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Panasonic FZ70 vs Panasonic SZ7

Portability
63
Imaging
40
Features
53
Overall
45
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ70 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7 front
Portability
95
Imaging
38
Features
41
Overall
39

Panasonic FZ70 vs Panasonic SZ7 Key Specs

Panasonic FZ70
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Push to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 20-1200mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 606g - 130 x 97 x 118mm
  • Revealed July 2013
Panasonic SZ7
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 133g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Announced January 2012
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Panasonic FZ70 vs Panasonic SZ7 Overview

Following is a thorough analysis of the Panasonic FZ70 versus Panasonic SZ7, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are manufactured by Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the FZ70 (16MP) and the SZ7 (14MP) is relatively well matched and they come with the exact same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The FZ70 was announced 19 months after the SZ7 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FZ70 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic SZ7 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a short overview of how the FZ70 matches up versus the SZ7 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ70 over the Panasonic SZ7

 FZ70 SZ7 
AnnouncedJuly 2013January 2012More modern by 19 months
Manual focus Very precise focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ7 over the Panasonic FZ70

 SZ7 FZ70 

Common features in the Panasonic FZ70 and Panasonic SZ7

 FZ70 SZ7 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Screen resolution460k460kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Panasonic FZ70 vs Panasonic SZ7 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry around your camera regularly, you'll have to consider its weight and size. The Panasonic FZ70 provides exterior dimensions of 130mm x 97mm x 118mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 4.6") along with a weight of 606 grams (1.34 lbs) while the Panasonic SZ7 has specifications of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") along with a weight of 133 grams (0.29 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic FZ70 versus Panasonic SZ7 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Here is the front view dimension comparison of the FZ70 vs the SZ7.

Panasonic FZ70 vs Panasonic SZ7 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FZ70 and SZ7 is 63 and 95 respectively.

Panasonic FZ70 vs Panasonic SZ7 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FZ70 vs Panasonic SZ7 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's hard to envision the difference between sensor sizes only by reading through a spec sheet. The picture below will give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the FZ70 and SZ7.

As you can see, the two cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same megapixels. You can count on the Panasonic FZ70 to resolve greater detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The newer FZ70 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic FZ70 vs Panasonic SZ7 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FZ70 vs Panasonic SZ7 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FZ70 vs Panasonic SZ7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FZ70 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic SZ7 as a Portrait photography camera
56
focusing manually
decent MP (16MP)
offers face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
34
good resolution (14 megapixels)
offers face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FZ70 Street photography features
Panasonic SZ7 Street photography features
49
image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
more heavy than average (606g)
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (133g)
fixed screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FZ70 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic SZ7 as a Sports photography camera
55
incredible zoom range (20-1200mm 60.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
great battery pack (400 per charge)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
44
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FZ70 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic SZ7 as a Travel photography camera
55
great battery pack (400 per charge)
decent MP (16MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (20mm)
great reach (1200mm)
missing Timelapse mode
more heavy than average (606g)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
70
lighter than competition (133 grams)
good resolution (14MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
very long zoom (250mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic FZ70
Landscape photography with Panasonic SZ7
54
focusing manually
reasonably wide (20mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
supports RAW formats
great battery pack (400 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
missing Timelapse mode
42
relatively wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FZ70 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic SZ7 as a Vlogging camera
26
reasonably wide (20mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
missing microphone socket
more heavy than average (606g)
35
relatively wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (133g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of external microphone support
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Panasonic FZ70 vs Panasonic SZ7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FZ70 and Panasonic SZ7
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ70Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7
General Information
Make Panasonic Panasonic
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ70 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2013-07-18 2012-01-09
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Highest boosted ISO 6400 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 23 23
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 20-1200mm (60.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Max aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus range 1cm 4cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech TFT Screen LCD Display TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 202k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8 seconds 8 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 9.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 13.50 m 5.60 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (50i/60i, 25p/30p), 1280 x 720p (50p/60p or 25p/30p), 640 x 480 (25p/30p) 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 606 gr (1.34 pounds) 133 gr (0.29 pounds)
Dimensions 130 x 97 x 118mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 4.6") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 41 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 19.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.8 not tested
DXO Low light score 171 not tested
Other
Battery life 400 pictures 220 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $300 $199