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Panasonic GX85 vs Panasonic SZ1

Portability
83
Imaging
54
Features
76
Overall
62
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX85 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 front
Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37

Panasonic GX85 vs Panasonic SZ1 Key Specs

Panasonic GX85
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 426g - 122 x 71 x 44mm
  • Released April 2016
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-GX80 / Lumix DMC-GX7 Mark II
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
  • Launched January 2012
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Panasonic GX85 vs Panasonic SZ1 Overview

In this write-up, we are looking at the Panasonic GX85 vs Panasonic SZ1, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are offered by Panasonic. The image resolution of the GX85 (16MP) and the SZ1 (16MP) is very similar but the GX85 (Four Thirds) and SZ1 (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor size.

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The GX85 was introduced 4 years after the SZ1 which is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic GX85 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ1 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a full comparison, below is a short view of how the GX85 matches up against the SZ1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GX85 over the Panasonic SZ1

 GX85 SZ1 
LaunchedApril 2016January 2012More modern by 52 months
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1040k230kSharper display (+810k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ1 over the Panasonic GX85

 SZ1 GX85 

Common features in the Panasonic GX85 and Panasonic SZ1

 GX85 SZ1 
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Panasonic GX85 vs Panasonic SZ1 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry around your camera regularly, you're going to have to consider its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GX85 provides external measurements of 122mm x 71mm x 44mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Panasonic SZ1 has measurements of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") with a weight of 131 grams (0.29 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic GX85 vs Panasonic SZ1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are using at that moment. Here is the front view measurement comparison of the GX85 and the SZ1.

Panasonic GX85 vs Panasonic SZ1 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the GX85 and SZ1 is 83 and 95 respectively.

Panasonic GX85 vs Panasonic SZ1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GX85 vs Panasonic SZ1 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very tough to visualise the gap between sensor sizes simply by reviewing specs. The image below should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the GX85 and SZ1.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact megapixels but not the same sensor sizes. The GX85 offers the larger sensor which should make getting shallower DOF less difficult. The younger GX85 will have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic GX85 vs Panasonic SZ1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GX85 vs Panasonic SZ1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GX85 vs Panasonic SZ1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic GX85
Portrait photography with Panasonic SZ1
72
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
34
good MP (16MP)
provides face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GX85 Street photography information
Panasonic SZ1 Street photography information
83
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
provides touch to focus
above average ISO range (25,600)
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (131 grams)
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GX85 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic SZ1 as a Sports photography camera
62
silent mode (1/16,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
not so great battery power (290 shots)
has no phase detect autofocus
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GX85 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic SZ1 Travel photography highlights
68
provides touch to focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
not so great battery power (290 CIPA)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
70
lighter than others in class (131 grams)
good MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
very long reach (250mm)
missing Timelapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GX85 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic SZ1 Landscape photography advice
74
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
does not have anti aliasing filter
above average ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
not so great battery power (290 CIPA)
43
decently wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual exposure
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GX85 Vlogging info
Panasonic SZ1 Vlogging info
35
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detect autofocus
great video quality (3840 x 2160 resolution)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
doesn't have mic socket
32
decently wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focusing
lighter than others in class (131g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external microphone jack
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Panasonic GX85 vs Panasonic SZ1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GX85 and Panasonic SZ1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX85Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1
General Information
Brand Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX85 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-GX80 / Lumix DMC-GX7 Mark II -
Category Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2016-04-05 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 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4592 x 3448 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 49 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 4cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 1,040 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,764 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 8 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Highest quiet shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shooting speed 8.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.00 m (at ISO 200) 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
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video 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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 426g (0.94 lb) 131g (0.29 lb)
Dimensions 122 x 71 x 44mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.7") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 71 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.9 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.6 not tested
DXO Low light rating 662 not tested
Other
Battery life 290 pictures 250 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $800 $179