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Panasonic FZ200 vs Panasonic SZ1

Portability
65
Imaging
36
Features
64
Overall
47
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 front
Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37

Panasonic FZ200 vs Panasonic SZ1 Key Specs

Panasonic FZ200
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Boost to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8) lens
  • 588g - 125 x 87 x 110mm
  • Announced July 2012
  • Succeeded the Panasonic FZ100
  • Successor is Panasonic FZ300
Panasonic SZ1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • 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
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Panasonic FZ200 vs Panasonic SZ1 Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Panasonic FZ200 and Panasonic SZ1, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both are designed by Panasonic. There exists a considerable gap among the resolutions of the FZ200 (12MP) and SZ1 (16MP) but they enjoy the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The FZ200 was announced 7 months later than the SZ1 so they are both of a similar age. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FZ200 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic SZ1 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a short summary of how the FZ200 matches up versus the SZ1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ200 over the Panasonic SZ1

 FZ200 SZ1 
RevealedJuly 2012January 2012Fresher by 7 months
Focus manually Very exact focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ1 over the Panasonic FZ200

 SZ1 FZ200 

Common features in the Panasonic FZ200 and Panasonic SZ1

 FZ200 SZ1 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Panasonic FZ200 vs Panasonic SZ1 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry your camera, you have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FZ200 has outside measurements of 125mm x 87mm x 110mm (4.9" x 3.4" x 4.3") with a weight of 588 grams (1.30 lbs) whilst the Panasonic SZ1 has dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") with a weight of 131 grams (0.29 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic FZ200 and Panasonic SZ1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Below is the front view proportions comparison of the FZ200 against the SZ1.

Panasonic FZ200 vs Panasonic SZ1 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FZ200 and SZ1 is 65 and 95 respectively.

Panasonic FZ200 vs Panasonic SZ1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FZ200 vs Panasonic SZ1 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's hard to picture the gap in sensor sizing merely by looking through specs. The visual below might offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the FZ200 and SZ1.

All in all, both of those cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit different megapixels. You can count on the Panasonic SZ1 to result in extra detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The more modern FZ200 should have an advantage in sensor innovation.

Panasonic FZ200 vs Panasonic SZ1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FZ200 vs Panasonic SZ1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FZ200 vs Panasonic SZ1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FZ200 Portrait photography information
Panasonic SZ1 Portrait photography information
48
has manual focus
flash sync is higher than normal (1/4,000 seconds)
comes with face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
34
MP count good (16 megapixels)
provides face detect focus
no manual focus
manual mode not available
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FZ200 Street photography information
Panasonic SZ1 Street photography information
57
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
heavier than competition in class (588 grams)
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (131g)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FZ200
Sports photography with Panasonic SZ1
46
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with tracking focus
good battery power (540 shots)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
provides tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic FZ200
Travel photography with Panasonic SZ1
55
good battery power (540 per charge)
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
really wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition in class (588g)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
70
lighter than competition in class (131 grams)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
great reach (250mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FZ200 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic SZ1 as a Landscape photography camera
48
has manual focus
really wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
good battery power (540 shots)
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of Time Lapse mode
43
relatively wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not available
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FZ200 Vlogging info
Panasonic SZ1 Vlogging info
63
really wide (25mm)
selfie friendly screen
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has mic jack
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
heavier than competition in class (588 grams)
32
relatively wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focus
lighter than competition in class (131 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have mic socket
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Panasonic FZ200 vs Panasonic SZ1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FZ200 and Panasonic SZ1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2012-07-18 2012-01-09
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine VII FHD -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias 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 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Highest boosted ISO 6400 -
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 23 23
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Max aperture f/2.8 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing range 1cm 4cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology Free-Angle TFT Screen LCD Display TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,312 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 12.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 13.50 m 5.60 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/4000 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 640 x 480 (240, 120, 30, 25 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4
Mic 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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 588 grams (1.30 lb) 131 grams (0.29 lb)
Dimensions 125 x 87 x 110mm (4.9" x 3.4" x 4.3") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 37 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 19.1 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.8 not tested
DXO Low light rating 114 not tested
Other
Battery life 540 pictures 250 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $499 $179