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Panasonic FZ80 vs Panasonic ZS80 Comparison

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Panasonic FZ80

18 MP | 1/2.3 BSI-CMOS Sensor

Panasonic FZ80
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Panasonic ZS80

20 MP | 1/2.3 BSI-CMOS Sensor

Panasonic ZS80
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Panasonic FZ80 vs Panasonic ZS80 Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing the FZ80 and the ZS80, two Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by Panasonic. Panasonic FZ80 was introduced to the market in January 2017 and Panasonic ZS80 was launched in February 2018. There is 13 months difference between FZ80 and ZS80 so we don't expect to see a huge technology difference between these two cameras but it would still give an advantage to younger ZS80, especially in sensor tech.

We can expect this to be a close match up because both models are ranked amongst the best in Small Sensor Superzoom cameras. Out of 245 cameras in this class, Panasonic FZ80 is ranked #8 with an overall score of 59 and Panasonic ZS80 is ranked #3 with an overall score of 60.

Here is a brief look at the main features of the Panasonic FZ80 and Panasonic ZS80 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Panasonic FZ80 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2017-01-04
  • 18MP - 1/2.3 BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 80 - 3200 ( expands to 6400)
  • 20-1200 mm F2.8-5.9 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
  • 1166k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 10.0fps continuous shooting
  • 4K (UHD) - 3840 x 2160 video resolution
  • 240fps High-Speed Video
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 616g. 130 x 94 x 119 mm
  • Also known as Lumix DMC-FZ85

Panasonic ZS80 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2018-02-18
  • 20MP - 1/2.3 BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 80 - 3200 ( expands to 6400)
  • 24-720 mm F3.3-6.4 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Tilting Screen
  • 2330k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 10.0fps continuous shooting
  • 4K (UHD) - 3840 x 2160 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 327g. 112 x 69 x 42 mm
  • Also known as Lumix DC-TZ95
  • Replaced Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS70 Compare

Let's read on in the following sections in order to better understand in detail how the Panasonic FZ80 and Panasonic ZS80 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


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Reasons to choose Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80 over Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs No Better for flash photography
Focal Length - Wide
20mm vs 24mm 4 mm wider coverage
Focal Length - Tele
1200mm vs 720mm 480 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
60x vs 30x more flexible focal coverage
Max Aperture - Wide
2.80 vs 3.30 faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele
5.90 vs 6.40 faster lens at tele
Flash Coverage
14.1m vs 5.6m 8.5m longer range
CHECK FZ80 PRICE


Reasons to choose Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80 over Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80
LCD Screen
Tilting vs Fixed Type Flexible shooting positions
Viewfinder Magnif.
0.53x vs 0.46x Larger Viewfinder
Sensor Resolution
20 MP vs 18 MP 11% more pixels
Battery Life
380 shots vs 330 shots 50 more frames with a single charge
Weight
327 g vs 616 g 289 g lighter
Viewfinder Resolution
2330k dot vs 1166k dot 99% higher resolution
AE Bracketing Range
±4 EV vs ±3 EV Wide Bracketing range is useful for HDR
Bluetooth
Yes vs No Connect your camera to other devices via Blueetooth
CHECK ZS80 PRICE

