LCD and Viewfinder
Panasonic SZ8 has a Fixed Type 3″ LCD screen with a resolution of 460k dots. Both the screen size and the screen resolution is up to the standards of this class.
SZ8 doesn't have a viewfinder and no option for external viewfinder. Lack of a viewfinder can be problematic especially under strong light where visibility of LCD screens goes down dramatically. If you need a Compact camera with a built-in viewfinder in a similar price range, consider Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS70 (Lumix DC-TZ90) (Compare) or Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS60 (Lumix DMC-TZ80) (Compare). If the price is not an issue, take a look at our Top Rated Cameras with Viewfinders.
Max Shutter speed
Panasonic SZ8 can shoot continuously at max speed of 1 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/2000 sec.
Flash
Unfortunately SZ8 doesn't have an external flash shoe so you are limited with the built-in flash.
Focusing
Panasonic SZ8 features a Contrast Detection autofocusing system. The AF system has 9 points to choose from.
Panasonic SZ8 also features
Face detection AF where it intelligently detects the faces in the frame and locks the focus automatically.
Video Features
With Panasonic SZ8, you can record your videos at a highest resolution of 1280 x 720 at 30p fps and save in and Motion JPEG formats. 1280 x 720 is a low video resolution by todays standards. If video quality is important for you, we recommend you to look at cameras with Full HD, even better 4K / Ultra-HD resolution .
SZ8 has a built-in Mono microphone and a Mono speaker.
Panasonic SZ8 doesn't have any connections for external microphones and headphones. If you need a Compact camera with external microphone connectivity, consider Olympus XZ-2 iHS or Nikon Coolpix P7000 in a similar price range.
Connectivity and Storage
Panasonic SZ8 features built-in wireless (Wi-Fi) connectivity ( 802.11 b/g/n) which lets you transfer your photos directly to compatible devices without any physical connection.One other feature that we like is the ability to use our smartphone as a remote to control our SZ8. You can change camera settings, release shutter, view LCD screen and tranfer files using remote control app.
Panasonic SZ8 has a USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port to connect your camera to other devices.
Battery Panasonic SZ8 is powered by a proprietary battery which provides a shooting life of 200 according to CIPA standards.
Considering that the average battery life of Compact type cameras is 255 shots, Panasonic SZ8 has a short battery life for its class so we strongly recommend SZ8 owners to buy some extra batteries.
Battery Life Comparison in Small Sensor Superzoom Cameras
Fujifilm HS35EXR with its 600shots is the model with longest battery life among Small Sensor Superzoom cameras. Check the comparison of Panasonic SZ8 vs Fujifilm HS35EXR or take a look at Longest Battery Life Compact cameras list.
Panasonic SZ8 Features Compared to Main Competitors