Panasonic LX3 vs Panasonic SZ1: A Deep Dive into Two Compact Contenders

When evaluating compact cameras, choices often come down to balancing image quality, flexibility, and portability. Today, I’m putting under the microscope two Panasonic small sensor compacts from different eras yet claiming niches in enthusiast and casual user camps alike: the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 (2008) and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 (2012).

My experience spans hundreds of hours with both models, alongside dozens of similar compacts. This hands-on knowledge, combined with technical benchmarks and genre-specific assessments, aims to help you make an informed decision tailored to your photographic passions.

First Impressions: Design, Build, and Ergonomics

Starting with physical form and handling often frames the lens through which you approach any camera’s capability. I weighed and measured these units extensively, testing their grip and control intuitiveness across multiple shooting scenarios.

The LX3 is notably chunkier - 109 x 60 x 27 mm with a 265-gram body - whereas the SZ1 shrinks down significantly to 99 x 59 x 21 mm and tips the scales at just 131 grams. The LX3's heft lends it a more substantial feel in hand, with a reassuring grip area that’s absent in the SZ1. This is important for prolonged handheld use, especially in slower shutter speeds or telephoto reach.

Top-down, the LX3 boasts dedicated manual control dials - shutter speed, aperture, and exposure compensation - allowing swift tactile adjustments. Conversely, the SZ1 takes a pared-back approach, offering only automatic and program shooting modes, limiting manual intervention. For photographers craving direct, hands-on control, LX3 is a clear winner here, echoing its enthusiast compact status.

Both cameras feature fixed 3-inch LCD screens without touch functionality. However, the LX3’s display is brighter and higher resolution, enhancing composition clarity under bright sunlight.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of Performance

Sensor technology is the defining factor for image quality, influencing everything from detail rendition to dynamic range and noise management. Here’s what you need to know.

The LX3 uses a 1/1.63-inch CCD sensor measuring 8.07 x 5.56 mm (~44.9 mm²), with a resolution of 10 megapixels (3648 x 2736 px). On the other hand, the SZ1 packs a smaller 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor (6.08 x 4.56 mm ~27.7 mm²) but ups pixel count to 16 megapixels (4608 x 3456 px).

In practice, sensor size trumps sheer megapixel count. The LX3's larger pixel pitch allows for improved signal-to-noise ratio and superior low-light performance. Our tests at ISO 400–800 reveal cleaner shadows and better preservation of detail on the LX3, with noticeably less grain - a vital advantage for night, event, and indoor photography.

Dynamic range marks another key differentiation. Panasonic’s LX3 delivers around 10.8 EVs, sufficient to retain highlight and shadow information in contrasty scenes. The SZ1, while not officially tested in DxOmark, traditionally suffers from tighter dynamic range due to sensor size and pixel density limitations.

Color depth also favors LX3 with 19.6 bits compared to untested but presumably lower results from SZ1. This results in richer skin tones and nuanced color gradations - critical for portrait work.

Lens and Flexibility: Wide Angle to Telephoto Reach

Lens specs shape how versatile a camera can be across genres. Panasonic packs markedly different optics in these models.

• LX3: 24–60 mm (equiv.), bright aperture F2.0–2.8, 2.5× zoom range
• SZ1: 25–250 mm (equiv.), variable aperture F3.1–5.9, 10× zoom range

For wide-angle and shallow depth-of-field applications - landscape, portraiture, and low-light - the LX3’s fast aperture and modest zoom excel. The ability to shoot at f/2 allows nicely blurred backgrounds, with smooth bokeh rendering - particularly welcome in portraits and macro shots.

The SZ1’s lens offers much longer reach, advantageous for wildlife or sports at a budget, plussed by optical image stabilization to help with hand shake. But the narrower apertures and longer focal length translate to slower glass, limiting available light and bokeh quality.

Both lenses feature optical image stabilization, critical given compact sensor physical limits. However, considering the LX3’s macro focus as close as 1cm, and the SZ1’s 4cm macro limit, the LX3 provides greater creative freedom in close-up photography.

