Panasonic's 2014 slim travel compact — 16MP CCD, 24-288mm 12x zoom, Wi-Fi, 3in LCD
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 was a slim travel-style compact launched in January 2014, part of the SZ series that squeezed long zooms into pocket bodies below the flagship TZ range. Arriving late in the compact-camera era, it added built-in Wi-Fi to tempt buyers away from smartphones.
It carried a 16-megapixel 1/2.33-inch CCD and a stabilised 12x zoom covering 24-288mm equivalent, framed on a 3.0-inch LCD. Video recorded at 720p with optical image stabilisation active, and 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi allowed remote control and image transfer via a QR-code pairing process. The body measured 100x60x27mm and weighed 159g, with SD/SDHC/SDXC storage and a proprietary lithium-ion battery.
The SZ8 suits travellers and casual users wanting TZ-style reach for less money: 24mm wide to 288mm tele covers most holiday needs. It stays fully automatic with no raw or manual modes, and the CCD sensor plus 720p ceiling mark it as a budget offering even by 2014 standards, so video shooters should look elsewhere.
Used examples are young enough that condition is usually good, but confirm the battery and charger are included and the Wi-Fi pairing still completes with a modern phone app, which can be the weak link. SDXC support makes card testing easy. Check the long zoom for smooth, quiet travel and the large screen for scratches.