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Panasonic FH20 vs Panasonic SZ1

Portability
93
Imaging
36
Features
21
Overall
30
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 front
Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37

Panasonic FH20 vs Panasonic SZ1 Key Specs

Panasonic FH20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-224mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 100 x 56 x 28mm
  • Introduced January 2010
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-FS30
Panasonic SZ1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 131g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Released January 2012
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Panasonic FH20 vs Panasonic SZ1 Overview

Let's look closer at the Panasonic FH20 and Panasonic SZ1, both Small Sensor Compact cameras and both are produced by Panasonic. The image resolution of the FH20 (14MP) and the SZ1 (16MP) is very close and they use the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The FH20 was revealed 24 months prior to the SZ1 making the cameras a generation away from one another. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go through a thorough comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the FH20 grades versus the SZ1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH20 over the Panasonic SZ1

 FH20 SZ1 

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ1 over the Panasonic FH20

 SZ1 FH20 
ReleasedJanuary 2012January 2010More modern by 24 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Common features in the Panasonic FH20 and Panasonic SZ1

 FH20 SZ1 
Focus manually Lack of manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display No Touch display

Panasonic FH20 vs Panasonic SZ1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry around your camera regularly, you will have to consider its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FH20 comes with physical dimensions of 100mm x 56mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1") having a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs) whilst the Panasonic SZ1 has proportions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") along with a weight of 131 grams (0.29 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic FH20 and Panasonic SZ1 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are employing at the time. The following is the front view dimensions comparison of the FH20 against the SZ1.

Panasonic FH20 vs Panasonic SZ1 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the FH20 and SZ1 is 93 and 95 respectively.

Panasonic FH20 vs Panasonic SZ1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH20 vs Panasonic SZ1 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very hard to visualise the gap in sensor sizes simply by looking through technical specs. The pic here might offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the FH20 and SZ1.

As you have seen, the two cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but not the same megapixels. You can expect to see the Panasonic SZ1 to render more detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The more aged FH20 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic FH20 vs Panasonic SZ1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH20 vs Panasonic SZ1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH20 vs Panasonic SZ1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FH20 Portrait photography info
Panasonic SZ1 Portrait photography info
28
megapixel count good (14MP)
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
34
decent MP (16MP)
has face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FH20 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic SZ1 as a Street photography camera
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (131 grams)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FH20 Sports photography factors
Panasonic SZ1 Sports photography factors
34
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
max fps low (5.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
has tracking focus
max frames per second low (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FH20 Travel photography features
Panasonic SZ1 Travel photography features
64
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
70
lighter than competitors in class (131 grams)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
long reach (250mm)
no Timelapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FH20 Landscape photography features
Panasonic SZ1 Landscape photography features
37
decently wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
does not have Timelapse function
43
rather wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual exposure
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH20 Vlogging factors
Panasonic SZ1 Vlogging factors
28
decently wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone socket
32
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focus
lighter than competitors in class (131 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no microphone port
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Panasonic FH20 vs Panasonic SZ1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH20 and Panasonic SZ1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1
General Information
Brand Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1
Also Known as Lumix DMC-FS30 -
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2010-01-06 2012-01-09
Body design Compact 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 area 27.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4320 x 3240 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 9 23
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-224mm (8.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.3-5.9 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing distance 5cm 4cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 8s
Max shutter speed 1/1600s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.80 m (Auto ISO) 5.60 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 178 gr (0.39 lbs) 131 gr (0.29 lbs)
Dimensions 100 x 56 x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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
Battery life - 250 images
Battery form - 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
Launch pricing $179 $179