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Leica C vs Panasonic ZS20

Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
59
Overall
45
Leica C front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
46
Overall
41

Leica C vs Panasonic ZS20 Key Specs

Leica C
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400 (Push to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-200mm (F2.0-5.9) lens
  • 195g - 103 x 63 x 28mm
  • Launched September 2013
  • Alternative Name is Typ112
Panasonic ZS20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 206g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Launched April 2012
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-TZ30
  • Succeeded the Panasonic ZS15
  • Replacement is Panasonic ZS25
Photography Glossary

Leica C vs Panasonic ZS20 Overview

Lets examine more in depth at the Leica C vs Panasonic ZS20, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Leica and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the C (12MP) and the ZS20 (14MP) is pretty comparable but the C (1/1.7") and ZS20 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor dimensions.

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The C was introduced 17 months later than the ZS20 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving through a more detailed comparison, below is a brief view of how the C matches up against the ZS20 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Leica C over the Panasonic ZS20

 C ZS20 
LaunchedSeptember 2013April 2012More recent by 17 months
Manually focus More accurate focus
Screen resolution920k460kClearer screen (+460k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Leica C

 ZS20 C 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Leica C and Panasonic ZS20

 C ZS20 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Leica C vs Panasonic ZS20 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to lug around your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Leica C features outside dimensions of 103mm x 63mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.5" x 1.1") having a weight of 195 grams (0.43 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS20 has proportions of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs).

Compare the Leica C vs Panasonic ZS20 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you use at the time. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the C compared to the ZS20.

Leica C vs Panasonic ZS20 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the C and ZS20 is 92 and 92 respectively.

Leica C vs Panasonic ZS20 top view buttons comparison

Leica C vs Panasonic ZS20 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's tough to see the contrast in sensor measurements purely by seeing specs. The visual underneath should offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the C and ZS20.

All in all, both cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The C with its bigger sensor will make getting shallower DOF simpler and the Panasonic ZS20 will provide more detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The more recent C is going to have an advantage in sensor technology.

Leica C vs Panasonic ZS20 sensor size comparison

Leica C vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Leica C vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Leica C Portrait photography details
Panasonic ZS20 Portrait photography details
42
has manual focus
has face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
external flash not possible
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/1.7")
30
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Leica C Street photography details
Panasonic ZS20 Street photography details
65
built in image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
fixed screen
small sensor (1/1.7")
65
image stabilization (Optical)
offers focus by touch
lighter than competitors in class (206 grams)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Leica C Sports photography features
Panasonic ZS20 Sports photography features
38
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking autofocus
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor (1/1.7")
has no phase detect autofocus
47
excellent zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
features tracking focus
small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery (260 per charge)
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Leica C
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS20
64
flash built-in
reasonably wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
missing Timelapse mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
68
lighter than competitors in class (206g)
offers focus by touch
resolution is good (14MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
very long zoom (480mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
not so great battery (260 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Leica C Landscape photography advice
Panasonic ZS20 Landscape photography advice
54
has manual focus
reasonably wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor (1/1.7")
missing Timelapse mode
42
fairly wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14MP)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
not so great battery (260 shots)
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Leica C
Vlogging with Panasonic ZS20
39
reasonably wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external microphone support
screen isn't selfie friendly
34
fairly wide (24mm)
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors in class (206 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of mic port
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Leica C vs Panasonic ZS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica C and Panasonic ZS20
 Leica CPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
General Information
Brand Name Leica Panasonic
Model Leica C Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
Alternative name Typ112 Lumix DMC-TZ30
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2013-09-08 2012-04-26
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 41.5mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Highest boosted ISO 12800 -
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 23
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-200mm (7.1x) 24-480mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.0-5.9 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus range 3cm 3cm
Crop factor 4.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 920k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 200k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 1 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 15 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 10.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.00 m 6.40 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 195g (0.43 lb) 206g (0.45 lb)
Dimensions 103 x 63 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.5" x 1.1") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 250 photographs 260 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $1,299 $349