Panasonic LUMIX ZS80 BLACK

Over the past week, both Canon and Fujifilm announced the release of new cameras and gear. This morning, Panasonic continued the wave of new products with the release of the LUMIX ZS80 and LUMIX FZ1000 II. You can learn more about the LUMIX FZ1000 II here.

The Panasonic ZS80 is the company’s newest point and shoot camera. Like its predecessor, the LUMIX ZS70, this camera is made for travelers, new photographers, vloggers, and hobbyists. The stand-out features for this model are the inclusion of 4K shooting and its versatile tilting screen. However, people still learning the ins and outs of their camera will love Post Focus mode and Stacking mode; both features give you significantly more control over your images after they’re taken.

Panasonic LUMIX ZS80 vs Panasonic LUMIX ZS70

ZS70

ZS80

Sensor 1/2.3″ 20.3 MP MOS sensor 1/2.3″ 20.3 MP MOS sensor
Lens Type Leica DC Vario-Elmar Leica DC Vario-Elmar
Lens Details 24-720mm f/3.3 – 6.4 24-720mm f/3.3 – 6.4
Zoom 30.00x 30.00x
Video Resolution QFHD 4K video in 3840×2160 at 30p QFHD 4K video in 3840×2160 30p
Live View Finder Specs 0.2″ 1,166k-dot 0.39″ 2,360k-dot
Monitor Specs 3″ 1,240k-dot 3″ 1,240k-dot
Frames Per Second 10 fps in 8MP 10 fps in 8MP
4K PHOTO Mode

LCD Touchscreen

Pivoting Screen

HYBRID O.I.S. 5-Axis Image Stabilization

Built-In Flash

Touchscreen Interface

Post Focus Function

Image Auto Marking

Photo Style Presets

L.Monochrome and L.Monochrome D Photo Style

WiFi or Bluetooth

✓ (WiFi)

✓ (Bluetooth)

Focus Stacking

Panasonic LUMIX ZS80 Overview

Image Sensor & Image Quality

The LUMIX ZS80 has a respectable 20.1 MP 1″ high sensitivity MOS image sensor. As a result, users have the ability to record 4K video and in 4K PHOTO mode (more on that in a moment). The size and quality of this point and shoot make it ideal for travelers looking to explore, take great photos, but not get weighed down by a camera bag. Similarly, if your bag is already stuffed with your kid’s toys and snacks, this camera gives you a little extra wiggle room.

The new camera also offers better photo buffering depths, jumping from a maximum of 10 raw frames for the ZS70 to as many as 20 raw frames in the SZ80. This goes hand-in-hand with the upgraded fps rate and enhances features like Focus Stacking.

4K PHOTO Mode

If you’re researching Panasonic’s entry-level cameras, you’ve come across the phrase “at 8MP.” People interested in photography sometimes find this a bit confusing; 4K is most commonly used to describe video quality. Panasonic is the exception to that rule.

When used, 4K PHOTO mode takes 30 photos at 8MP in one second. This is a big step up from the ZS70 which only offered 10 frames per second (or fps) at 8MP. This is the feature to use if you want the perfect action shot; it’s great to take on vacation or to sporting events.

Travel Zoom

Continuing with the travel theme, the LUMIX ZS80 has a built-in 30x telephoto lens. The lens is an ultra-wide angle Leica designed to take expansive photos of nature as well as zoom in to capture details. This feature combined with the ZS80’s optical image stabilizer minimizes blur and gives you crisp, beautiful images.

This wraps up our first thoughts and highlights of the LUMIX ZS80. If you have any questions or comments feel free to leave them in the section below.

10 COMMENTS

  1. Thanks for the informative comparison Laura. Seems like the zs80 doesn’t get much improvements over the zs70, do you suggest we get a zs70 instead of the newer model?

    • Hi Paul, thank you for your question. You’re correct in saying that these two models are very similar. That said, if you’re going to invest I would still recommend the ZS80. The few major upgrades that were made to the specs (increased frames per second/buffer rate) do a lot to enhance value-added features like Focus Stacking and Auto-marking.

      Do you have anything specific you want to use this camera for?

  2. Hi, I have a Lumix ZS50 and I am ready to upgrade. I love to take photos of birds to use for help with bird identifying when I go bird watching. I find that my ZS50 takes photos that are often too dark. Will the ZS80 take brighter photos and is it worth the extra money over the ZS70? Thanks!

    • Hey Jacqueline,

      Thank you for your question! This Panasonic series is well suited for recreational bird-watching so you’re in the right place. The good news is, whether you choose the ZS70 or ZS80, you’re immediately getting a major upgrade in quality. Your current camera (the ZS50) has a 12 megapixel sensor and both of the newer models have a 20 megapixel sensor (you’ll be able to see a lot more detail after this upgrade).

      Now, I’m not sure how familiar you are with your settings so please forgive me if I’m giving you information you’re already aware of.

      The three main settings that control the brightness of your photos are ISO, shutter speed, and aperture (these three settings are also known as the exposure triangle). All three are exactly the same on both the ZS70 and ZS80 so one isn’t necessarily better than the other for capturing brighter photos.

      Are you shooting in automatic mode? If so, you might be able to solve your brightness issue by switching to manual or shutter priority mode and adjusting those individual settings.

      Congrats in advance on the new camera!

  3. Hi! Thank you for your reply. I always shoot in automatic mode because I didn’t understand how to use the other features. I would love to learn how to use the priority modes but it is just a little too complicated for me. I just ordered the zs80 and will try to read the manual and learn how to use the other modes. By the way, I decided to get a new camera because I dropped mine in the sand and it has not been the same since lol.

    • Oh no! The second sand finds its way into electronics it’s there to stay.

      I think reading through the ZS80 manual is a great idea. Just remember there’s no pressure when you’re figuring out how to use your camera—once you know the basics, keep experimenting with the settings and you’ll find your footing.

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