Canon A3300 IS vs Panasonic SZ8 Comparison

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Canon A3300 IS

16 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) CCD Sensor

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Panasonic SZ8

16 MP | 1/2.33 CCD Sensor

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Canon A3300 IS

Panasonic SZ8

Canon A3300 IS

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Panasonic SZ8

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Canon A3300 IS vs Panasonic SZ8 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing A3300 IS and SZ8, two Compact cameras from Canon and Panasonic. Canon PowerShot A3300 IS is a Small Sensor Compact class camera and Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 is a Small Sensor Superzoom class camera.

Canon A3300 IS was introduced to the market in January 2011 and Panasonic SZ8 was launched in January 2014. As you can see, A3300 IS is 3 years older than SZ8. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Here is a brief look at the main features of the Canon A3300 IS and Panasonic SZ8 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Canon A3300 IS Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2011-01-05

16MP - 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor

ISO 80 - 1600

28-140 mm F2.8-5.9 Zoom Lens

Optical Image Stabilization

3.00" Fixed Type Screen

1.0fps continuous shooting

HD - 1280 x 720 video resolution

149g. 95 x 57 x 24 mm

Panasonic SZ8 Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2014-01-06

16MP - 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor

ISO 100 - 1600 ( expands to 6400)

24-288 mm F3.1-6.3 Zoom Lens

Optical Image Stabilization

3.00" Fixed Type Screen

1.0fps continuous shooting

HD - 1280 x 720 video resolution

Built-in Wireless

159g. 100 x 60 x 27 mm

Let's read on in the following sections in order to better understand in detail how the Canon A3300 IS and Panasonic SZ8 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Canon PowerShot A3300 IS over Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8

Battery Life	230 shots vs 200 shots	30 more frames with a single charge
Weight	149 g vs 159 g	10 g lighter
Max Aperture - Wide	2.80 vs 3.10	faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele	5.90 vs 6.30	faster lens at tele

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Reasons to choose Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 over Canon PowerShot A3300 IS

Wireless Connection	Built-In vs None	Better connectivity
Internal Storage	80MB vs None	Extra built-in storage
LCD Resolution	460k dots vs 230k dots	100% higher resolution screen
Max Mech. Shutter	1/2000s vs 1/1600s	faster mechanical shutter
Focal Length - Wide	24mm vs 28mm	4 mm wider coverage
Focal Length - Tele	288mm vs 140mm	148 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom	12.0x vs 5.0x	more flexible focal coverage
Flash Coverage	5.2m vs 4.0m	1.2m longer range
Smartphone Remote	Yes vs No	Remote control your camera with a smartphone

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Common Strengths of Canon PowerShot A3300 IS and Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8

Image Stabilization	Optical vs Optical	Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Built-in Flash	Yes vs Yes	Useful in low-light
Face Detection Focus	Yes vs Yes	Easy focusing on portrait shots

Common Weaknesses of Canon PowerShot A3300 IS and Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8

Fixed Screen	Fixed Type vs Fixed Type	Screen tilts or Flips out independently, perfect for both stills and video
External Flash Shoe	No vs No	Not suitable for flash photography
Viewfinder	None vs None	No eye-level shooting option
RAW Support	No vs No	Lower image quality
LCD Screen Resolution	230k dots vs 460k dots	Low resolution screens
Continuous Shooting	1.0fps vs 1.0fps	Slow shooting speeds
Manual Focusing	No vs No	No manual focusing modes
Manual Exposure	No vs No	No manual exposure control
Environmental Sealing	No vs No	not suitable for tough conditions
Max Aperture - Tele	5.90 vs 6.30	Slow lenses at tele

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Canon A3300 IS vs Panasonic SZ8: Physical Specs and Body Features Comparison

Size and weight are big decision factors when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, we are going to illustrate the Canon A3300 IS and Panasonic SZ8 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Canon A3300 IS has external dimensions of 95 x 57 x 24 mm (3.74 x 2.24 x 0.94″) and weighs 149 g (0.33 lb / 5.26 oz) (including batteries). Panasonic SZ8 has external dimensions of 100 x 60 x 27 mm (3.94 x 2.36 x 1.06″) and weighs 159 g (0.35 lb / 5.61 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front-view size comparison of the Canon A3300 IS and the Panasonic SZ8. Canon A3300 IS is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 5mm narrower, 3mm shorter and 3mm thinner than Panasonic SZ8.

Comparison image of the Canon A3300 IS and the Panasonic SZ8 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of the Canon A3300 IS and Panasonic SZ8.

Comparison image of the Canon A3300 IS and the Panasonic SZ8 Size and Weight - Back View

Weight is another important factor, especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Canon A3300 IS is 10g lighter than the Panasonic SZ8 but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

A3300 IS

SZ8

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

A3300 IS

SZ8

Min

Average

Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither the Canon PowerShot A3300 IS nor Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 provides any type of weather sealing in their bodies, so you have to give extra care especially when you are shooting outdoors. If weather sealing is a must-have feature for you, check these sections:
Top Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Canon A3300 IS and Panasonic SZ8's LCD screens have the same diagonal size of 3.00 inches.

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.

