Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1: Which Small Sensor Panasonic Suits Your Photography Style?

When we dive into compact Panasonic cameras from the early 2010s, two models stand out in distinct niches: the Lumix DMC-FZ150 and the Lumix DMC-SZ1. Both promise portability and convenience but target very different user expectations and shooting scenarios. I've spent extensive hands-on time with these models, navigating their specs and field performances across a broad swath of photographic disciplines. This comprehensive comparison will dig beyond spec sheets and marketing text to illuminate which camera suits your needs, budget, and shooting style best.

Size and Handling: Bulk Meets Compact Convenience

Starting with the obvious, the Panasonic FZ150 is an SLR-like bridge camera, noticeably larger and heavier at 528 grams and measuring 124x82x92mm compared to the SZ1’s ultra-compact, pocket-friendly form factor of 131 grams and 99x59x21mm.

The FZ150 comes equipped with a substantial grip and physical controls reminiscent of a DSLR, encouraging manual input and quick adjustments - a boon for enthusiasts comfortable with direct access dials and buttons. The SZ1, by contrast, is a simple compact with limited external controls, prioritizing ease of use and portability over tactile feedback.

Physically, this makes the FZ150 better suited for photographers who want a robust handling experience and don’t mind carrying extra size for enhanced functionality. Street photographers or travelers looking for something discreet and pocketable will appreciate the SZ1’s slim, lightweight design.

Control Layout and User Interface: Manual Versus Point-and-Shoot

The ergonomic advantage of the FZ150 shines through not only in its size but also in its comprehensive top control layout. Equipped with multiple access dials and dedicated mode buttons, this camera caters to enthusiasts who want full creative control - from shutter and aperture priority to manual exposure.

In contrast, the SZ1 has a minimalistic control scheme with no manual exposure modes, reflective of its entry-level positioning. You won’t find dedicated dials on the compact, but rather mode dial access and basic button controls designed for quick point-and-shoot style operation.

For photographers who appreciate creative interrogation of their images and swift on-the-fly adjustments, the FZ150 delivers a professional feel. Beginners or casual snapshooters looking for simplicity will feel more at home with the SZ1’s streamlined interface.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: CMOS Versus CCD in the Same 1/2.3-inch Arena

Both cameras employ the 1/2.3-inch sensor size, a common choice in compact and superzoom cameras, but the FZ150 uses a CMOS sensor while the SZ1 sticks with a CCD sensor. This technological difference greatly impacts image quality and performance.

Resolution:

• FZ150: 12MP (4000x3000)
• SZ1: 16MP (4608x3456)

While the SZ1 boasts a higher megapixel count, more pixels on the same small sensor size means smaller individual pixel areas, which can reduce dynamic range and increase noise at higher ISOs. My testing confirms this trend.

The FZ150’s CMOS sensor provides better low-light performance (DxOMark low light ISO of 132 versus untested but typical CCD limitations on the SZ1) and superior dynamic range (10.9 EV vs. expected lower range for SZ1). CMOS technology also enables faster readout speeds and burst shooting advantages detailed later.

In practical terms, the FZ150 produces cleaner files with deeper colors and better shadow recovery, important when shooting challenging lighting such as landscapes or indoor portraits.

LCD Screens and Viewfinders: Articulated Versatility Versus Simplicity

On the rear panel, the FZ150 stands out with a 3-inch fully articulated LCD screen boasting 460k pixel resolution. This flexibility is invaluable for shooting from unconventional angles, enabling live-view framing for macro, landscapes, and low or high perspectives with ease. This articulated screen also benefits video shooters who prefer variable viewpoints.

Meanwhile, the SZ1 offers a traditional fixed 3-inch TFT LCD with a lower 230k pixel resolution and no articulation.

Notably, the FZ150 includes a full electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 100% coverage, providing traditional eye-level framing vital for shooting in bright daylight or steady handheld compositions. The SZ1 lacks any EVF, requiring reliance on the LCD in all conditions.

For serious photographers and videographers, the FZ150’s screen and EVF combo decisively boost framing versatility and operational flexibility.

Autofocus and Burst Shooting: Speed and Tracking for Action or Static Scenes

The AF system on each camera reflects their intent and technological priorities.

• FZ150: 23 contrast-detection AF points, no face detection, no continuous AF tracking. Autofocus is single point with manual focus options. Burst shooting is an impressive 12 frames per second which is fast for a camera of its category.

• SZ1: 23 AF points with contrast detection, continuous AF with face detection enabled, offering smart focusing for moving subjects. However, burst shooting is limited to 1 frame per second, making sequential captures in motion sequences impossible.

In field testing for wildlife and sports scenarios, the FZ150’s burst support surprisingly outpaces the SZ1, though its AF tracking is basic. The SZ1’s face detection improves instant portrait focusing, but the slow shutter cadence limits capturing fleeting moments.

Optics: Zoom Range and Aperture Dental

One of the most standout differences is focal length and aperture.

• FZ150: 25-600mm equivalent (24x zoom), with a bright constant f/2.8 aperture at the wide end tapering to f/5.2 telephoto - exceptional for a bridge camera.

• SZ1: 25-250mm equivalent (10x zoom), with a narrower f/3.1-5.9 aperture range.

The FZ150’s superzoom lens offers enormous reach, especially useful for wildlife and sports photography. Its brighter wide aperture also benefits indoor and low-light shooting, enabling faster shutter speeds and shallower depth of field.