Common Strengths of Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80 and Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80
Wireless Connection
Yes vs Yes Better connectivity
Image Stabilization
Optical vs Optical Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
Touch Screen
Yes vs Yes Easy control of camera functions
Viewfinder
Yes (Electronic) vs Yes (Electronic) Better framing and control
RAW Support
Yes vs Yes Better image quality
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
Max Resolution
18 MP vs 20 MP Bigger prints and more details
LCD Screen Resolution
1.040k dots vs 1.040k dots High resolution screens
Max Continuous Shooting
10.0fps vs 10.0fps Fast shooting speeds
Manual Focusing
Yes vs Yes both have manual focusing modes
Manual Exposure
Yes vs Yes better exposure control
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs Yes creative shooting
Focal Length - Wide
20mm vs 24mm Very good wide angle coverage
Focal Length - Tele
1200mm vs 720mm Very good Telezoom
AE Bracketing
Yes vs Yes Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
4K Photo Mode
Yes vs Yes Extract 8MP photos from 4K Video
Focus Bracketing
Yes vs Yes Take multiple photos shifting focus point
Focus Stacking
Yes vs Yes Stacks photos in-camera to maximize depth of field
Post Focus Mode
Yes vs Yes Change focus point after taking a shot
Smartphone Remote
Yes vs Yes Remote control your camera with a smartphone
UHS Card Support
UHS-I vs UHS-I Read/Write in High Speeds
Common Weaknesses of Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80 and Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
Max Aperture - Tele
5.90 vs 6.40 Slow lenses at tele
Panasonic FZ80 vs Panasonic ZS80: 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 Panasonic FZ80 and Panasonic ZS80 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Panasonic FZ80 has external dimensions of 130 x 94 x 119 mm (5.12 x 3.7 x 4.69″) and weighs 616 g (1.36 lb / 21.73 oz) (including batteries). Panasonic ZS80 has external dimensions of 112 x 69 x 42 mm (4.41 x 2.72 x 1.65″) and weighs 327 g (0.72 lb / 11.53 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front-view size comparison of the Panasonic FZ80 and the Panasonic ZS80. Panasonic ZS80 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 18mm narrower, 25mm shorter and 77mm thinner than Panasonic FZ80.

Panasonic FZ80 vs Panasonic ZS80 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of the Panasonic FZ80 and the Panasonic ZS80 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of the Panasonic FZ80 and Panasonic ZS80.

Panasonic FZ80 vs Panasonic ZS80 Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of the Panasonic FZ80 and the Panasonic ZS80 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Panasonic FZ80 and Panasonic ZS80.
Panasonic FZ80 vs Panasonic ZS80 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of the Panasonic FZ80 and the the Panasonic ZS80 Size

Weight is another important factor, especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Panasonic ZS80 is significantly lighter (289g ) than the Panasonic FZ80 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

FZ80
ZS80
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

FZ80
ZS80
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80 (Lumix DMC-FZ82) nor Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80 (Lumix DC-TZ95) 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 Bridge Cameras with Weather Sealing
Top Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Panasonic FZ80 and Panasonic ZS80's LCD screens have the same diagonal size of 3.00 inches.

On the other hand, Panasonic ZS80 features a Tilting screen where you can change the angle of the screen to make it easier to shoot from waist or over-the-head levels whereas the Panasonic FZ80 has a fixed type screen which provides less flexibility in shooting positions compared to ZS80.


Panasonic FZ80 vs Panasonic ZS80: Sensor Comparison

Panasonic FZ80 has a 18.0MP 1/2.3 (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features Venus Engine processor. On the other hand, Panasonic ZS80 has a 20.0MP 1/2.3 (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features Venus Engine processor.

Below you can see the FZ80 and ZS80 sensor size comparison.

Panasonic FZ80 vs Panasonic ZS80 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Panasonic FZ80 and Panasonic ZS80 Cameras


Panasonic FZ80 and Panasonic ZS80 have the same sensor sizes so they will provide same level of control over the depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

Panasonic FZ80 vs Panasonic ZS80 Lens Specs Comparison

Panasonic FZ80 features a 20-1200 mm F2.8-5.9 60x zoom lens whereas Panasonic ZS80 features a 24-720 mm F3.3-6.4 30x zoom lens.

Panasonic FZ80 has 4mm wider coverage than the Panasonic ZS80. At f2.80, it is also faster at widest end. On the tele end, Panasonic FZ80 has 480mm longer reach than the Panasonic ZS80. At f5.90, it is also faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

DSLR-Like Cameras

FZ80
ZS80
Widest - Samsung WB2200F
Average
Telezoom

Compact Cameras

FZ80
ZS80
Longest - Nikon P1000
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

FZ80
ZS80
Fastest - Olympus 1
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

FZ80
ZS80
Fastest - Sony RX10 III
Average
What types of Photography are Panasonic FZ80 and Panasonic ZS80 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Panasonic FZ80 and Panasonic ZS80 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.

