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Panasonic FZ100 vs Panasonic SZ1

Portability
67
Imaging
37
Features
62
Overall
47
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 front
Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37

Panasonic FZ100 vs Panasonic SZ1 Key Specs

Panasonic FZ100
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 540g - 124 x 82 x 92mm
  • Revealed July 2010
  • Newer Model is Panasonic FZ200
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
  • Revealed January 2012
Photography Glossary

Panasonic FZ100 vs Panasonic SZ1 Overview

Here is a extended comparison of the Panasonic FZ100 versus Panasonic SZ1, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are built by Panasonic. The resolution of the FZ100 (14MP) and the SZ1 (16MP) is very similar and both cameras offer the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The FZ100 was announced 17 months prior to the SZ1 making them a generation apart from each other. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FZ100 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic SZ1 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick summary of how the FZ100 grades vs the SZ1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ100 over the Panasonic SZ1

 FZ100 SZ1 
Focus manually More precise focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ1 over the Panasonic FZ100

 SZ1 FZ100 
RevealedJanuary 2012July 2010Fresher by 17 months

Common features in the Panasonic FZ100 and Panasonic SZ1

 FZ100 SZ1 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Touch display Neither has Touch display

Panasonic FZ100 vs Panasonic SZ1 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry your camera regularly, you should consider its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FZ100 has outside measurements of 124mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.9" x 3.2" x 3.6") accompanied by a weight of 540 grams (1.19 lbs) whilst the Panasonic SZ1 has proportions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 131 grams (0.29 lbs).

Check the Panasonic FZ100 versus Panasonic SZ1 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the FZ100 vs the SZ1.

Panasonic FZ100 vs Panasonic SZ1 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the FZ100 and SZ1 is 67 and 95 respectively.

Panasonic FZ100 vs Panasonic SZ1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FZ100 vs Panasonic SZ1 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its difficult to see the gap between sensor sizing only by reading specifications. The photograph here should give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the FZ100 and SZ1.

Plainly, both of those cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same megapixels. You can expect to see the Panasonic SZ1 to offer you greater detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The older FZ100 is going to be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic FZ100 vs Panasonic SZ1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FZ100 vs Panasonic SZ1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FZ100 vs Panasonic SZ1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FZ100 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic SZ1 as a Portrait photography camera
54
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
includes face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
34
megapixel count decent (16MP)
provides face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FZ100 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic SZ1 as a Street photography camera
58
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
heavier than competitors in class (540 grams)
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (131 grams)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FZ100
Sports photography with Panasonic SZ1
51
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
provides tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FZ100 Travel photography info
Panasonic SZ1 Travel photography info
59
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
pretty wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
heavier than competitors in class (540g)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
70
lighter than average in class (131g)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
long zoom (250mm)
missing Timelapse function
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FZ100 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic SZ1 Landscape photography advice
51
you can focus manually
pretty wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
exports RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of Time Lapse function
43
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not available
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic FZ100
Vlogging with Panasonic SZ1
64
pretty wide (25mm)
display is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external mic port
slow max aperture (f2.8)
heavier than competitors in class (540 grams)
32
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focus
lighter than average in class (131g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external microphone support
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Panasonic FZ100 vs Panasonic SZ1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FZ100 and Panasonic SZ1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1
General Information
Brand Panasonic Panasonic
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2010-07-21 2012-01-09
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CMOS 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 aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4320 x 3240 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 23
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.2 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus distance 1cm 4cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 11.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 9.50 m 5.60 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format AVCHD MPEG-4
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 540g (1.19 pounds) 131g (0.29 pounds)
Physical dimensions 124 x 82 x 92mm (4.9" x 3.2" x 3.6") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
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 shots
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $500 $179