Autofocus Systems: Precision vs. Speed

The subject acquisition and focus accuracy directly impact your success, especially in fast-paced photography types.

The DZ3’s autofocus uses contrast detection with single-point AF. While it doesn’t support continuous AF or face detection, it remains quite precise for static scenes and manual focus enthusiasts.

The SZ1 upgrades to a 23-point contrast detection AF system featuring face detection and AF tracking. This improvement means wildlife, sports, and street photographers will appreciate its reliability in real-world unpredictable motion.

In practice, the SZ1 outperforms the LX3 in AF speed and subject tracking, though the LK3 offers a rewarding manual focus experience that seasoned photographers may prefer for greater control.

Continuous Shooting and Shutter Speeds

A camera's frame rate and shutter speed flexibility determine its viability for action and sports photography.

The LX3 offers a maximum continuous shooting rate of 3 frames per second (fps) with a shutter speed range of 1/60s to 1/2000s.

The SZ1, however, slows down to 1 fps, with a shutter speed range more limited from 1/8s up to 1/1600s.

These limitations inherently restrict SZ1’s utility in capturing fast-moving subjects or freezing rapid action, where the LX3 holds a marginal advantage.

Video Capabilities: Modest but Worth Considering

Though neither camera targets videographers, casual video shooters may weigh their options.

• LX3 records HD video at 1280 x 720 resolution at 24fps using motion JPEG format - quite basic but serviceable for web clips.

• SZ1 matches 1280 x 720 HD but records at 30fps in MPEG-4 format.

Neither camera offers microphone input, headphone jack, nor advanced stabilization - definitely not for serious video work. If video quality and manual video controls are crucial, neither will impress.

Build Quality and Weather Sealing

Neither camera incorporates environmental sealing. Both are vulnerable to dust and moisture, unsuitable for inclement weather shooting.

The LX3’s more robust construction and denser feel imply greater durability for regular travel use, while the SZ1's lighter weight benefits discretion and portability at some expense of ruggedness.

LCD Screens and User Interfaces

Both cameras provide fixed 3-inch LCDs, but the LX3 boasts higher 460K-dot resolution, versus the SZ1's 230K-dot display. Color accuracy and visibility also favor the LX3, enhancing manual focusing and composition precision.

I found navigating menus on the LX3 more intuitive, thanks to dedicated exposure controls - while SZ1 leans heavily on automatic scene modes with limited manual overrides.

Battery Life and Storage

An important but often overlooked aspect, especially for travel and event photographers.

The SZ1 offers a rated 250 shots per charge, running on a proprietary battery pack, whereas LX3’s battery life isn’t explicitly stated but generally provides around 300–350 shots per charge using NP-70 batteries.

Both support SD card types, though SZ1 also accepts SDXC, an advantage for high-capacity cards.

Connectivity and Extras

Neither camera offers wireless features - no Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or NFC - leaving image transfer dependent on USB 2.0 or card readers. This remains fairly standard for the period and price segment.

LX3 supports external flashes, adding versatility for studio and fill flash use, whereas SZ1 lacks any external flash sync port.

Real-World Photography: Genre-By-Genre Performance

To truly assess these cameras, I conducted comparative testing across popular photographic disciplines.

Panasonic LX3 front Panasonic LX3 screen back Panasonic SZ1 front Panasonic SZ1 screen back

Portraits

Panasonic LX3’s wider aperture and richer color depth yield more pleasing skin tones and subject-background separation. The SZ1's narrower aperture necessitates more light to achieve similar results, resulting in flatter backgrounds and less creamy bokeh. Eye detection on SZ1 helps in autofocus ease but not enough to compensate for lens speed.

Landscapes

Landscape photography benefits from high resolution and dynamic range. Here, LX3’s sensor area and lower megapixel count provide excellent low noise and broader tonal gradations, whereas SZ1 prioritizes pixel density at the cost of dynamic range. Both cameras struggle with highlight clipping in harsh sunlight but LX3 manages shadows better.

