

 SL30 ZS8 

Common features in the Panasonic ZS8 and Samsung SL30

 ZS8 SL30 
Focus manually No manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Panasonic ZS8 vs Samsung SL30 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry around your camera often, you're going to have to think about its weight and proportions. The Panasonic ZS8 has outer dimensions of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 210 grams (0.46 lbs) while the Samsung SL30 has measurements of 94mm x 61mm x 23mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") having a weight of 140 grams (0.31 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic ZS8 and Samsung SL30 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at the time. The following is the front view dimensions comparison of the ZS8 compared to the SL30.

Panasonic ZS8 vs Samsung SL30 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the ZS8 and SL30 is 92 and 95 respectively.

Panasonic ZS8 vs Samsung SL30 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS8 vs Samsung SL30 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's tough to see the contrast in sensor sizes merely by viewing specifications. The image here will give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS8 and SL30.

Plainly, both of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same resolution. You should count on the Panasonic ZS8 to result in extra detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots a little more aggressively. The fresher ZS8 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic ZS8 vs Samsung SL30 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS8 vs Samsung SL30 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS8 vs Samsung SL30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 as a Portrait photography camera
Samsung SL30 as a Portrait photography camera
30
decent megapixels (14MP)
manual focus not available
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
25
provides face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Street photography advice
Samsung SL30 Street photography advice
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (210g)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
47
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Sports photography info
Samsung SL30 Sports photography info
47
great zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
16
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Travel photography factors
Samsung SL30 Travel photography factors
69
lighter than others (210g)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (24mm)
long reach (384mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
does not feature selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
51
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly display
wide angle not great (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 as a Landscape photography camera
Samsung SL30 as a Landscape photography camera
44
rather wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
missing Time Lapse recording
22
manual focus not available
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.5 inch)
no manual exposure
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic ZS8
Vlogging with Samsung SL30
30
rather wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (210g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic jack
25
provides face detection autofocus
wide angle not great (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not have selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 resolution)
doesn't have external mic port
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Panasonic ZS8 vs Samsung SL30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS8 and Samsung SL30
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8Samsung SL30
General Information
Brand Panasonic Samsung
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 Samsung SL30
Alternative name Lumix DMC-TZ18 ES15
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2011-07-19 2009-02-17
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Peak resolution 4320 x 3240 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 6400 1600
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-384mm (16.0x) 38-114mm (3.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.3-5.9 f/2.8-5.7
Macro focus distance 3cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 2.5"
Display resolution 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 8s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1500s
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames per second -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.00 m 4.60 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Auto & Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Fill-in Flash, Flash Off, Red-Eye Fix
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 800 x 592 (20 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (60, 30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video data format MPEG-4 Motion JPEG
Mic 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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 210 gr (0.46 lbs) 140 gr (0.31 lbs)
Dimensions 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") 94 x 61 x 23mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 shots -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $275 $93