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Panasonic LF1 vs Panasonic SZ5

Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
55
Overall
44
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LF1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 front
Portability
95
Imaging
38
Features
34
Overall
36

Panasonic LF1 vs Panasonic SZ5 Key Specs

Panasonic LF1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400 (Bump to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-200mm (F2.0-5.9) lens
  • 192g - 103 x 62 x 28mm
  • Revealed November 2013
Panasonic SZ5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Increase to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 104 x 58 x 21mm
  • Announced July 2012
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Panasonic LF1 vs Panasonic SZ5 Overview

Here, we are contrasting the Panasonic LF1 vs Panasonic SZ5, both Small Sensor Compact cameras and both of them are built by Panasonic. The image resolution of the LF1 (12MP) and the SZ5 (14MP) is very comparable but the LF1 (1/1.7") and SZ5 (1/2.3") provide different sensor size.

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The LF1 was introduced 17 months later than the SZ5 making them a generation apart from one another. Both the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before getting straight to a full comparison, here is a simple view of how the LF1 matches up versus the SZ5 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic LF1 over the Panasonic SZ5

 LF1 SZ5 
AnnouncedNovember 2013July 2012More recent by 17 months
Focus manually More accurate focus
Display resolution920k230kClearer display (+690k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ5 over the Panasonic LF1

 SZ5 LF1 

Common features in the Panasonic LF1 and Panasonic SZ5

 LF1 SZ5 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display size
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Panasonic LF1 vs Panasonic SZ5 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera, you'll have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic LF1 provides external dimensions of 103mm x 62mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.1") with a weight of 192 grams (0.42 lbs) and the Panasonic SZ5 has dimensions of 104mm x 58mm x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") with a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic LF1 vs Panasonic SZ5 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have at the time. Underneath is a front view over all size comparison of the LF1 against the SZ5.

Panasonic LF1 vs Panasonic SZ5 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the LF1 and SZ5 is 92 and 95 respectively.

Panasonic LF1 vs Panasonic SZ5 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic LF1 vs Panasonic SZ5 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its tough to picture the difference in sensor measurements simply by checking out technical specs. The photograph below will offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the LF1 and SZ5.

As you can tell, each of these cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The LF1 using its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF less difficult and the Panasonic SZ5 will provide more detail using its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images way more aggressively. The younger LF1 provides an advantage in sensor innovation.

Panasonic LF1 vs Panasonic SZ5 sensor size comparison

Panasonic LF1 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic LF1 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic LF1 Portrait photography information
Panasonic SZ5 Portrait photography information
42
focusing manually
includes face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
no external flash support
low resolution (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
34
megapixel count good (14MP)
provides face detection focusing
no manual focus
no manual control
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic LF1 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic SZ5 as a Street photography camera
65
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (136 grams)
no moving screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic LF1
Sports photography with Panasonic SZ5
38
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes tracking focus
low resolution (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
does not have phase detect auto focus
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic LF1 Travel photography factors
Panasonic SZ5 Travel photography factors
64
built-in flash
decently wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
low resolution (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
70
lighter than others (136g)
megapixel count good (14MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
very long zoom (250mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic LF1
Landscape photography with Panasonic SZ5
54
focusing manually
decently wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
doesn't have Timelapse mode
42
decently wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic LF1 Vlogging info
Panasonic SZ5 Vlogging info
36
decently wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone socket
32
decently wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focusing
lighter than others (136 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external mic port
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Panasonic LF1 vs Panasonic SZ5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic LF1 and Panasonic SZ5
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LF1Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Panasonic
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-LF1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2013-11-26 2012-07-18
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 6400 1600
Max boosted ISO 12800 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 23 23
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-200mm (7.1x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.0-5.9 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus range 3cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 4.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 920 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology TFT Color LCD TFT Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.00 m 5.60 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps) 1280 x 720p ( 30,25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 192 gr (0.42 pounds) 136 gr (0.30 pounds)
Physical dimensions 103 x 62 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.1") 104 x 58 x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 52 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 20.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.6 not tested
DXO Low light score 211 not tested
Other
Battery life 250 images 250 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $500 $195