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Kodak Z981 vs Panasonic SZ10

Portability
66
Imaging
37
Features
37
Overall
37
Kodak EasyShare Z981 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ10 front
Portability
93
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38

Kodak Z981 vs Panasonic SZ10 Key Specs

Kodak Z981
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-676mm (F2.8-5.0) lens
  • 540g - 124 x 85 x 105mm
  • Released July 2010
Panasonic SZ10
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Expand to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
  • 177g - 99 x 60 x 30mm
  • Released January 2015
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Kodak Z981 vs Panasonic SZ10 Overview

Below is a thorough review of the Kodak Z981 vs Panasonic SZ10, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by brands Kodak and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the Z981 (14MP) and the SZ10 (16MP) is relatively well matched and both cameras have the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The Z981 was manufactured 5 years before the SZ10 and that is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Kodak Z981 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic SZ10 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the Z981 matches up versus the SZ10 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Kodak Z981 over the Panasonic SZ10

 Z981 SZ10 
Manually focus More exact focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ10 over the Kodak Z981

 SZ10 Z981 
ReleasedJanuary 2015July 2010More recent by 54 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution460k201kSharper screen (+259k dot)

Common features in the Kodak Z981 and Panasonic SZ10

 Z981 SZ10 
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Kodak Z981 vs Panasonic SZ10 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to lug around your camera, you are going to need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Kodak Z981 has outside dimensions of 124mm x 85mm x 105mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 4.1") and a weight of 540 grams (1.19 lbs) while the Panasonic SZ10 has measurements of 99mm x 60mm x 30mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.2") and a weight of 177 grams (0.39 lbs).

Examine the Kodak Z981 vs Panasonic SZ10 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you select at the time. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the Z981 against the SZ10.

Kodak Z981 vs Panasonic SZ10 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the Z981 and SZ10 is 66 and 93 respectively.

Kodak Z981 vs Panasonic SZ10 top view buttons comparison

Kodak Z981 vs Panasonic SZ10 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is hard to see the contrast between sensor measurements simply by looking at specifications. The graphic underneath should give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the Z981 and SZ10.

To sum up, both of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same MP. You can count on the Panasonic SZ10 to resolve extra detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots more aggressively. The older Z981 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Kodak Z981 vs Panasonic SZ10 sensor size comparison

Kodak Z981 vs Panasonic SZ10 Screen and ViewFinder

Kodak Z981 vs Panasonic SZ10 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Kodak Z981 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic SZ10 Portrait photography factors
46
focusing manually
good megapixels (14MP)
delivers RAW files
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
36
MP count good (16 megapixels)
comes with face detection focusing
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Kodak Z981 Street photography info
Panasonic SZ10 Street photography info
50
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
heavier than others (540g)
70
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (177 grams)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Kodak Z981 Sports photography information
Panasonic SZ10 Sports photography information
43
incredible zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
max frames per second low (1.0 fps)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
max fps low (1.4 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (200 CIPA)
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Kodak Z981 Travel photography info
Panasonic SZ10 Travel photography info
53
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (26mm)
very long zoom (676mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
heavier than others (540 grams)
does not offer selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f2.8)
67
lighter than competition (177 grams)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (24mm)
great zoom (288mm)
no Timelapse function
not so great battery life (200 shots)
does not have selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Kodak Z981
Landscape photography with Panasonic SZ10
51
focusing manually
decently wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14MP)
delivers RAW files
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of Time Lapse recording
42
quite wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not available
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
not so great battery life (200 shots)
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Kodak Z981 Vlogging factors
Panasonic SZ10 Vlogging factors
22
decently wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not offer selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic socket
heavier than others (540g)
32
quite wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focusing
lighter than competition (177g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not have selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external microphone jack
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Kodak Z981 vs Panasonic SZ10 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Kodak Z981 and Panasonic SZ10
 Kodak EasyShare Z981Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ10
General Information
Manufacturer Kodak Panasonic
Model Kodak EasyShare Z981 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ10
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2010-07-06 2015-01-06
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4288 x 3216 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 1600
Maximum enhanced ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 64 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 26-676mm (26.0x) 24-288mm (12.0x)
Max aperture f/2.8-5.0 f/3.1-6.3
Macro focus distance 10cm -
Crop factor 5.9 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 201 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 16 seconds 8 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per second 1.4 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.20 m 5.20 m
Flash settings Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Off Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, on, slow sync w/redeye, off
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 540g (1.19 pounds) 177g (0.39 pounds)
Physical dimensions 124 x 85 x 105mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 4.1") 99 x 60 x 30mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 200 images
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model 4 x AA -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Price at release $299 $200