The SZ1’s shorter zoom range and smaller aperture lend it more towards general family and casual photography rather than specialized shooting requiring reach or shallow DOF effects.

Image Stabilization, Macro, and Self-Timer Features

Both cameras feature Panasonic’s optical image stabilization, pivotal for hand-holding especially on telephoto ranges or in low light.

The FZ150 incorporates a sharper macro focus down to 1cm, enabling extreme close-ups with remarkable detail - ideal for macro enthusiasts. The SZ1 macro limit is a more pedestrian 4cm.

Self-timers and flash capabilities differ as well. The FZ150 allows 2 or 10-second timers plus a 10-second 3-picture burst mode. The SZ1 offers 2 or 10-second timers only, no multi-shot bursts.

Video Capabilities: Full HD Versus 720p Entry

Video remains a priority for many users. Here the FZ150 maintains superiority:

• FZ150: Full HD 1080p up to 60fps, AVCHD and MPEG-4 codecs, microphone port for external audio.

• SZ1: HD 720p at 30fps, MPEG-4 only, no external mic port.

The FZ150’s video flexibility and higher frame rates, combined with articulated screen and optical stabilization, make it a better option for casual filmmakers or vloggers.

Battery Life and Storage: Staying Power for Field Work

With 410 shots per charge, the FZ150 easily outclasses the 250 shot rating of the SZ1. This difference can be critical during travel or extended outings without the opportunity to recharge.

Both accept SD/SDHC/SDXC cards with a single slot each, covering modern memory needs.

Connectivity and Build: Weather Sealing and Ports

Neither camera features wireless connectivity (no Wi-Fi or Bluetooth), GPS, or physical weather sealing - expected given their age and pricing.

The FZ150 includes HDMI and USB 2.0 ports plus an external flash shoe, lending it more expandability than the SZ1, which is limited to USB and internal flash only.

Real World Photography Tests: From Portraits to Landscapes

To ground these specs in user experience, I tested both in diverse shooting environments.

Portraits: Skin Tones and Bokeh

The FZ150’s bright f/2.8 aperture at 25mm and 12MP CMOS sensor rendered skin tones smoothly with pleasant natural colors. While not a full-frame bokeh machine, its 600mm reach achieves decent subject-background separation when zoomed in.

The SZ1’s smaller aperture and 16MP CCD sensor produced sharper but sometimes harsher skin tones, and bokeh was tightly limited by the smaller zoom reach and smaller aperture range. Face detection AF helped lock focus but lacked finesse for artistic control.

Landscapes and Dynamic Range

Landscape images with the FZ150 showed richer tonal gradations and better highlight recovery, benefiting from the wider dynamic range measured by DxOMark. The articulated screen facilitated low-angle captures.

SZ1 landscapes were serviceable but flatter with less detail in shadows and highlights.

Wildlife and Sports

Here the FZ150’s 12fps burst and 600mm reach gave it a notable advantage in catching action. AF speed was average but acceptable for casual to semi-serious wildlife and sports shooters.

The SZ1 was less capable for these demanding genres due to limited zoom and slow burst.

Street and Travel

The SZ1’s petite size and 10x zoom made it a fine street camera for casual shooting with low footprint. The FZ150 is bulkier but offers more versatility and endurance for travel - ideal for photographers willing to tote their gear for the sake of quality.

Macro and Night

FZ150’s 1cm macro focusing was a treat for close-ups, revealing detail SZ1 missed with its less aggressive macro range.

In low light and night photography, the FZ150’s sensor outperformed noticeably, managing ISO noise and retaining details better.

Panasonic FZ150 front Panasonic FZ150 screen back Panasonic SZ1 front Panasonic SZ1 screen back

Overall Performance Scores and Genre Suitability

Based on my systematic testing, incorporating sensor lab metrics and field results:

Panasonic FZ150 ranks well above the SZ1 in almost all technical and practical domains. It balances zoom, manual control, image quality, and versatility.

The FZ150 dominates in wildlife, sports, macro, and video, while the SZ1 finds sweet spots in street photography and casual snapshots.

Who Should Choose Which Camera?

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150 is ideal for:

• Enthusiasts craving a near-DSLR experience in a bridge body
• Wildlife and sports shooters needing substantial zoom and burst speed
• Portrait and landscape photographers appreciating manual control and better image quality
• Videographers wanting full HD recording with external audio options
• Travelers who don’t mind carrying a larger, more capable camera

Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 is best for:

• Casual photographers requiring a pocketable, easy-to-use compact
• Budget-conscious buyers with simple point-and-shoot needs
• Street photographers and travelers prioritizing portability over image quality
• Users wanting basic video without external mic or Full HD

Final Verdict: A Tale of Two Panasonics

Having tested both thoroughly, I would recommend the Panasonic FZ150 unequivocally for serious users who demand performance, flexibility, and image quality. Its larger lens aperture, articulated screen, EVF, and manual controls deliver substantial creative benefits not found in the SZ1.

However, the SZ1 offers an appealing ultra-portable option for photographers seeking lightweight simplicity and a modest zoom range at an accessible price.

No camera is perfect, but these two serve distinct use cases well. Your choice hinges on which compromises - portability versus capability - you're willing to accept.

In closing, whether snapping the subtle hues of a sunset, the ferocity of a running leopard, or the candid expressions on city streets, knowing your camera's strengths and limits is the key to making every shot count.

If you want my detailed test charts or sample RAW files for closer examination, just reach out. Choosing the right gear is a nuanced process, and I’m here to help you photograph with confidence.