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Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony A6500

Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
39
Overall
37
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 front
 
Sony Alpha a6500 front
Portability
81
Imaging
67
Features
85
Overall
74

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony A6500 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
  • Introduced July 2011
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ18
  • Succeeded the Panasonic ZS7
Sony A6500
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Bump to 51200)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 453g - 120 x 67 x 53mm
  • Released October 2016
  • Old Model is Sony A6300
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Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony A6500 Overview

Lets look a little more closely at the Panasonic ZS8 and Sony A6500, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by competitors Panasonic and Sony. There is a big difference between the resolutions of the ZS8 (14MP) and A6500 (24MP) and the ZS8 (1/2.3") and A6500 (APS-C) provide different sensor dimensions.

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The ZS8 was manufactured 6 years before the A6500 which is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic ZS8 being a Compact camera and the Sony A6500 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going into a more detailed comparison, here is a brief summary of how the ZS8 matches up versus the A6500 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS8 over the Sony A6500

 ZS8 A6500 

Reasons to pick Sony A6500 over the Panasonic ZS8

 A6500 ZS8 
ReleasedOctober 2016July 2011More modern by 63 months
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution922k230kSharper display (+692k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Panasonic ZS8 and Sony A6500

 ZS8 A6500 
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony A6500 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry around your camera often, you'll need to think about its weight and volume. The Panasonic ZS8 features exterior dimensions of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") having a weight of 210 grams (0.46 lbs) while the Sony A6500 has sizing of 120mm x 67mm x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1") and a weight of 453 grams (1.00 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic ZS8 and Sony A6500 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are using during that time. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the ZS8 against the A6500.

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony A6500 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the ZS8 and A6500 is 92 and 81 respectively.

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony A6500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony A6500 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its tough to picture the difference between sensor sizes just by reading through specifications. The pic below might provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS8 and A6500.

To sum up, both the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The ZS8 because of its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF tougher and the Sony A6500 will give you extra detail due to its extra 10MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images way more aggressively. The more aged ZS8 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony A6500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony A6500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony A6500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS8
Portrait photography with Sony A6500
30
MP count good (14MP)
lack of manual focus
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
80
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 as a Street photography camera
Sony A6500 as a Street photography camera
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (210g)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
85
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
boasts focus by touch
weather proofing
above average ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Sports photography highlights
Sony A6500 Sports photography highlights
47
long zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames/s)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
77
silent mode (1/32,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
weather proofing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
low battery (350 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Travel photography features
Sony A6500 Travel photography features
69
lighter than others in class (210g)
MP count good (14MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (24mm)
long zoom (384mm)
lack of Timelapse function
does not have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
74
weather proofing
supports bluetooth
boasts focus by touch
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
has built in flash
low battery (350 per charge)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A6500 as a Landscape photography camera
44
fairly wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
lack of Timelapse function
79
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
above average ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
low battery (350 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Vlogging factors
Sony A6500 Vlogging factors
30
fairly wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (210 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not have a selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of microphone socket
39
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection autofocus
high video quality (3840 x 2160 pixels)
includes external microphone socket
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
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Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony A6500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS8 and Sony A6500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8Sony Alpha a6500
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 Sony Alpha a6500
Alternative name Lumix DMC-TZ18 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced Mirrorless
Introduced 2011-07-19 2016-10-06
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine FHD Bionz X
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4320 x 3240 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 6400 25600
Max boosted ISO - 51200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 11 425
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 24-384mm (16.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focus range 3cm -
Number of lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Maximum silent shutter speed - 1/32000s
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames per sec 11.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.00 m 6.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction (On/Off selectable), Hi-speed sync, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160s
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) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video file format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
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 None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 210 grams (0.46 lb) 453 grams (1.00 lb)
Physical dimensions 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") 120 x 67 x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 85
DXO Color Depth score not tested 24.5
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.7
DXO Low light score not tested 1405
Other
Battery life 340 photographs 350 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC + Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $275 $1,298