Panasonic FZ80 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Panasonic ZS80 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE
Very High Resolution Sensor: 18.0MP
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Small 1/2.3 sensor
Read the details
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Small 1/2.3 sensor
No External Flash Shoe
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Panasonic FZ80 for Street Photography

GOOD

Panasonic ZS80 for Street Photography

EXCELLENT
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.80
20 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Medium sized Body
Small 1/2.3 sensor
Read the details
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3 sensor
Read the details

Panasonic FZ80 for Sports Photography

AVERAGE

Panasonic ZS80 for Sports Photography

POOR
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
49 Focus Points
Wireless Connection
1200 mm Tele Lens
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
Environmental Sealings
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.90
Read the details
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
Wireless Connection
720 mm Tele Lens
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
No External Flash Shoe
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Focus Points
Slow Lens at Tele: f6.40
Read the details

Panasonic FZ80 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Panasonic ZS80 for Daily Photography

GOOD
RAW shooting capability
60.0X Optical Zoom
Medium size Body
Small 1/2.3 sensor
616g
Body Thickness 119mm
Read the details
RAW shooting capability
Compact Body
30.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3 sensor
327g
Body Thickness 42mm
Read the details

Panasonic FZ80 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Panasonic ZS80 for Landscape Photography

POOR
Very High Resolution Sensor: 18.0MP
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
20 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3 sensor
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3 sensor
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Panasonic FZ80 vs Panasonic ZS80: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far, but in case you wonder how we rated Panasonic FZ80 and Panasonic ZS80, below you can find their scores in 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 Panasonic FZ80 and Panasonic ZS80 scores compare:

Panasonic FZ80
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #17 out of 113 in SLR-like (bridge) cameras
Ranked #306 out of 1260 in all Cameras
Panasonic ZS80
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #3 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #280 out of 1260 in all Cameras

Panasonic ZS80 scores higher than the Panasonic FZ80 thanks to its better general imaging quality, compact size and higher value for the money. On the other hand, the Panasonic FZ80 has some extra features which may become a game changer if you have some specific requirements.
We recommend you to read our detailed Pro's and Con's section and see if any Pro of Panasonic FZ80 is a must-have for you. If not, choose the Panasonic ZS80.

Panasonic FZ80
Panasonic FZ80
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Panasonic ZS80
Panasonic ZS80
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Panasonic ZS80 vs Panasonic FZ80 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80 Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80
Brand Panasonic Panasonic
Announced 2017-01-04 2018-02-18
Body Type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor
Type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Size 1/2.3 1/2.3
Dimensions 6.17 x 4.55 mm 6.17 x 4.55 mm
Area 28.07mm2 28.07mm2
Megapixels 18 megapixels 20 megapixels
Max Resolution 4896 x 3672 5184 x 3888
Max Native Light sensitivity 3,200 ISO 3,200 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity 6400 ISO 6400 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 80 ISO 80 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 49 n/a
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 20-1200 mm (60x) 24-720 mm (30x)
Max Aperture F2.8-5.9 F3.3-6.4
Macro Focus Range 1cm 3cm
Screen
Type Fixed type Tilting
Size 3.00" 3.00"
Resolution 1,040k dots 1,040k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution 1,166k dots 2,330k dots
Viewfinder Coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder Magnification 0.46x 0.53x
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/2000s 1/2000s
Max Electronic Shutter 1/16000s 1/16000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization Optical Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 14.10 m (at Auto ISO) 5.60 m (with Auto ISO)
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 10.0 fps 10.0 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 3840 x 2160 3840 x 2160
Video Formats MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Built-In Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 616g 327g
Dimensions 130 x 94 x 119mm 112 x 69 x 42mm
Battery Life 330 shots 380 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
Report a correction Report a correction


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