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Panasonic LZ20 vs Sony RX100 IV

Portability
71
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV front
Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
79
Overall
62

Panasonic LZ20 vs Sony RX100 IV Key Specs

Panasonic LZ20
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • 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
  • Newer Model is Panasonic LZ30
Sony RX100 IV
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 298g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Released June 2015
  • Succeeded the Sony RX100 III
  • Replacement is Sony RX100 V
Photography Glossary

Panasonic LZ20 vs Sony RX100 IV Overview

Here, we are looking at the Panasonic LZ20 vs Sony RX100 IV, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Large Sensor Compact by brands Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the LZ20 (16MP) and the RX100 IV (20MP) is very close but the LZ20 (1/2.3") and RX100 IV (1") posses totally different sensor sizes.

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The LZ20 was introduced 3 years earlier than the RX100 IV which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic LZ20 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony RX100 IV being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before diving right into a in depth comparison, here is a short summation of how the LZ20 scores against the RX100 IV with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ20 over the Sony RX100 IV

 LZ20 RX100 IV 

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 IV over the Panasonic LZ20

 RX100 IV LZ20 
ReleasedJune 2015July 2012Newer by 35 months
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1229k460kSharper display (+769k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Panasonic LZ20 and Sony RX100 IV

 LZ20 RX100 IV 
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Panasonic LZ20 vs Sony RX100 IV Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to travel with your camera often, you should factor in its weight and measurements. The Panasonic LZ20 provides exterior dimensions of 120mm x 76mm x 80mm (4.7" x 3.0" x 3.1") having a weight of 499 grams (1.10 lbs) and the Sony RX100 IV has proportions of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") with a weight of 298 grams (0.66 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic LZ20 vs Sony RX100 IV in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are utilising at the time. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the LZ20 vs the RX100 IV.

Panasonic LZ20 vs Sony RX100 IV size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the LZ20 and RX100 IV is 71 and 89 respectively.

Panasonic LZ20 vs Sony RX100 IV top view buttons comparison

Panasonic LZ20 vs Sony RX100 IV Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is hard to see the gap in sensor dimensions simply by looking through specs. The image here may give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the LZ20 and RX100 IV.

All in all, each of these cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The LZ20 using its smaller sensor will make getting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Sony RX100 IV will provide you with greater detail using its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The more aged LZ20 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic LZ20 vs Sony RX100 IV sensor size comparison

Panasonic LZ20 vs Sony RX100 IV Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic LZ20 vs Sony RX100 IV Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic LZ20 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony RX100 IV as a Portrait photography camera
36
megapixel count good (16MP)
includes face detect focus
lack of manual focus
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
65
manual focus
above average flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (1")
provides face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
can't use external flash
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Street Comparison

Panasonic LZ20 Street photography advice
Sony RX100 IV Street photography advice
45
image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
heavier than competition in class (499g)
85
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is good (1")
exports RAW formats
lighter than others (298 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic LZ20 as a Sports photography camera
Sony RX100 IV as a Sports photography camera
47
excellent zoom range (25-525mm 21.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
includes tracking focus
great battery life (380 shots)
slow frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
68
silent mode (1/32,000 seconds)
high max fps (16.0 frames per second)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
provides tracking focus
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic LZ20 Travel photography factors
Sony RX100 IV Travel photography factors
58
great battery life (380 per charge)
megapixel count good (16MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
great reach (525mm)
no Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition in class (499 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
86
lighter than others (298g)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
reasonably wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic LZ20 Landscape photography info
Sony RX100 IV Landscape photography info
45
fairly wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
great battery life (380 shots)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
no Time Lapse mode
74
manual focus
reasonably wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
exports RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic LZ20 Vlogging advice
Sony RX100 IV Vlogging advice
25
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focus
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no mic jack
heavier than competition in class (499g)
81
reasonably wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
selfie friendly screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect autofocus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
lighter than others (298g)
no microphone socket
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Panasonic LZ20 vs Sony RX100 IV Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic LZ20 and Sony RX100 IV
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Compact
Announced 2012-07-18 2015-06-10
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Maximum boosted ISO 6400 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW format
Minimum boosted ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-525mm (21.0x) 24-70mm (2.9x)
Maximal aperture f/3.1-5.8 f/1.8-2.8
Macro focusing range 2cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 2.7
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460k dots 1,229k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech TFT Screen LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.59x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Highest silent shutter speed - 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 1.0fps 16.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.80 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync -
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/2000 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720p ( 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/24p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p/24p/120p), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 499 grams (1.10 lb) 298 grams (0.66 lb)
Physical dimensions 120 x 76 x 80mm (4.7" x 3.0" x 3.1") 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 70
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.9
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 562
Other
Battery life 380 pictures 280 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $250 $898