Canon A3300 IS vs Panasonic SZ8: Sensor Comparison

Both Canon A3300 IS and Panasonic SZ8 have 1/2.3-inch sized 16.0 MP resolution sensors so sensor size and resolution is not a differentiator between these two cameras.

Below you can see the A3300 IS and SZ8 sensor size comparison.

Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Canon A3300 IS and Panasonic SZ8 Cameras

Canon A3300 IS and Panasonic SZ8 have almost the same sensor size, so neither of them has any significant advantage over the other in terms of providing control over depth of field when used with the same focal length and aperture.

Sensor size sets the circle of confusion, so it drives how much depth of field each of these bodies gives you at a given aperture. You can calculate it exactly for the Canon A3300 IS or the Panasonic SZ8, including hyperfocal distance.

Canon A3300 IS vs Panasonic SZ8 Lens Specs Comparison

Canon A3300 IS features a 28-140 mm F2.8-5.9 5× zoom lens whereas Panasonic SZ8 features a 24-288 mm F3.1-6.3 12× zoom lens.

Panasonic SZ8 has 4mm wider coverage than the Canon A3300 IS. On the other hand, with a max aperture of f2.80, Canon A3300 IS is faster at widest end. On the tele end, Panasonic SZ8 has 148mm longer telezoom reach than the Canon A3300 IS. However, with a max aperture of f5.90, Canon A3300 IS is faster at widest end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

A3300 IS

SZ8

Widest - Olympus TG-850 iHS

Average

Telezoom

Compact Cameras

A3300 IS

SZ8

Longest - Canon SX520 HS

Average

Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

A3300 IS

SZ8

Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV

Average

Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

A3300 IS

SZ8

Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6

Average

What types of Photography are Canon A3300 IS and Panasonic SZ8 Good for?

In this section, we rank and compare Canon A3300 IS and Panasonic SZ8 for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Canon A3300 IS for Portrait Photography

POOR

Panasonic SZ8 for Portrait Photography

POOR

Image Stabilization
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Image Stabilization
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Small 1/2.33 sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Canon A3300 IS for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Panasonic SZ8 for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Image Stabilization
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.80
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
Read the details

Image Stabilization
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.33 sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
Read the details

Canon A3300 IS for Sports Photography

POOR

Panasonic SZ8 for Sports Photography

POOR

Image Stabilization
140 mm Tele Lens
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Slow Continuous Shooting: 1.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Slow Max shutter speed: 1/1600s
9 Focus Points
Poor Battery Life: 230 shots
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.90
Read the details

Image Stabilization
Wireless Connection
288 mm Tele Lens
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Slow Continuous Shooting: 1.0fps
Environmental Sealings
9 Focus Points
Poor Battery Life: 200 shots
Slow Lens at Tele: f6.30
Read the details

Canon A3300 IS for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Panasonic SZ8 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Compact Body
149g
5.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details

Compact Body
159g
12.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.33 sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details

Canon A3300 IS for Landscape Photography

POOR

Panasonic SZ8 for Landscape Photography

POOR

28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Small 1/2.33 sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Canon A3300 IS vs Panasonic SZ8: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision regarding which camera best suits your needs and budget. However, if you're curious about how we rated the Canon A3300 IS and the Panasonic SZ8, below you'll find their scores across five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 69 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Canon A3300 IS and Panasonic SZ8 scores compare:

Canon A3300 IS

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #354 out of 488 in Compact cameras
Ranked #1122 out of 1384 in all Cameras

Panasonic SZ8

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #274 out of 488 in Compact cameras
Ranked #949 out of 1384 in all Cameras

Panasonic SZ8 has a higher Overall Score than the Canon A3300 IS and would be our choice if we have to decide between these two cameras.

Canon A3300 IS

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Panasonic SZ8

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Check price at B&H PHOTO

General	Canon PowerShot A3300 IS	Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
Brand	Canon	Panasonic
Announced	2011-01-05	2014-01-06
Body Type	Compact	Compact
Sensor
Type	CCD	CCD
Size	1/2.3-inch	1/2.3-inch
Dimensions	6.17 x 4.55 mm	6.08 x 4.56 mm
Area	28.07mm²	27.72mm²
Megapixels	16 megapixels	16 megapixels
Max Resolution	4608 x 3456	4608 x 3456
Max Native Light sensitivity	1,600 ISO	1,600 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity	-	6400 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity	80 ISO	100 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points	9	9
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	fixed lens	fixed lens
Lens Focal Range	28-140 mm (5×)	24-288 mm (12×)
Max Aperture	F2.8-5.9	F3.1-6.3
Macro Focus Range	3cm	n/a
Screen
Type	Fixed type	Fixed type
Size	3.00"	3.00"
Resolution	230k dots	460k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	None	None
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter	1/1600s	1/2000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization	Optical	Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	4.00 m	5.20 m
External Flash
Continuous Shooting	1.0 fps	1.0 fps
Multi-Segment Metering
Average Metering
Spot Metering
Partial Metering
AF-Area Metering
Center Weighted Metering
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution	1280 x 720	1280 x 720
Video Formats	MPEG-4	Motion JPEG
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	None	Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight	149g	159g
Dimensions	95 x 57 x 24mm	100 x 60 x 27mm
Battery Life	230 shots	200 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None	None
DxO Sensor Scores
	Report a correction	Report a correction

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