Clicky

Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic SZ1

Portability
65
Imaging
41
Features
38
Overall
39
Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 front
Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37

Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic SZ1 Key Specs

Panasonic L1
(Full Review)
  • 7MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 606g - 146 x 87 x 77mm
  • Released April 2007
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
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic SZ1 Overview

Lets look more in depth at the Panasonic L1 versus Panasonic SZ1, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are created by Panasonic. There exists a substantial gap among the sensor resolutions of the L1 (7MP) and SZ1 (16MP) and the L1 (Four Thirds) and SZ1 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor dimensions.

Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

The L1 was released 5 years before the SZ1 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic L1 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic SZ1 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick overview of how the L1 scores vs the SZ1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic L1 over the Panasonic SZ1

 L1 SZ1 
Manual focus More exact focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ1 over the Panasonic L1

 SZ1 L1 
LaunchedJanuary 2012April 2007Fresher by 57 months
Display size3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution230k207kCrisper display (+23k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic L1 and Panasonic SZ1

 L1 SZ1 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic SZ1 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor its weight and size. The Panasonic L1 features physical dimensions of 146mm x 87mm x 77mm (5.7" x 3.4" x 3.0") along with a weight of 606 grams (1.34 lbs) and the Panasonic SZ1 has specifications of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") having a weight of 131 grams (0.29 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic L1 versus Panasonic SZ1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Below is a front view dimensions comparison of the L1 vs the SZ1.

Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic SZ1 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the L1 and SZ1 is 65 and 95 respectively.

Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic SZ1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic SZ1 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is difficult to envision the contrast in sensor sizing simply by seeing specifications. The photograph underneath may give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the L1 and SZ1.

Plainly, both of the cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The L1 due to its larger sensor will make shooting shallower DOF less difficult and the Panasonic SZ1 will show greater detail as a result of its extra 9 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The older L1 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic SZ1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic SZ1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic SZ1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic L1 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic SZ1 as a Portrait photography camera
54
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (7 megapixels)
34
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
comes with face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
no manual control
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Street Comparison

Panasonic L1 Street photography advice
Panasonic SZ1 Street photography advice
58
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (606g)
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (131g)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Sports Comparison

Panasonic L1 Sports photography info
Panasonic SZ1 Sports photography info
40
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (7MP)
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
comes with tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Travel Comparison

Panasonic L1 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic SZ1 as a Travel photography camera
50
lighter than competition in class (606g)
flash built-in
no Time Lapse function
sensor resolution not great (7 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
70
lighter than others (131g)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
long reach (250mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic L1 Landscape photography features
Panasonic SZ1 Landscape photography features
47
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
small screen (2.5 inch)
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (7MP)
no Time Lapse function
43
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic L1
Vlogging with Panasonic SZ1
9
lack of video recording
32
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect autofocus
lighter than others (131 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have mic jack
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic SZ1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic L1 and Panasonic SZ1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1
General Information
Brand Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1
Type Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Released 2007-04-11 2012-01-09
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 7 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3136 x 2352 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 3 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
Available lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 207 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 13.00 m 5.60 m
Flash options Auto, Red-Eye Auto, On, Red-Eye On, Red-Eye Slow Sync, Off, Slow Sync (1&2) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - MPEG-4
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None 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 606g (1.34 pounds) 131g (0.29 pounds)
Physical dimensions 146 x 87 x 77mm (5.7" x 3.4" x 3.0") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 - 250 shots
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/MMC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $1,500 $179