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Panasonic SZ1 vs Panasonic ZS15

Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
37
Overall
36

Panasonic SZ1 vs Panasonic ZS15 Key Specs

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
  • Announced January 2012
Panasonic ZS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 208g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Revealed June 2012
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ25
  • Newer Model is Panasonic ZS20
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Panasonic SZ1 vs Panasonic ZS15 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Panasonic SZ1 vs Panasonic ZS15, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are offered by Panasonic. There exists a large gap between the resolutions of the SZ1 (16MP) and ZS15 (12MP) but both cameras have the identical sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SZ1 was announced 5 months earlier than the ZS15 and they are both of a similar age. Both cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before getting into a more detailed comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the SZ1 matches up against the ZS15 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ1 over the Panasonic ZS15

 SZ1 ZS15 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS15 over the Panasonic SZ1

 ZS15 SZ1 
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic SZ1 and Panasonic ZS15

 SZ1 ZS15 
RevealedJanuary 2012June 2012Similar age
Focus manually Lack of manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Panasonic SZ1 vs Panasonic ZS15 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to lug around your camera frequently, you will need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic SZ1 features external dimensions 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 ZS15 has dimensions of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") having a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic SZ1 vs Panasonic ZS15 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you use at the time. Underneath is a front view measurement comparison of the SZ1 against the ZS15.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Panasonic ZS15 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ1 and ZS15 is 95 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Panasonic ZS15 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ1 vs Panasonic ZS15 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very difficult to visualise the difference between sensor measurements just by reviewing specs. The visual below should give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ1 and ZS15.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit not the same MP. You can count on the Panasonic SZ1 to deliver extra detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs way more aggressively.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Panasonic ZS15 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ1 vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ1 vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Portrait photography info
Panasonic ZS15 Portrait photography info
34
good resolution (16 megapixels)
comes with face detect focus
lack of manual focus
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
21
lack of manual focus
no external flash support
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Street photography info
Panasonic ZS15 Street photography info
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (131g)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (208g)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS15 as a Sports photography camera
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16MP)
comes with tracking focus
low fps (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
36
long zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with tracking autofocus
low frames per second (2.0 fps)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery life (260 per charge)
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic SZ1
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS15
70
lighter than competitors (131 grams)
good resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
long zoom (250mm)
missing Timelapse recording
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
61
lighter than competition in class (208 grams)
built-in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
very long zoom (384mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
low battery life (260 shots)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic ZS15 Landscape photography advice
43
relatively wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16MP)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not available
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
missing Timelapse recording
37
relatively wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
low battery life (260 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS15 as a Vlogging camera
32
relatively wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focus
lighter than competitors (131g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone jack
33
relatively wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (208 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of external mic port
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Panasonic SZ1 vs Panasonic ZS15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ1 and Panasonic ZS15
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
General Information
Company Panasonic Panasonic
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-TZ25
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2012-01-09 2012-06-29
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
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
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 23 23
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-250mm (10.0x) 24-384mm (16.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus range 4cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8s 15s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.60 m 6.40 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 131g (0.29 lb) 208g (0.46 lb)
Physical dimensions 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
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 pictures 260 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail price $179 $279