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Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony RX100 II

Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
39
Overall
37
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II front
Portability
89
Imaging
51
Features
74
Overall
60

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony RX100 II 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
  • Launched July 2011
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ18
  • Old Model is Panasonic ZS7
Sony RX100 II
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-100mm (F1.8-4.9) lens
  • 281g - 102 x 58 x 38mm
  • Released June 2013
  • Earlier Model is Sony RX100
  • Replacement is Sony RX100 III
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Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony RX100 II Overview

Lets look more in depth at the Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony RX100 II, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by companies Panasonic and Sony. There exists a significant gap among the resolutions of the ZS8 (14MP) and RX100 II (20MP) and the ZS8 (1/2.3") and RX100 II (1") posses totally different sensor sizes.

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The ZS8 was released 23 months earlier than the RX100 II which makes them a generation apart from one another. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic ZS8 being a Compact camera and the Sony RX100 II being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before getting straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the ZS8 scores against the RX100 II in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS8 over the Sony RX100 II

 ZS8 RX100 II 

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 II over the Panasonic ZS8

 RX100 II ZS8 
ReleasedJune 2013July 2011More recent by 23 months
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1229k230kSharper screen (+999k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS8 and Sony RX100 II

 ZS8 RX100 II 
Screen size3"3"Same screen dimensions
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony RX100 II Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you'll have to factor its weight and proportions. The Panasonic ZS8 enjoys external dimensions of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") with a weight of 210 grams (0.46 lbs) whilst the Sony RX100 II has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 38mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.5") with a weight of 281 grams (0.62 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony RX100 II in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. Below is a front view dimensions comparison of the ZS8 against the RX100 II.

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony RX100 II size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the ZS8 and RX100 II is 92 and 89 respectively.

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony RX100 II top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony RX100 II Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very tough to envision the difference in sensor measurements purely by looking through technical specs. The graphic here should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS8 and RX100 II.

As you can tell, each of these cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The ZS8 due to its smaller sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field trickier and the Sony RX100 II will provide you with greater detail as a result of its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs way more aggressively. The older ZS8 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony RX100 II sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony RX100 II Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Portrait photography highlights
Sony RX100 II Portrait photography highlights
30
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
can't use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
70
has manual focus
flash sync speed is above average (1/2,000s)
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (1")
includes face detection focus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Street photography features
Sony RX100 II Street photography features
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (210g)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
85
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is good (1")
saves RAW files
lighter than competition in class (281g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Sports photography information
Sony RX100 II Sports photography information
47
great zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14MP)
offers tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
67
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
includes tracking autofocus
good battery (350 CIPA)
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic ZS8
Travel photography with Sony RX100 II
69
lighter than competition in class (210g)
good megapixels (14MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
great reach (384mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
80
good battery (350 shots)
lighter than competition in class (281 grams)
good MP (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Landscape photography features
Sony RX100 II Landscape photography features
44
fairly wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse function
74
has manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
screen is a good size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (1")
saves RAW files
good battery (350 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic ZS8
Vlogging with Sony RX100 II
30
fairly wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (210g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have microphone socket
37
decently wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (281g)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
lack of external microphone socket
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Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony RX100 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS8 and Sony RX100 II
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-TZ18 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Compact
Launched 2011-07-19 2013-06-27
Physical type Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 area 27.7mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4320 x 3240 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 160
RAW support
Minimum boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens mounting type 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 range 3cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 2.7
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230k dots 1,229k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech TFT LCD Xtra Fine WhiteMagic TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.00 m 15.00 m (ISO Auto (W))
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/2000 seconds
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), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 210 gr (0.46 lbs) 281 gr (0.62 lbs)
Physical dimensions 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") 102 x 58 x 38mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 67
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.5
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.4
DXO Low light score not tested 483
Other
Battery life 340 images 350 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (10 sec. / 2 sec. / Self-portrait One-person/ Self-portrait Two-person/ Self timer Continuous (3 or 5 shots))
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Retail price $275 $598