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Panasonic SZ1 vs Panasonic TS4

Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4 front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
33
Overall
34

Panasonic SZ1 vs Panasonic TS4 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
  • Released January 2012
Panasonic TS4
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-128mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 197g - 103 x 64 x 27mm
  • Introduced January 2012
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-FT4
  • Replaced the Panasonic TS3
  • Newer Model is Panasonic TS5
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Panasonic SZ1 vs Panasonic TS4 Overview

Lets examine more closely at the Panasonic SZ1 versus Panasonic TS4, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Waterproof and both of them are offered by Panasonic. There exists a noticeable gap between the resolutions of the SZ1 (16MP) and TS4 (12MP) but they enjoy the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SZ1 was announced about the same time to the TS4 and they are of a similar age. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving straight into a full comparison, below is a simple view of how the SZ1 matches up vs the TS4 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ1 over the Panasonic TS4

 SZ1 TS4 
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Panasonic TS4 over the Panasonic SZ1

 TS4 SZ1 

Common features in the Panasonic SZ1 and Panasonic TS4

 SZ1 TS4 
IntroducedJanuary 2012January 2012Similar age
Focus manually No manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Panasonic SZ1 vs Panasonic TS4 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry around your camera, you will need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Panasonic SZ1 offers exterior measurements of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") and a weight of 131 grams (0.29 lbs) and the Panasonic TS4 has proportions of 103mm x 64mm x 27mm (4.1" x 2.5" x 1.1") having a weight of 197 grams (0.43 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic SZ1 versus Panasonic TS4 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you use at the time. Below is the front view over all size comparison of the SZ1 versus the TS4.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Panasonic TS4 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ1 and TS4 is 95 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Panasonic TS4 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ1 vs Panasonic TS4 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its difficult to picture the contrast between sensor sizes just by reading technical specs. The picture below will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ1 and TS4.

As you have seen, each of the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but different megapixels. You can anticipate the Panasonic SZ1 to offer extra detail with its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics somewhat more aggressively.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Panasonic TS4 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ1 vs Panasonic TS4 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ1 vs Panasonic TS4 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic TS4 Portrait photography advice
34
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
has face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
21
no manual focus
no external flash support
low MP (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Street photography factors
Panasonic TS4 Street photography factors
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (131 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
61
image stabilization (Optical)
weather proof
screen does not articulate
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Sports photography details
Panasonic TS4 Sports photography details
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
has tracking autofocus
slow fps (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
38
image stabilization (Optical)
includes tracking focus
weather proof
great battery pack (310 shots)
max shutter speed is low (1/1,300s)
continuous shooting slow (4.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
low MP (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic TS4 as a Travel photography camera
70
lighter than competition (131g)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
very long reach (250mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
66
great battery pack (310 CIPA)
weather proof
built-in flash
really wide (28mm)
low MP (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic SZ1
Landscape photography with Panasonic TS4
43
rather wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
does not have Time Lapse mode
41
really wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
weather proof
great battery pack (310 shots)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7")
low MP (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic TS4 as a Vlogging camera
32
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection autofocus
lighter than competition (131 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external mic port
32
really wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have microphone socket
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Panasonic SZ1 vs Panasonic TS4 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ1 and Panasonic TS4
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Panasonic
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4
Also called as - Lumix DMC-FT4
Type Small Sensor Compact Waterproof
Released 2012-01-09 2012-01-31
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Venus Engine FHD
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 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 23 23
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-250mm (10.0x) 28-128mm (4.6x)
Max aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus distance 4cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech TFT Color LCD TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 8 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/1300 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.60 m 5.60 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 131g (0.29 pounds) 197g (0.43 pounds)
Dimensions 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") 103 x 64 x 27mm (4.1" x 2.5" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 250 images 310 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Price at release $179 $399