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Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony A58

Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
39
Overall
37
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 front
 
Sony SLT-A58 front
Portability
68
Imaging
63
Features
72
Overall
66

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony A58 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
  • Revealed July 2011
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ18
  • Superseded the Panasonic ZS7
Sony A58
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 16000 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 492g - 129 x 95 x 78mm
  • Revealed November 2013
  • Superseded the Sony A57
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Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony A58 Overview

Lets look a little more closely at the Panasonic ZS8 and Sony A58, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Panasonic and Sony. There is a big difference between the sensor resolutions of the ZS8 (14MP) and A58 (20MP) and the ZS8 (1/2.3") and A58 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor measurements.

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The ZS8 was brought out 3 years before the A58 and that is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic ZS8 being a Compact camera and the Sony A58 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go into a more detailed comparison, here is a concise summation of how the ZS8 scores versus the A58 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS8 over the Sony A58

 ZS8 A58 
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Sony A58 over the Panasonic ZS8

 A58 ZS8 
RevealedNovember 2013July 2011Fresher by 28 months
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS8 and Sony A58

 ZS8 A58 
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony A58 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry your camera often, you need to factor its weight and size. The Panasonic ZS8 offers physical dimensions of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") with a weight of 210 grams (0.46 lbs) and the Sony A58 has specifications of 129mm x 95mm x 78mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 3.1") with a weight of 492 grams (1.08 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic ZS8 and Sony A58 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have attached at the time. Underneath is a front view dimension comparison of the ZS8 and the A58.

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony A58 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the ZS8 and A58 is 92 and 68 respectively.

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony A58 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony A58 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be tough to visualise the difference between sensor sizing merely by reading through specs. The visual underneath will provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS8 and A58.

All in all, both of the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The ZS8 featuring a tinier sensor will make getting shallow DOF trickier and the Sony A58 will resolve more detail having its extra 6MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The older ZS8 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony A58 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony A58 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony A58 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Portrait photography factors
Sony A58 Portrait photography factors
30
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
77
focusing manually
good megapixels (20MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Street photography highlights
Sony A58 Street photography highlights
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (210 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
78
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic ZS8
Sports photography with Sony A58
47
incredible zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14MP)
includes tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
81
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
good battery power (690 CIPA)
has phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A58 as a Travel photography camera
69
lighter than others in class (210g)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
very long zoom (384mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
does not contain selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
63
good battery power (690 shots)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Landscape photography advice
Sony A58 Landscape photography advice
44
pretty wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
lack of Time Lapse recording
70
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (20MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
good battery power (690 per charge)
small screen (2.7 inches)
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic ZS8
Vlogging with Sony A58
30
pretty wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (210 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external mic port
35
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has mic support
display isn't selfie friendly
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Panasonic ZS8 vs Sony A58 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS8 and Sony A58
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8Sony SLT-A58
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 Sony SLT-A58
Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ18 -
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2011-07-19 2013-11-27
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.2 x 15.4mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 357.3mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Full resolution 4320 x 3240 5456 x 3632
Max native ISO 6400 16000
Max boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 11 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 24-384mm (16.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 3cm -
Available lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.6
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.65x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames per second 8.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.00 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro -
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
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) 1920 x 1080
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic 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 210 gr (0.46 pounds) 492 gr (1.08 pounds)
Physical dimensions 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") 129 x 95 x 78mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 74
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.3
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.5
DXO Low light score not tested 753
Other
Battery life 340 photographs 690 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) -
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Price at launch $275 $645