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Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony RX100

Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
39
Overall
37
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 front
Portability
91
Imaging
50
Features
68
Overall
57

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony RX100 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
  • Previous Model is Panasonic ZS7
Sony RX100
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-100mm (F1.8-4.9) lens
  • 240g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Released August 2012
  • Newer Model is Sony RX100 II
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Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony RX100 Overview

Below, we are looking at the Panasonic ZS8 versus Sony RX100, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Large Sensor Compact by companies Panasonic and Sony. There exists a crucial gap between the sensor resolutions of the ZS8 (14MP) and RX100 (20MP) and the ZS8 (1/2.3") and RX100 (1") come with different sensor measurements.

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The ZS8 was announced 13 months prior to the RX100 making the cameras a generation away from one another. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic ZS8 being a Compact camera and the Sony RX100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before going through a complete comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the ZS8 grades against the RX100 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS8 over the Sony RX100

 ZS8 RX100 

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 over the Panasonic ZS8

 RX100 ZS8 
ReleasedAugust 2012July 2011More modern by 13 months
Manual focus More exact focus
Display resolution1229k230kCrisper display (+999k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS8 and Sony RX100

 ZS8 RX100 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurements
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony RX100 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you'll have to take into account its weight and volume. The Panasonic ZS8 comes with exterior measurements of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 210 grams (0.46 lbs) whilst the Sony RX100 has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") and a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic ZS8 versus Sony RX100 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you use at that time. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the ZS8 versus the RX100.

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony RX100 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the ZS8 and RX100 is 92 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony RX100 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony RX100 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be hard to imagine the gap between sensor sizes simply by looking at a spec sheet. The image below may provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the ZS8 and RX100.

Clearly, the two cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The ZS8 with its tinier sensor is going to make getting bokeh trickier and the Sony RX100 will resolve greater detail with its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images somewhat more aggressively. The more aged ZS8 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony RX100 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony RX100 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony RX100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS8
Portrait photography with Sony RX100
30
resolution is good (14MP)
manual focus not available
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
64
has manual focus
high flash sync (1/2,000s)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (1")
provides face detect focusing
saves RAW files
can't use external flash
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Street photography factors
Sony RX100 Street photography factors
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (210 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
79
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is good (1")
saves RAW files
lighter than others (240 grams)
great high ISO (25,600)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Sports photography highlights
Sony RX100 Sports photography highlights
47
great zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
max fps low (2.0 frames per second)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
65
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
provides tracking focus
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Travel photography features
Sony RX100 Travel photography features
69
lighter than average (210g)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (24mm)
very long reach (384mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
79
lighter than others (240 grams)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Landscape photography factors
Sony RX100 Landscape photography factors
44
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
lack of Timelapse recording
74
has manual focus
quite wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (1")
great high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Vlogging features
Sony RX100 Vlogging features
30
quite wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (210g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external microphone port
38
quite wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others (240g)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone support
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Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony RX100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS8 and Sony RX100
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
Other name Lumix DMC-TZ18 -
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Compact
Introduced 2011-07-19 2012-08-28
Physical type Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4320 x 3240 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 6400 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-384mm (16.0x) 28-100mm (3.6x)
Highest aperture f/3.3-5.9 f/1.8-4.9
Macro focus distance 3cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 2.7
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 230k dots 1,229k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech TFT LCD WhiteMagic TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.00 m -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/2000s
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 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 210g (0.46 lbs) 240g (0.53 lbs)
Dimensions 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 66
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.4
DXO Low light score not tested 390
Other
Battery life 340 images 330 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $275 $448