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Panasonic LZ20 vs Panasonic SZ1

Portability
71
Imaging
40
Features
34
Overall
37
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 front
Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37

Panasonic LZ20 vs Panasonic SZ1 Key Specs

Panasonic LZ20
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Increase to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-525mm (F3.1-5.8) lens
  • 499g - 120 x 76 x 80mm
  • Announced July 2012
  • Successor is Panasonic LZ30
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
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Panasonic LZ20 vs Panasonic SZ1 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Panasonic LZ20 and Panasonic SZ1, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both are created by Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the LZ20 (16MP) and the SZ1 (16MP) is very well matched and both cameras posses the identical sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The LZ20 was revealed 7 months after the SZ1 which means that they are of a similar generation. The two cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic LZ20 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic SZ1 being a Compact camera.

Before delving into a detailed comparison, here is a short introduction of how the LZ20 grades versus the SZ1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ20 over the Panasonic SZ1

 LZ20 SZ1 
LaunchedJuly 2012January 2012More modern by 7 months
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ1 over the Panasonic LZ20

 SZ1 LZ20 

Common features in the Panasonic LZ20 and Panasonic SZ1

 LZ20 SZ1 
Manually focus No manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display measurements
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Panasonic LZ20 vs Panasonic SZ1 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry around your camera, you are going to need to factor its weight and volume. The Panasonic LZ20 has outside measurements of 120mm x 76mm x 80mm (4.7" x 3.0" x 3.1") and a weight of 499 grams (1.10 lbs) whilst the Panasonic SZ1 has sizing 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 LZ20 and Panasonic SZ1 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have at that moment. Following is a front view proportions comparison of the LZ20 against the SZ1.

Panasonic LZ20 vs Panasonic SZ1 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the LZ20 and SZ1 is 71 and 95 respectively.

Panasonic LZ20 vs Panasonic SZ1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic LZ20 vs Panasonic SZ1 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is tough to envision the difference between sensor sizes only by checking specs. The picture below may offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the LZ20 and SZ1.

As you can plainly see, both cameras feature the identical sensor size and the same exact megapixels therefore you should expect similar quality of images although you should always take the production date of the products into consideration. The younger LZ20 is going to have a benefit in sensor innovation.

Panasonic LZ20 vs Panasonic SZ1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic LZ20 vs Panasonic SZ1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic LZ20 vs Panasonic SZ1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic LZ20
Portrait photography with Panasonic SZ1
37
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
supports face detect focus
lack of manual focus
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
34
MP count good (16 megapixels)
has face detect focusing
no manual focus
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic LZ20
Street photography with Panasonic SZ1
45
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
more heavy than average (499 grams)
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (131g)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic LZ20
Sports photography with Panasonic SZ1
47
excellent zoom range (25-525mm 21.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
better than average battery life (380 shots)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
has tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic LZ20 Travel photography info
Panasonic SZ1 Travel photography info
58
better than average battery life (380 per charge)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
very long reach (525mm)
no Timelapse recording
more heavy than average (499 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
70
lighter than competition (131 grams)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
long reach (250mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic LZ20 Landscape photography details
Panasonic SZ1 Landscape photography details
45
quite wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
better than average battery life (380 shots)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
no Timelapse recording
43
fairly wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
no manual mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic LZ20 Vlogging factors
Panasonic SZ1 Vlogging factors
25
quite wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focus
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no microphone jack
more heavy than average (499g)
32
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focusing
lighter than competition (131g)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of microphone socket
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Panasonic LZ20 vs Panasonic SZ1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic LZ20 and Panasonic SZ1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1
General Information
Brand Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2012-07-18 2012-01-09
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Max boosted ISO 6400 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 9 23
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-525mm (21.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.1-5.8 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing range 2cm 4cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT Screen LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 seconds 8 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.80 m 5.60 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720p ( 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 499 grams (1.10 pounds) 131 grams (0.29 pounds)
Physical dimensions 120 x 76 x 80mm (4.7" x 3.0" x 3.1") 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 380 photographs 250 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $250 $179