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Panasonic ZS80

 
Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80 front
 
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200 (Increase to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 327g - 112 x 69 x 42mm
  • Introduced February 2018
  • Also Known as Lumix DC-TZ95
  • Succeeded the Panasonic ZS70
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
70
Overall
56

Panasonic ZS80 overview

Panasonic ZS80 is Panasonic's Small Sensor Superzoom camera initially announced on February of 2018. The camera features a 20MP, BSI-CMOS 1/2.3" size sensor with a peak resolution of 5184 x 3888. The camera is referred to as "Lumix DC-TZ95" in other countries.

Panasonic launched this camera in an effort to upgrade the earlier Panasonic ZS70 (Read Full Comparison)

The ZS80 is placed #1 out of 244 in Small Sensor Superzoom cameras & all-around #356 out of 1465 for cameras in our list. You can check out our Smart camera finder to see camera listings based on your customized requirements.

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Below is a graph of different criteria used in the scoring system.

Panasonic ZS80 family

The Panasonic ZS80 has a history of related cameras. Listed below, you can identify all previous and more recent models along with important features.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Panasonic-Lumix-DC-ZS80 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS8024-720mm
F3.3-6.4
20MP1/2.3"2018
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS70 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS70
ZS80 vs ZS70
24-720mm
F3.3-6.4
20MP1/2.3"2017
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Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS60 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS60
ZS80 vs ZS60
24-720mm
F3.3-6.4
18MP1/2.3"2016
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS50 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS50
ZS80 vs ZS50
24-720mm
F3.3-6.4
12MP1/2.3"2015
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS45 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS45
ZS80 vs ZS45
24-480mm
F3.3-6.4
16MP1/2.3"2015
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS40 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS40
ZS80 vs ZS40
24-720mm
F3.3-6.4
18MP1/2.3"2014
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Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS35 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS35
ZS80 vs ZS35
24-480mm
F3.3-6.4
16MP1/2.3"2014
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS30 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS30
ZS80 vs ZS30
24-480mm
F3.3-6.4
18MP1/2.3"2013
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS25 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS25
ZS80 vs ZS25
24-480mm
F3.3-6.4
16MP1/2.3"2013
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS15 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS15
ZS80 vs ZS15
24-384mm
F3.3-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2012
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS20 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS20
ZS80 vs ZS20
24-480mm
F3.3-6.4
14MP1/2.3"2012
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Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS8 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS8
ZS80 vs ZS8
24-384mm
F3.3-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2011
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS7 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS7
ZS80 vs ZS7
25-300mm
F3.3-4.9
12MP1/2.3"2011
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS10 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS10
ZS80 vs ZS10
24-384mm
F3.3-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2011
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS5 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS5
ZS80 vs ZS5
25-300mm
F3.3-4.9
12MP1/2.3"2010
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZR3 front thumbnailPanasonic ZR3
ZS80 vs ZR3
25-200mm
F3.3-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2010
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZR1 front thumbnailPanasonic ZR1
ZS80 vs ZR1
25-200mm
F3.3-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2009
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS3 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS3
ZS80 vs ZS3
25-300mm
F3.3-4.9
10MP1/2.3"2009

Panasonic ZS80 Pros and Cons

Here is a collection of advantages and disadvantages of the Panasonic ZS80 based on factors that are oftentimes seen as necessary in a camera.

better than average battery power (380 CIPA)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focus
comes with tracking focus
does have HDMI support
exports RAW formats
flash built-in
good min ISO (80)
good resolution screen (1,040 k dot)
good sized screen (3 inches)
great reach (720mm)
has manual focus
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
provides touch to focus
quiet shutter (1/16,000s)
quite wide (24mm)
screen tilts up and down
selfie friendly screen
supports bluetooth
touchscreen enabled
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
cannot use external flash
lack of headphone jack
lack of mic jack
lacks phase detect auto focus
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
sluggish at full zoom (f6.4)
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Panasonic ZS80 Sensor information

The Panasonic ZS80 is powered by the Venus Engine processor chip. The size of the sensor in the Panasonic ZS80 is 6.17mm x 4.55mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor has the capability to resolve 5184 x 3888 pixels with aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. The camera comes with Image Stabilization (Optical). Sensor stabilization is more effective than digital stabilization as the latter might lead to cropping.

