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Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony HX300

Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
39
Overall
37
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300 front
Portability
63
Imaging
45
Features
51
Overall
47

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony HX300 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
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ18
  • Replaced the Panasonic ZS7
Sony HX300
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F2.8-6.3) lens
  • 623g - 130 x 103 x 93mm
  • Introduced February 2013
  • Old Model is Sony HX200V
  • New Model is Sony HX400V
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Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony HX300 Overview

Following is a extended analysis of the Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony HX300, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by rivals Panasonic and Sony. There is a sizable difference among the resolutions of the ZS8 (14MP) and HX300 (20MP) but they possess the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The ZS8 was manufactured 19 months before the HX300 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic ZS8 being a Compact camera and the Sony HX300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a brief summary of how the ZS8 matches up against the HX300 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS8 over the Sony HX300

 ZS8 HX300 

Reasons to pick Sony HX300 over the Panasonic ZS8

 HX300 ZS8 
IntroducedFebruary 2013July 2011More modern by 19 months
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS8 and Sony HX300

 ZS8 HX300 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony HX300 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry around your camera regularly, you will want to factor its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic ZS8 has got exterior measurements of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") and a weight of 210 grams (0.46 lbs) while the Sony HX300 has dimensions of 130mm x 103mm x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7") with a weight of 623 grams (1.37 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony HX300 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilising at the time. Underneath is the front view measurement comparison of the ZS8 vs the HX300.

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony HX300 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the ZS8 and HX300 is 92 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony HX300 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony HX300 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is difficult to envision the difference in sensor sizes simply by going through technical specs. The picture underneath might give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the ZS8 and HX300.

As you can tell, both of those cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same megapixels. You can expect the Sony HX300 to produce greater detail due to its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs far more aggressively. The more aged ZS8 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony HX300 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony HX300 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony HX300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Portrait photography highlights
Sony HX300 Portrait photography highlights
30
megapixel count decent (14MP)
manual focus not available
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
43
you can focus manually
MP count good (20 megapixels)
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Street photography details
Sony HX300 Street photography details
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (210 grams)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
50
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
heavier than others (623g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic ZS8
Sports photography with Sony HX300
47
great zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
includes tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
55
incredible zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20MP)
supports tracking focus
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Travel photography features
Sony HX300 Travel photography features
69
lighter than average in class (210g)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (24mm)
long reach (384mm)
missing Timelapse recording
does not have selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
54
MP count good (20MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
long reach (1200mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
heavier than others (623g)
does not contain selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Landscape photography information
Sony HX300 Landscape photography information
44
reasonably wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
missing Timelapse recording
49
you can focus manually
relatively wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20MP)
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX300 as a Vlogging camera
30
reasonably wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (210g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not have selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external microphone jack
25
relatively wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not contain selfie friendly display
doesn't have mic port
heavier than others (623g)
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Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony HX300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS8 and Sony HX300
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ18 -
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2011-07-19 2013-02-20
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.16 x 4.62mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.5mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Highest Possible resolution 4320 x 3240 5184 x 3888
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-384mm (16.0x) 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.3-5.9 f/2.8-6.3
Macro focusing distance 3cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.00 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro -
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
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 (60, 50 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4 -
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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 210g (0.46 lbs) 623g (1.37 lbs)
Dimensions 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") 130 x 103 x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 340 images -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) -
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal -
Storage slots One One
Price at release $275 $339