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Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony A9

Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
39
Overall
37
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 front
 
Sony Alpha A9 front
Portability
65
Imaging
72
Features
93
Overall
80

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony A9 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
  • Introduced July 2011
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ18
  • Older Model is Panasonic ZS7
Sony A9
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Push to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 673g - 127 x 96 x 63mm
  • Announced April 2017
  • Successor is Sony A9 II
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Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony A9 Overview

The following is a complete comparison of the Panasonic ZS8 and Sony A9, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by rivals Panasonic and Sony. There exists a substantial gap among the resolutions of the ZS8 (14MP) and A9 (24MP) and the ZS8 (1/2.3") and A9 (Full frame) enjoy different sensor dimensions.

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The ZS8 was released 6 years earlier than the A9 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic ZS8 being a Compact camera and the Sony A9 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a short overview of how the ZS8 matches up versus the A9 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary

        

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS8 over the Sony A9

 ZS8 A9 

Reasons to pick Sony A9 over the Panasonic ZS8

 A9 ZS8 
AnnouncedApril 2017July 2011Newer by 70 months
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1440k230kSharper screen (+1210k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Panasonic ZS8 and Sony A9

 ZS8 A9 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony A9 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic ZS8 comes with external measurements of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") along with a weight of 210 grams (0.46 lbs) whilst the Sony A9 has dimensions of 127mm x 96mm x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5") with a weight of 673 grams (1.48 lbs).

See the Panasonic ZS8 and Sony A9 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have at that moment. Underneath is the front view measurement comparison of the ZS8 vs the A9.

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony A9 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the ZS8 and A9 is 92 and 65 respectively.

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony A9 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony A9 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's tough to visualize the gap in sensor dimensions simply by going through technical specs. The pic below should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the ZS8 and A9.

As you can tell, each of the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The ZS8 due to its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field harder and the Sony A9 will provide more detail as a result of its extra 10MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The more aged ZS8 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony A9 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony A9 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony A9 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Portrait photography advice
Sony A9 Portrait photography advice
30
good resolution (14MP)
lack of manual focus
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
83
you can focus manually
MP count good (24MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
comes with face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic ZS8
Street photography with Sony A9
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (210g)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
79
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
great sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
offers touch focus
environment proofing
above average high ISO (51,200)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Sports photography details
Sony A9 Sports photography details
47
great zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14MP)
provides tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
86
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
quiet mode (1/32,000s)
fast continuous shooting (20.0 frames/s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (24 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment proofing
better than average battery life (650 CIPA)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic ZS8
Travel photography with Sony A9
69
lighter than competition (210g)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (24mm)
very long reach (384mm)
lack of Timelapse function
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
73
better than average battery life (650 per charge)
environment proofing
has bluetooth
offers touch focus
MP count good (24MP)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS8
Landscape photography with Sony A9
44
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
lack of Timelapse function
85
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (24 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
above average high ISO (51,200)
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
better than average battery life (650 per charge)
two card slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Vlogging features
Sony A9 Vlogging features
30
quite wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (210g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external microphone support
36
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detection autofocus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
includes external mic socket
display is not selfie friendly
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Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony A9 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS8 and Sony A9
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8Sony Alpha A9
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 Sony Alpha A9
Alternative name Lumix DMC-TZ18 -
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Pro Mirrorless
Introduced 2011-07-19 2017-04-19
Physical type Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine FHD BIONZ X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 35.6 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 847.3mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4320 x 3240 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 6400 51200
Max enhanced ISO - 204800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Lowest enhanced ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 11 693
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 24-384mm (16.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 3cm -
Number of lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 1,440 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 3,686 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.78x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Fastest quiet shutter speed - 1/32000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 2.0fps 20.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.00 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure 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) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic 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 None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 210 grams (0.46 lbs) 673 grams (1.48 lbs)
Dimensions 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") 127 x 96 x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 92
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 24.9
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 3517
Other
Battery life 340 pictures 650 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2, 5, 10 secs + continuous)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible)
Card slots 1 Two
Retail cost $275 $4,498