Panasonic GX1 vs Panasonic SZ1

On this page, we are reviewing the Panasonic GX1 and Panasonic SZ1, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are built by Panasonic. The image resolution of the GX1 (16MP) and the SZ1 (16MP) is fairly well matched but the GX1 (Four Thirds) and SZ1 (1/2.3") have different sensor sizes.

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The GX1 was brought out 2 months after the SZ1 so they are of a similar age. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic GX1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ1 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the GX1 scores versus the SZ1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1. The entire galleries are available at Panasonic GX1 Gallery & Panasonic SZ1 Gallery.

If you're going to carry around your camera frequently, you should think about its weight and size. The Panasonic GX1 features physical measurements of 116mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 318 grams (0.70 lbs) while the Panasonic SZ1 has specifications of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") along with a weight of 131 grams (0.29 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic GX1 and Panasonic SZ1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have chosen at that time. Underneath is a front view measurements comparison of the GX1 compared to the SZ1.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the GX1 and SZ1 is 87 and 95 respectively.

Usually, it can be hard to imagine the gap between sensor sizes only by looking at technical specs. The pic underneath will give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the GX1 and SZ1.

As you can tell, the two cameras have the same MP but different sensor sizes. The GX1 has the larger sensor which will make achieving shallower depth of field simpler.