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Panasonic GX8 vs Panasonic SZ1

Portability
74
Imaging
59
Features
84
Overall
69
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 front
Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37

Panasonic GX8 vs Panasonic SZ1 Key Specs

Panasonic GX8
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 487g - 133 x 78 x 63mm
  • Introduced July 2015
  • Superseded the Panasonic GX7
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
  • Released January 2012
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Panasonic GX8 vs Panasonic SZ1 Overview

Here is a in-depth analysis of the Panasonic GX8 versus Panasonic SZ1, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both sold by Panasonic. There is a crucial difference between the sensor resolutions of the GX8 (20MP) and SZ1 (16MP) and the GX8 (Four Thirds) and SZ1 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor dimensions.

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The GX8 was brought out 3 years later than the SZ1 and that is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GX8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ1 being a Compact camera.

Before delving right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a short highlight of how the GX8 grades versus the SZ1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GX8 over the Panasonic SZ1

 GX8 SZ1 
ReleasedJuly 2015January 2012Fresher by 43 months
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1040k230kClearer screen (+810k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ1 over the Panasonic GX8

 SZ1 GX8 

Common features in the Panasonic GX8 and Panasonic SZ1

 GX8 SZ1 
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing

Panasonic GX8 vs Panasonic SZ1 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry your camera often, you have to consider its weight and size. The Panasonic GX8 has external dimensions of 133mm x 78mm x 63mm (5.2" x 3.1" x 2.5") having a weight of 487 grams (1.07 lbs) and the Panasonic SZ1 has specifications of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") and a weight of 131 grams (0.29 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic GX8 versus Panasonic SZ1 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are working with at the time. Below is a front view scale comparison of the GX8 against the SZ1.

Panasonic GX8 vs Panasonic SZ1 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the GX8 and SZ1 is 74 and 95 respectively.

Panasonic GX8 vs Panasonic SZ1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GX8 vs Panasonic SZ1 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's difficult to visualise the difference between sensor sizing merely by reading through specs. The visual below might give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the GX8 and SZ1.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The GX8 due to its bigger sensor will make getting shallow DOF easier and the Panasonic GX8 will give greater detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop pictures way more aggressively. The younger GX8 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic GX8 vs Panasonic SZ1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GX8 vs Panasonic SZ1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GX8 vs Panasonic SZ1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic GX8
Portrait photography with Panasonic SZ1
75
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
34
decent MP (16MP)
supports face detection focus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic GX8
Street photography with Panasonic SZ1
80
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
boasts touch focus
weather sealing
above average high ISO (25,600)
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (131g)
no moving screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GX8 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic SZ1 as a Sports photography camera
68
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
silent shooting (1/16,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
weather sealing
terrible battery (330 CIPA)
no phase detect autofocus
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GX8 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic SZ1 as a Travel photography camera
73
weather sealing
boasts touch focus
megapixel count decent (20MP)
screen is selfie friendly
terrible battery (330 CIPA)
70
lighter than competitors in class (131g)
decent MP (16MP)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
very long reach (250mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
does not have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic GX8
Landscape photography with Panasonic SZ1
76
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
weather sealing
terrible battery (330 per charge)
43
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
manual focus not available
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not available
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic GX8
Vlogging with Panasonic SZ1
81
screen is selfie friendly
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect autofocus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
includes mic socket
32
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focus
lighter than competitors in class (131g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not have selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external microphone jack
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Panasonic GX8 vs Panasonic SZ1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GX8 and Panasonic SZ1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1
Type Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2015-07-16 2012-01-09
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 5184 x 3888 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Min enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 49 23
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 4cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 1,040k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.77x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 8s
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/1600s
Fastest silent shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shutter speed 12.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 5.60 m
Flash options Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, forced off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 487 grams (1.07 lb) 131 grams (0.29 lb)
Physical dimensions 133 x 78 x 63mm (5.2" x 3.1" x 2.5") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 75 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.6 not tested
DXO Low light rating 806 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 images 250 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Launch pricing $898 $179