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Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony W550

Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
39
Overall
37
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony W550 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
  • Released July 2011
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ18
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic ZS7
Sony W550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-104mm (F2.7-5.7) lens
  • 110g - 94 x 56 x 19mm
  • Introduced July 2011
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Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony W550 Overview

Below is a extended overview of the Panasonic ZS8 versus Sony W550, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Ultracompact by competitors Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the ZS8 (14MP) and the W550 (14MP) is relatively well matched and they possess the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The ZS8 was brought out within a month of the W550 and they are both of a similar age. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic ZS8 being a Compact camera and the Sony W550 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting through a full comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the ZS8 scores against the W550 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS8 over the Sony W550

 ZS8 W550 

Reasons to pick Sony W550 over the Panasonic ZS8

 W550 ZS8 

Common features in the Panasonic ZS8 and Sony W550

 ZS8 W550 
IntroducedJuly 2011July 2011Similar age
Manual focus Lack of manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions
Screen resolution230k230kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony W550 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to lug around your camera often, you're going to have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic ZS8 comes with outside 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 W550 has dimensions of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") with a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).

Check the Panasonic ZS8 versus Sony W550 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilising at the time. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the ZS8 compared to the W550.

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony W550 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the ZS8 and W550 is 92 and 96 respectively.

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony W550 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony W550 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very tough to see the difference between sensor measurements just by checking specs. The visual underneath should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the ZS8 and W550.

As you can plainly see, both cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing and the identical resolution and you can expect similar quality of images however you should factor the age of the products into consideration.

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony W550 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony W550 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony W550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Portrait photography highlights
Sony W550 Portrait photography highlights
30
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
28
decent MP (14MP)
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic ZS8
Street photography with Sony W550
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (210 grams)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Sports photography info
Sony W550 Sports photography info
47
incredible zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
has tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
35
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 as a Travel photography camera
Sony W550 as a Travel photography camera
69
lighter than competition (210g)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (24mm)
great zoom (384mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
65
decent MP (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (26mm)
missing Timelapse function
does not contain selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony W550 as a Landscape photography camera
44
really wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse recording
42
rather wide (26mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.7)
manual mode not available
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Vlogging factors
Sony W550 Vlogging factors
30
really wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (210 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have microphone jack
29
rather wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.7)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external microphone port
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Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony W550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS8 and Sony W550
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ18 -
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Released 2011-07-19 2011-07-24
Body design Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine FHD BIONZ
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4320 x 3240 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-384mm (16.0x) 26-104mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.3-5.9 f/2.7-5.7
Macro focusing range 3cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech TFT LCD Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 2s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed 2.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.00 m 3.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4 MPEG-4
Microphone 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) 110g (0.24 lbs)
Dimensions 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") 94 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
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 pictures -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID - NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single -
Cost at release $275 $119