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Leica D-LUX 5 vs Panasonic ZS1

Portability
88
Imaging
34
Features
44
Overall
38
Leica D-LUX 5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 front
Portability
91
Imaging
32
Features
25
Overall
29

Leica D-LUX 5 vs Panasonic ZS1 Key Specs

Leica D-LUX 5
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.63" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-90mm (F2.0-3.3) lens
  • 271g - 110 x 66 x 43mm
  • Introduced September 2010
  • Newer Model is Leica D-Lux 6
Panasonic ZS1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 229g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Launched May 2009
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ6
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Leica D-LUX 5 vs Panasonic ZS1 Overview

The following is a in-depth analysis of the Leica D-LUX 5 versus Panasonic ZS1, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Leica and Panasonic. The resolution of the D-LUX 5 (10MP) and the ZS1 (10MP) is very comparable but the D-LUX 5 (1/1.63") and ZS1 (1/2.5") have totally different sensor dimensions.

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The D-LUX 5 was brought out 17 months after the ZS1 making them a generation away from one another. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving right into a thorough comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the D-LUX 5 grades against the ZS1 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Leica D-LUX 5 over the Panasonic ZS1

 D-LUX 5 ZS1 
LaunchedSeptember 2010May 2009Newer by 17 months
Manually focus More exact focusing
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS1 over the Leica D-LUX 5

 ZS1 D-LUX 5 

Common features in the Leica D-LUX 5 and Panasonic ZS1

 D-LUX 5 ZS1 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Leica D-LUX 5 vs Panasonic ZS1 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to travel with your camera, you will need to factor its weight and size. The Leica D-LUX 5 comes with outer dimensions of 110mm x 66mm x 43mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.7") having a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS1 has specifications of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).

Check the Leica D-LUX 5 versus Panasonic ZS1 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have at that time. Below is a front view size comparison of the D-LUX 5 versus the ZS1.

Leica D-LUX 5 vs Panasonic ZS1 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the D-LUX 5 and ZS1 is 88 and 91 respectively.

Leica D-LUX 5 vs Panasonic ZS1 top view buttons comparison

Leica D-LUX 5 vs Panasonic ZS1 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its difficult to envision the difference in sensor dimensions just by checking out specifications. The picture below will help give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the D-LUX 5 and ZS1.

To sum up, both of these cameras have the same megapixel count but not the same sensor dimensions. The D-LUX 5 contains the larger sensor which should make obtaining shallower depth of field less difficult. The younger D-LUX 5 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Leica D-LUX 5 vs Panasonic ZS1 sensor size comparison

Leica D-LUX 5 vs Panasonic ZS1 Screen and ViewFinder

Leica D-LUX 5 vs Panasonic ZS1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Leica D-LUX 5
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS1
40
focusing manually
delivers RAW formats
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/1.63")
24
includes face detection autofocus
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.5")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Leica D-LUX 5
Street photography with Panasonic ZS1
59
has image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/1.63")
heavier than competition (271 grams)
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (229g)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.5")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Leica D-LUX 5 Sports photography advice
Panasonic ZS1 Sports photography advice
27
has image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second low (3.0 frames/s)
MP count low (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/1.63")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
24
has image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.5")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Leica D-LUX 5 Travel photography information
Panasonic ZS1 Travel photography information
59
has built in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
missing Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition (271 grams)
MP count low (10MP)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
62
lighter than competition (229 grams)
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
very long reach (300mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Leica D-LUX 5 Landscape photography details
Panasonic ZS1 Landscape photography details
52
focusing manually
reasonably wide (24mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
MP count low (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/1.63")
missing Time Lapse mode
30
really wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
lack of manual exposure
low megapixels (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.5")
lack of RAW support
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Leica D-LUX 5 Vlogging info
Panasonic ZS1 Vlogging info
29
reasonably wide (24mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Optical)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic support
heavier than competition (271g)
31
really wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection autofocus
lighter than competition (229g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
low quality video (640 x 480 resolution)
does not have external microphone socket
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Leica D-LUX 5 vs Panasonic ZS1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica D-LUX 5 and Panasonic ZS1
 Leica D-LUX 5Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1
General Information
Brand Leica Panasonic
Model type Leica D-LUX 5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-TZ6
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2010-09-21 2009-05-14
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/1.63" 1/2.5"
Sensor measurements 8.07 x 5.56mm 5.744 x 4.308mm
Sensor surface area 44.9mm² 24.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 12800 6400
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 23 11
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-90mm (3.8x) 25-300mm (12.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.0-3.3 f/3.3-4.9
Macro focusing distance 1cm 3cm
Crop factor 4.5 6.3
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.20 m 5.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
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 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video format AVCHD Lite, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 271g (0.60 lb) 229g (0.50 lb)
Physical dimensions 110 x 66 x 43mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.7") 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $799 $0