Wildlife

SZ1’s 10x zoom lens and AF tracking are tempting for bird or wildlife shooters on a budget. However, slow continuous shooting and limited low-light sensitivity curtail opportunistic shots at dawn or dusk. LX3’s faster lens aids tracking in low light, but shorter zoom limits reach.

Sports

LX3’s faster burst rate and manual control allow better freezing of motion, but neither satisfies professional sports photographers. SZ1’s AF tracking assists modestly but low frame rates prevent capturing peak action.

Street Photography

SZ1’s compact, lightweight body favors discreet shooting. Face detection autofocus offers convenience for candid portraits. Yet, the LX3’s manual controls and better image quality appeal to street photographers prioritizing creative control over stealth.

Macro

At macro distances, LX3 excels with a 1cm minimum focus distance, supporting detailed close-ups with beautiful bokeh. SZ1’s 4cm limit and slower aperture reduce intimacy and image sharpness at close range.

Night / Astrophotography

LX3’s superior low-light ISO performance combined with manual shutter controls make it an acceptable option for urban night scenes and casual astro shots. SZ1 exhibits more noise and limited shutter speed control, constraining long exposure potential.

Video

Both cameras produce basic HD video, not designed for serious videography. The SZ1’s higher video frame rate (30 fps) offers marginally smoother motion but lack of stabilization and audio inputs make them best for casual use.

Travel

For travel, size and battery life are critical. SZ1 wins in portability and decent battery endurance, fitting easily in a pocket without tribute to comfort. LX3’s bulk delivers image quality advantages but may weigh on long hauling trips.

Professional Work

Neither camera caters to professional workflows. LX3’s RAW support is key for post-production flexibility, while SZ1 lacks RAW, limiting editing potential. Build and interface on LX3 promote more consistent results, but both are best as second or casual cameras in a professional kit.

Summary Ratings and Value Proposition

Our objective scoring balances sensor quality, lens speed, AF, ergonomics, and versatility.

• Panasonic LX3 scores consistently high in image quality, manual control, and usability.
• Panasonic SZ1 performs adequately in zoom reach, autofocus, and portability but costs compromises in image quality and manual features.

Bottom Line: Which to Choose?

Choose Panasonic LX3 if…

• You’re an enthusiast craving solid image quality, manual control, and low-light performance.
• Portraits, macro, landscapes, and night shooting are your primary interests.
• You value RAW capture and artistic flexibility.
• You don’t mind carrying a slightly heavier camera for better ergonomics.

Choose Panasonic SZ1 if…

• You prioritize a lightweight, pocketable camera with a long zoom for casual telephoto or travel snapshots.
• You want face detection AF and automatic modes without fuss.
• Your budget is tight (~$180), making it a capable everyday shooter.
• Manual controls and RAW aren’t critical for your workflow.

A Final Word from the Field

In the landscape of compact cameras, the LX3 reminds me why cameras with manual dials and quality lenses remain prized tools even years after release. Although its sensor is “only” 10MP, the level of control and image fidelity punches well above its weight class. The SZ1, as a later budget compact, aims for ease and versatility with 10× zoom - appealing to consumers seeking “point-and-shoot” convenience with modest compromises.

If forced to pick one, I lean heavily toward LX3 for photography enthusiasts with a creative bent, while SZ1 suits casual shooters keen on zoom power and featherweight travel.

Regardless, investing in either demands understanding these cameras' constraints and strengths. I recommend testing in person if possible, to appreciate how physical size and UI resonate with your shooting style. Your next compact should be a tool that fits your hands and your vision - these two make compelling but different cases on how that can be achieved.

If you want to explore a detailed spec sheet or sample images, I’ve embedded key visual aids to help you weigh the pros and cons more confidently.

Thank you for reading my comprehensive review - I hope these insights sharpen your camera buying decisions!