Digital cameras

Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 review

Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8

CHOICE Expert Rating

44%
What is the CHOICE Expert Rating?
Good points

Good Points

  •  Enough space for your thumb on the back
  •  Simple menu with simple navigation
  •  Small and light
  •  Small but well placed buttons
  •  Wide angle lens (24mm)
Bad points

Bad Points

  •  Ease of use poor
  •  Poor auto focus performance in low light
  •  Poor face detection performance
  •  Poor flash quality at long distance
  •  Poor portrait quality in living room with flash
  •  Poor quality of movie image in good light
  •  Very poor portrait quality in living room without flash
  •  Very poor quality of movie image in low light

Recommended products

Recommended

Test results

CHOICE Expert Rating
44%
Picture quality score – auto mode
49%
Picture quality score – manual mode
0%
Ease of use score
38%
Movie quality score
31%
Monitor/viewfinder score
54%
Flash score
38%

Related products

Availability
Discontinued model

Specifications

Lens
fixed lens
Zoom range (mm)
24 – 288
Lens factor
12
Minimum aperture range (f-stops)
3.1 – 6.3
Minimum shutter speed (secs)
1/2000
Maximum shutter speed (secs)
8 – Starry Sky Mode: 15, 30, 60 sec
Lens diameter (mm)
Not applicable
Lens length (mm)
Not applicable
Lens weight (g)
Not applicable
Lens filter thread (mm)
Not applicable
Lens mount
Not applicable
Sensor type
CCD
Sensor size
Not applicable
Effective resolution (MP)
15.9
Dimensions (mm, WxHxD)
100 x 61 x 27
Weight (g)
160
Tripod socket
Plastic (not centred)
Start-up time (sec)
4.8
Shutter delay 1m (sec)
0.95
Shutter delay 8.5m (sec)
1.01
ISO rating
100 – 1600
Exposure correction (lower)
-2
Exposure correction (higher)
2
Continuous shooting mode
0.7
Frame limit in continuous mode
200
Number of selectable exposure programs
17
Closest focus wide (m)
0.03
Closest focus tele (m)
1.5
Closest focus macro (m)
0.03
Focus points (auto mode)
9
Monitor size (mm)
60 x 45
Monitor ratio
4:3
Monitor swivel (V x H, deg)
Not applicable
Viewfinder type
Not applicable
Viewfinder diopter
Not stated
Video ratios supported
4:3, 16:9
Video format
MOV (codec Motion-JPEG)
Maximum frame rate – progressive
30
Number of selectable exposure programs – video
1
Audio recording format
Mono
Memory card type
SDHC, SDXC
Internal memory (MB)
80
Number of memory cards – insertable
1
Image ratios supported
3:2, 4:3, 16:9
Flash type
fixed built-in
Battery type
Li-Ion (1)
CIPA battery cycles
200
Image editing software
Not applicable
RAW converter software
Not applicable
Video editing software
Not applicable

Cost

Price
$249.00

Features

Fully manual mode
Water/dust resistant
GPS tagging
Electric cable release
Camera controlled via USB
Manual white balance
Bulb setting
Priority mode – shutter speed
Priority mode – aperture
Shutter release via touch screen
HDR function
Time lapse
Panorama (panning)
Image stabilisation – physical
Electronic image stabilisation
Focus assist lamp
Focus via touch screen
Continuous manual focus switchable
Face detection
Spot focus
Focus tracking
Focus bracketing
Touchscreen
Monitor grid guide
Video face detection
Video spot focus
Video focus tracking
Manual focus video
Continuous to manual focus switchable – video
Slow motion setting
Stop motion setting
Video image stabilisation
Built-in speaker
Socket for external microphone
Can add a comment to a still image
RAW plus JPEG format
Can record in RAW format
Flash slow sync
Flash power adjustable
Hotshoe
Other flash connection
HDMI connection
Wi-Fi WLAN connection
Charge via USB
Adapter for charging batteries
Separate battery holder
Lens bag supplied
Not applicable
Lens hood supplied
Not applicable
Shoulder belt supplied
Other items supplied
USB cable, handstrap

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