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Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax MX-1 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
Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Revealed July 2013
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Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

The following is a comprehensive review of the Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax MX-1, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a crucial gap between the sensor resolutions of the SZ1 (16MP) and MX-1 (12MP) and the SZ1 (1/2.3") and MX-1 (1/1.7") provide different sensor sizing.

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The SZ1 was released 17 months prior to the MX-1 making them a generation away from one another. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before getting into a in depth comparison, here is a brief view of how the SZ1 matches up against the MX-1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ1 over the Pentax MX-1

 SZ1 MX-1 

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Panasonic SZ1

 MX-1 SZ1 
RevealedJuly 2013January 2012Newer by 17 months
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k230kClearer display (+690k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic SZ1 and Pentax MX-1

 SZ1 MX-1 
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch display Neither contains Touch display

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to travel with your camera often, you need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Panasonic SZ1 has got outer measurements of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") with a weight of 131 grams (0.29 lbs) while the Pentax MX-1 has measurements of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") accompanied by a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax MX-1 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you select at the time. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the SZ1 versus the MX-1.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ1 and MX-1 is 95 and 84 respectively.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its hard to visualize the gap between sensor dimensions simply by looking at specifications. The image below may give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ1 and MX-1.

To sum up, each of these cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The SZ1 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF trickier and the Panasonic SZ1 will resolve more detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos way more aggressively. The more aged SZ1 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Portrait photography details
Pentax MX-1 Portrait photography details
34
decent MP (16MP)
has face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
42
focusing manually
offers face detect focusing
saves RAW files
can't use external flash
low MP (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Street photography information
Pentax MX-1 Street photography information
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (131g)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
65
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
heavier than competitors in class (391g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Sports photography camera
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
has tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
43
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers tracking focus
great battery (290 per charge)
max fps very slow (1.0 frames per second)
low MP (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Travel photography factors
Pentax MX-1 Travel photography factors
70
lighter than competition in class (131 grams)
decent MP (16MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
long zoom (250mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
61
great battery (290 shots)
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
heavier than competitors in class (391g)
low MP (12MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic SZ1
Landscape photography with Pentax MX-1
43
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual exposure
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
missing Time Lapse mode
55
focusing manually
quite wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
great battery (290 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Vlogging details
Pentax MX-1 Vlogging details
32
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focus
lighter than competition in class (131g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing mic port
33
quite wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
doesn't have mic socket
heavier than competitors in class (391g)
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Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ1 and Pentax MX-1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1Pentax MX-1
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 Pentax MX-1
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2012-01-09 2013-07-01
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 23 25
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-250mm (10.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/1.8-2.5
Macro focus range 4cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 4.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology TFT Color LCD TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 1.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.60 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
External flash
AE 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 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 131 grams (0.29 lbs) 391 grams (0.86 lbs)
Physical dimensions 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 49
DXO Color Depth score not tested 20.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.3
DXO Low light score not tested 208
Other
Battery life 250 pictures 290 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-Li-106
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Retail cost $179 $400