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Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic SZ10

Portability
65
Imaging
41
Features
38
Overall
39
Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ10 front
Portability
93
Imaging
40
Features
34
Overall
37

Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic SZ10 Key Specs

Panasonic L1
(Full Review)
  • 7MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 606g - 146 x 87 x 77mm
  • Introduced April 2007
Panasonic SZ10
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Increase to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
  • 177g - 99 x 60 x 30mm
  • Launched January 2015
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Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic SZ10 Overview

Below is a extensive overview of the Panasonic L1 versus Panasonic SZ10, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both produced by Panasonic. There is a big difference among the resolutions of the L1 (7MP) and SZ10 (16MP) and the L1 (Four Thirds) and SZ10 (1/2.3") use different sensor measurements.

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The L1 was manufactured 8 years earlier than the SZ10 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic L1 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic SZ10 being a Compact camera.

Before diving in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple summation of how the L1 scores against the SZ10 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic L1 over the Panasonic SZ10

 L1 SZ10 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ10 over the Panasonic L1

 SZ10 L1 
LaunchedJanuary 2015April 2007More recent by 94 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k207kCrisper display (+253k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic L1 and Panasonic SZ10

 L1 SZ10 
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic SZ10 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to lug around your camera frequently, you're going to have to think about its weight and proportions. The Panasonic L1 offers exterior measurements of 146mm x 87mm x 77mm (5.7" x 3.4" x 3.0") having a weight of 606 grams (1.34 lbs) and the Panasonic SZ10 has measurements of 99mm x 60mm x 30mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.2") and a weight of 177 grams (0.39 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic L1 versus Panasonic SZ10 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are using during that time. Below is the front view over all size comparison of the L1 vs the SZ10.

Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic SZ10 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the L1 and SZ10 is 65 and 93 respectively.

Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic SZ10 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic SZ10 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be hard to imagine the difference in sensor measurements simply by checking out technical specs. The graphic below will help give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the L1 and SZ10.

As you can tell, both of the cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The L1 because of its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field easier and the Panasonic SZ10 will show more detail due to its extra 9 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop images far more aggressively. The older L1 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic SZ10 sensor size comparison

Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic SZ10 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic SZ10 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic L1
Portrait photography with Panasonic SZ10
54
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
sensor resolution not great (7 megapixels)
35
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
supports face detect focus
lack of manual focus
no manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic L1 Street photography advice
Panasonic SZ10 Street photography advice
58
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
lighter than competition (606 grams)
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
70
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (177 grams)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic L1
Sports photography with Panasonic SZ10
40
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has phase detect AF
max fps very slow (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (7 megapixels)
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
low fps (1.4 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (200 per charge)
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic L1
Travel photography with Panasonic SZ10
50
lighter than competition (606 grams)
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse function
sensor resolution not great (7MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
67
lighter than competitors in class (177 grams)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
very long zoom (288mm)
missing Time Lapse function
terrible battery life (200 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic L1 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic SZ10 Landscape photography factors
47
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
screen is small (2.5 inch)
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (7 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse function
41
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
terrible battery life (200 shots)
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic L1 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic SZ10 as a Vlogging camera
9
no video recording
32
reasonably wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focus
lighter than competitors in class (177g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing mic support
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Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic SZ10 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic L1 and Panasonic SZ10
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ10
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Panasonic
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ10
Type Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2007-04-11 2015-01-06
Physical type 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 surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 7 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3136 x 2352 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 1600
Highest enhanced ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 3 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-288mm (12.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.1-6.3
Total lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.5" 3"
Resolution of screen 207 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 1.4fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 13.00 m 5.20 m
Flash options Auto, Red-Eye Auto, On, Red-Eye On, Red-Eye Slow Sync, Off, Slow Sync (1&2) Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, on, slow sync w/redeye, off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 606g (1.34 lbs) 177g (0.39 lbs)
Dimensions 146 x 87 x 77mm (5.7" x 3.4" x 3.0") 99 x 60 x 30mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 200 pictures
Battery style - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/MMC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Price at release $1,500 $200