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Panasonic GX850 vs Panasonic SZ1

Portability
90
Imaging
55
Features
70
Overall
61
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX850 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 front
Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37

Panasonic GX850 vs Panasonic SZ1 Key Specs

Panasonic GX850
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 269g - 107 x 65 x 33mm
  • Released January 2017
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-GX800 / Lumix DMC-GF9
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
  • Introduced January 2012
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Panasonic GX850 vs Panasonic SZ1 Overview

On this page, we will be looking at the Panasonic GX850 and Panasonic SZ1, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both are produced by Panasonic. The resolution of the GX850 (16MP) and the SZ1 (16MP) is relatively comparable but the GX850 (Four Thirds) and SZ1 (1/2.3") posses different sensor size.

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The GX850 was announced 5 years later than the SZ1 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic GX850 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ1 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a thorough comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the GX850 matches up against the SZ1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GX850 over the Panasonic SZ1

 GX850 SZ1 
IntroducedJanuary 2017January 2012Fresher by 61 months
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1040k230kSharper screen (+810k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ1 over the Panasonic GX850

 SZ1 GX850 

Common features in the Panasonic GX850 and Panasonic SZ1

 GX850 SZ1 
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size

Panasonic GX850 vs Panasonic SZ1 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry your camera frequently, you will have to factor its weight and size. The Panasonic GX850 has got physical measurements of 107mm x 65mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 269 grams (0.59 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).

See the Panasonic GX850 and Panasonic SZ1 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have during that time. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the GX850 vs the SZ1.

Panasonic GX850 vs Panasonic SZ1 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the GX850 and SZ1 is 90 and 95 respectively.

Panasonic GX850 vs Panasonic SZ1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GX850 vs Panasonic SZ1 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very tough to picture the gap in sensor sizing just by seeing technical specs. The visual underneath will offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the GX850 and SZ1.

As you have seen, both of these cameras provide the same MP albeit different sensor sizing. The GX850 uses the bigger sensor which is going to make achieving shallower DOF simpler. The newer GX850 should have an edge in sensor innovation.

Panasonic GX850 vs Panasonic SZ1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GX850 vs Panasonic SZ1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GX850 vs Panasonic SZ1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GX850 Portrait photography features
Panasonic SZ1 Portrait photography features
66
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focus
supports RAW formats
no external flash support
34
MP count good (16MP)
provides face detection focus
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GX850 Street photography factors
Panasonic SZ1 Street photography factors
80
has a tilting screen
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
offers touch focus
very good high ISO (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (131g)
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GX850 Sports photography info
Panasonic SZ1 Sports photography info
52
silent mode (1/16,000s)
decent megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
low maximum shutter speed (1/500s)
does not have image stabilization
low battery pack (210 per charge)
does not have phase detect auto focus
40
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GX850 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic SZ1 as a Travel photography camera
79
offers touch focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
low battery pack (210 shots)
70
lighter than competition (131g)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
great zoom (250mm)
no Timelapse mode
does not feature selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GX850 Landscape photography information
Panasonic SZ1 Landscape photography information
71
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
decent megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
does not have anti aliasing filter
very good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
low battery pack (210 per charge)
43
relatively wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual exposure
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GX850 Vlogging information
Panasonic SZ1 Vlogging information
73
selfie friendly display
screen is touchscreen
includes face detect focus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
does not have image stabilization
lack of microphone port
32
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focus
lighter than competition (131 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
does not feature selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external microphone port
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Panasonic GX850 vs Panasonic SZ1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GX850 and Panasonic SZ1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX850Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1
General Information
Make Panasonic Panasonic
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX850 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1
Also called as Lumix DMC-GX800 / Lumix DMC-GF9 -
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2017-01-04 2012-01-09
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4592 x 3448 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 49 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus distance - 4cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,040 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/500 secs 1/1600 secs
Fastest quiet shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.00 m (at ISO 100) 5.60 m
Flash options Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, on, on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 100 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 28 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 28 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital1920 x 1080 @ 60i / 17 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital1920 x 1080 @ 30p / 20 Mbps, MP4, H.264 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 269g (0.59 lb) 131g (0.29 lb)
Physical dimensions 107 x 65 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 73 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.2 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 13.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 586 not tested
Other
Battery life 210 photos 250 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2, 10 sec, 3 images/10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage microSD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $548 $179