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The BSI-CMOS sensor has 20 megapixels and includes a native ISO range of 80 - 3200. The ISO can be extended digitally to a maximum of 6400. RAW photos are saved which means that you have more margin for error.

The picture below displays the ZS80's sensor size compared to other common sizes. The ZS80 sensor has a crop factor of 5.8 and is showcased in green.

Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80 sensor size OM System OM-1 Set to Enhance Autofocus

To get an understanding of different aspect ratios, you can refer to the visual below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Panasonic ZS80 dimensions

Panasonic ZS80 is 0.72 lb (327g or 11.53 oz) & the overall size of the camera is 112mm x 69mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.7"). The weight of general Small Sensor Superzoom camera is 387g so the Panasonic ZS80 is lighter than various rivals.

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Below is a visual of the Panasonic ZS80 next to a soda so you're able to get a feel for its size.

Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80 dimensions scale

The top view here will provide the button arrangement on the ZS80.

Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80 topview buttons dials

Panasonic ZS80 Lens information

The ZS80 has a built in lens with a focal range of 24-720mm making it a 30.0 x zoom which is ideal and could allow you to zoom right in.

At it's widest 24mm, the lens comes with an aperture of f3.3 and that's quite sluggish and not ideal for low light conditions and you will likely find it difficult to get a shallow depth of field. You will probably also have to up your ISO setting which causes noisy photographs. At the long end, 720mm is terrific zoom and comes to f6.4 making it really sluggish and you would have to utilize slow shutter speeds.

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Panasonic ZS80 Connectivity

The ZS80 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • Wireless Yes
  • Bluetooth Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Cameras that feature NFC and Bluetooth compatibility are able to be controlled wirelessly by smartphones. You will be able to transfer pictures and oftentimes adjust camera settings with no need to connect directly with the camera.

Some apps also allow a Liveview and press the shutter in case you aren't close to the camera. If the camera boasts a HDMI port, it can easily be attached to an external screen. A good number of cameras will allow you to charge the battery using the USB socket.

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Panasonic ZS80 Video information

The highest video quality in the Panasonic ZS80 is 3840 x 2160 and you can save in MPEG-4 and H.264 format. 2160p delivers a outstanding quality for video. You are able to downsample to Full HD in order to get clearer video. Be mindful of the substantial file sizes and make sure you own good SD cards with good write speed. The body doesn't include a microphone and headphone socket which means you get zero control over the sound. It is probably best to consider an alternative camera should you want better sound for your video clips.

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Panasonic ZS80 Weather Sealing

Panasonic ZS80 doesn't have weather proofing so wet conditions can easily affect the camera.

Panasonic ZS80 Display and Viewfinder

The Panasonic ZS80 features a 3" tilting screen with a resolution of 1,040k dots.

The display is selfie friendly for self portraits and even group photos when necessary. Additionally the screen is touch friendly which means that you are able to shift focus point as well as adjust settings by using your finger.

Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80 screen and viewfinder Photographer Triumphs in Lawsuit Over Creative Commons Image Rights

The ViewFinder details for Panasonic ZS80 are the following:

  • ViewFinder Electronic
  • ViewFinder Resolution 2,330k dots
  • ViewFinder Coverage 100 percent
  • ViewFinder Magnification 0.53x

For bright outdoor conditions that make the camera screens washed out and tricky to see, viewfinders will be pretty useful.

Panasonic ZS80 Shutter information

Panasonic ZS80 has the capability to shoot continuously at 10.0 frames per second. The max shutter speed is 1/2000 sec. The camera also offers silent electronic shutter of 1/16000 sec. Keep in mind that the electronic shutter might lead to "rolling shutter" under some circumstances.

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Panasonic ZS80 Flash and Hot shoe information

Panasonic ZS80 comes with just in-built flash lacking external flash ability.

Panasonic ZS80 Autofocus information

Panasonic ZS80 comes with only Contrast Based AF & doesn't have Phase Detect AF. Phase Detection autofocusing is a lot more faster and accurate than Contrast Based autofocusing. The camera features Face detect which can be handy for portraits.

Panasonic ZS80 has tap to focus. You can easily use your fingers in order to adjust where you focus. It also features Tracking AF for objects that move. Panasonic ZS80 boasts manual focusing in case it is required during low light scenarios or you want more accurate control on focusing.

