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Panasonic FZ80 vs Panasonic SZ1

Portability
63
Imaging
44
Features
62
Overall
51
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 front
Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37

Panasonic FZ80 vs Panasonic SZ1 Key Specs

Panasonic FZ80
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200 (Expand to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 20-1200mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 616g - 130 x 94 x 119mm
  • Released January 2017
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-FZ82
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
Photography Glossary

Panasonic FZ80 vs Panasonic SZ1 Overview

In this article, we are contrasting the Panasonic FZ80 versus Panasonic SZ1, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both produced by Panasonic. The image resolution of the FZ80 (18MP) and the SZ1 (16MP) is very comparable and they enjoy the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The FZ80 was unveiled 5 years later than the SZ1 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FZ80 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic SZ1 being a Compact camera.

Before going through a detailed comparison, below is a quick view of how the FZ80 scores against the SZ1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ80 over the Panasonic SZ1

 FZ80 SZ1 
ReleasedJanuary 2017January 2012More recent by 61 months
Manually focus More precise focus
Display resolution1040k230kSharper display (+810k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ1 over the Panasonic FZ80

 SZ1 FZ80 

Common features in the Panasonic FZ80 and Panasonic SZ1

 FZ80 SZ1 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Panasonic FZ80 vs Panasonic SZ1 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to lug around your camera often, you're going to have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FZ80 features physical measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 119mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.7") having a weight of 616 grams (1.36 lbs) whilst the Panasonic SZ1 has dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") and a weight of 131 grams (0.29 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic FZ80 versus Panasonic SZ1 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are utilising at that time. The following is the front view physical size comparison of the FZ80 compared to the SZ1.

Panasonic FZ80 vs Panasonic SZ1 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FZ80 and SZ1 is 63 and 95 respectively.

Panasonic FZ80 vs Panasonic SZ1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FZ80 vs Panasonic SZ1 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its difficult to see the gap in sensor measurements only by going through specs. The photograph below may offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the FZ80 and SZ1.

All in all, both the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same resolution. You should expect to see the Panasonic FZ80 to show extra detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos a little more aggressively. The younger FZ80 is going to have an edge in sensor technology.

Panasonic FZ80 vs Panasonic SZ1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FZ80 vs Panasonic SZ1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FZ80 vs Panasonic SZ1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FZ80
Portrait photography with Panasonic SZ1
58
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
has face detection focus
supports RAW formats
sensor is small (1/2.3")
34
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
comes with face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FZ80 Street photography details
Panasonic SZ1 Street photography details
54
image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
offers touch focus
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
more heavy than average (616 grams)
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (131g)
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FZ80 Sports photography info
Panasonic SZ1 Sports photography info
57
amazing zoom range (20-1200mm 60.0 x zoom)
silent mode (1/16,000s)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
has tracking autofocus
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
comes with tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic FZ80
Travel photography with Panasonic SZ1
59
offers touch focus
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
flash built-in
really wide (20mm)
great reach (1200mm)
more heavy than average (616g)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
70
lighter than competition (131 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
really wide (25mm)
very long reach (250mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
does not have a selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FZ80 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic SZ1 Landscape photography advice
57
manual focus
really wide (20mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
supports RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
43
really wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
manual focus not available
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
no manual exposure
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FZ80 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic SZ1 Vlogging highlights
28
really wide (20mm)
touch screen
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focus
great video quality (3840 x 2160 pxls)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
lack of external microphone socket
more heavy than average (616g)
32
really wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect autofocus
lighter than competition (131g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing mic support
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Panasonic FZ80 vs Panasonic SZ1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FZ80 and Panasonic SZ1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-FZ82 -
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2017-01-04 2012-01-09
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4896 x 3672 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Highest enhanced ISO 6400 -
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 49 23
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 20-1200mm (60.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing distance 1cm 4cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 1,040 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,166 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 8 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Fastest silent shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 14.10 m (at Auto ISO) 5.60 m
Flash options Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync, Slow Sync/Red-eye Reduction, 1st Curtain Sync, 2nd Curtain Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 28 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 616 grams (1.36 pounds) 131 grams (0.29 pounds)
Dimensions 130 x 94 x 119mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.7") 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 330 photographs 250 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3 images x 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Cost at release $399 $179