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Panasonic SZ1 vs Panasonic SZ5

Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 front
Portability
95
Imaging
38
Features
34
Overall
36

Panasonic SZ1 vs Panasonic SZ5 Key Specs

Panasonic SZ1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 131g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Announced January 2012
Panasonic SZ5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Expand to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 104 x 58 x 21mm
  • Launched July 2012
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Panasonic SZ1 vs Panasonic SZ5 Overview

Below is a extensive overview of the Panasonic SZ1 and Panasonic SZ5, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras and they are both manufactured by Panasonic. The image resolution of the SZ1 (16MP) and the SZ5 (14MP) is very similar and both cameras boast the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SZ1 was revealed 6 months prior to the SZ5 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before delving straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a quick overview of how the SZ1 scores vs the SZ5 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ1 over the Panasonic SZ5

 SZ1 SZ5 

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ5 over the Panasonic SZ1

 SZ5 SZ1 

Common features in the Panasonic SZ1 and Panasonic SZ5

 SZ1 SZ5 
LaunchedJanuary 2012July 2012Similar generation
Focus manually Lack of manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Display resolution230k230kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither includes Touch friendly display

Panasonic SZ1 vs Panasonic SZ5 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to lug around your camera frequently, you will want to think about its weight and measurements. The Panasonic SZ1 features outside measurements of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") and a weight of 131 grams (0.29 lbs) while the Panasonic SZ5 has proportions of 104mm x 58mm x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") along with a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic SZ1 and Panasonic SZ5 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the SZ1 and the SZ5.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Panasonic SZ5 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ1 and SZ5 is 95 and 95 respectively.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Panasonic SZ5 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ1 vs Panasonic SZ5 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's tough to picture the contrast between sensor measurements merely by reading a spec sheet. The graphic here will help provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ1 and SZ5.

As you can see, each of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different resolution. You should expect to see the Panasonic SZ1 to offer greater detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop photos a bit more aggressively.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Panasonic SZ5 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ1 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ1 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Portrait photography details
Panasonic SZ5 Portrait photography details
34
decent MP (16MP)
offers face detection focusing
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
34
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
comes with face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Street photography information
Panasonic SZ5 Street photography information
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (131g)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (136 grams)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Sports photography features
Panasonic SZ5 Sports photography features
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Travel photography info
Panasonic SZ5 Travel photography info
70
lighter than competition (131 grams)
decent MP (16MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
great zoom (250mm)
missing Timelapse mode
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
70
lighter than others in class (136 grams)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
long reach (250mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic SZ5 Landscape photography advice
43
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual exposure
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
missing Timelapse mode
42
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14MP)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Vlogging features
Panasonic SZ5 Vlogging features
32
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
lighter than competition (131 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external microphone jack
32
reasonably wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection autofocus
lighter than others in class (136g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external mic jack
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Panasonic SZ1 vs Panasonic SZ5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ1 and Panasonic SZ5
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2012-01-09 2012-07-18
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
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 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 6400 1600
Max boosted ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 23 23
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-250mm (10.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Max aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing distance 4cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology TFT Color LCD TFT Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8s 8s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.60 m 5.60 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720p ( 30,25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4 MPEG-4
Mic input
Headphone input
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 131 gr (0.29 lbs) 136 gr (0.30 lbs)
Physical dimensions 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") 104 x 58 x 21mm (4.1" 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 250 photographs 250 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $179 $195