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Panasonic ZS80 Battery life

The battery power on the Panasonic ZS80 is fashioned to last for 380 pictures with respect to the CIPA specifications which is above the usual for its category. The typical Small Sensor Superzoom camera battery life is 316. Fujifilm HS35EXR offers the highest (600) battery life within this class of cameras.

Listed below is a collection of Small Sensor Superzoom cameras with the highest battery life:

Panasonic ZS80 for different types of photography

The following diagram provides a summation of the Panasonic ZS80 for different types of photography. To see more, browse to the specific section below.

Panasonic ZS80 Portrait photography highlights

The Panasonic ZS80 has a rating of 54 which is decent, meaning that it is reasonably acceptable for portrait images. Shooting portraits favors heavily to sensor dimension, support for RAW files in addition to the option to use off-camera flash.

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manual focus
megapixel count decent (20MP)
has face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")

Panasonic ZS80 Street photography advice

Having a very good score of 75, the Panasonic ZS80 is a fine option for street photography. A very good street photography camera gives a fine balance of image quality plus portability.

OM System OM-1 Set to Enhance Autofocus
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
includes touch to focus
small sensor (1/2.3")

Panasonic ZS80 Sports photography features

A very good sports photography score of 61 indicates the Panasonic ZS80 is a very decent fit for photographing sports. A camera must have excellent tracking and fast shutter speeds for sports photography.

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great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
quiet shutter (1/16,000s)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20 megapixels)
features tracking focus
great battery power (380 per charge)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus

Panasonic ZS80 Travel photography highlights

Size is very crucial when selecting a camera for travel. On the whole, the Panasonic ZS80 gets a excellent 79 as a travel camera which is a wonderful fit to purchase for your journeys.

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good battery (380 per charge)
has bluetooth
comes with focus via touch
good megapixels (20MP)
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
decently wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)

Panasonic ZS80 Landscape photography info

If you are looking to choose a digital camera for landscape pictures, the biggest factor will no doubt be image quality. The Panasonic ZS80 with it's nice score of 62 as a landscape camera is a good pick within the current marketplace.

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has manual focus
rather wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20 megapixels)
supports RAW files
good battery pack (380 shots)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")

Panasonic ZS80 Vlogging highlights

A vlogging camera should have a moving display, microphone port and if possible IBIS. Considering all things, the Panasonic ZS80 is a good pick as a vlog camera as it receives a above average rating of 73.

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rather wide (24mm)
display is selfie friendly
touch screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect autofocus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not have mic port

Panasonic ZS80 Alternatives

If you are trying to find replacements to the ZS80, here is a list of the highest placed cameras that fall into the family of Small Sensor Superzoom.

The chart followed below offers you a bird's eye view of the ZS80 compared to it's top ranked rivals mentioned earlier.

There are more cameras you may check out as alternative options. To go through a full comparison, click the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Brand
Panasonic
Model type
Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80
Otherwise known as
Lumix DC-TZ95
Type
Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced
2018-02-18
Body design
Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
BSI-CMOS
Processor
Venus Engine
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions
6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area
28.1mm²
Sensor resolution
20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio
1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution
5184 x 3888
RAW files
Highest native ISO
3200
Highest boosted ISO
6400
Min native ISO
80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Lens
Lens mount type
fixed lens
Lens zoom range
24-720mm (30.0x)
Highest aperture
f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing range
3cm
Crop factor
5.8
Screen
Display type
Tilting
Display size
3 inches
Resolution of display
1,040k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type
Electronic
Viewfinder resolution
2,330k dot
Viewfinder coverage
100 percent
Viewfinder magnification
0.53x
DXO scores
DXO All around rating
not tested
DXO Color Depth rating
not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating
not tested
DXO Low light rating
not tested
Features
Lowest shutter speed
4 seconds
Highest shutter speed
1/2000 seconds
Highest quiet shutter speed
1/16000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed
10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation
Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance
5.60 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash options
Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync, Slow Sync/Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions
3840 x 2160 (30p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution
3840x2160
Video data format
MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless
Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight
327g (0.72 lb)
Dimensions
112 x 69 x 42mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.7")
Other
Battery life
380 photographs
Type of battery
Battery Pack
Self timer
Yes
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage
SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I supported)
Storage slots
Single
Cost at launch
$448