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Panasonic SZ1 vs Ricoh CX2

Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 front
 
Ricoh CX2 front
Portability
93
Imaging
32
Features
35
Overall
33

Panasonic SZ1 vs Ricoh CX2 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
  • Released January 2012
Ricoh CX2
(Full Review)
  • 9MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 28-300mm (F3.5-5.6) lens
  • 185g - 102 x 58 x 29mm
  • Announced August 2009
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Panasonic SZ1 vs Ricoh CX2 Overview

In this write-up, we are analyzing the Panasonic SZ1 and Ricoh CX2, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Panasonic and Ricoh. There exists a large gap between the sensor resolutions of the SZ1 (16MP) and CX2 (9MP) but they possess the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SZ1 was launched 2 years after the CX2 which is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a simple summation of how the SZ1 grades vs the CX2 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ1 over the Ricoh CX2

 SZ1 CX2 
AnnouncedJanuary 2012August 2009Newer by 30 months

Reasons to pick Ricoh CX2 over the Panasonic SZ1

 CX2 SZ1 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Display resolution920k230kCrisper display (+690k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic SZ1 and Ricoh CX2

 SZ1 CX2 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Panasonic SZ1 vs Ricoh CX2 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to travel with your camera, you're going to have to factor its weight and size. The Panasonic SZ1 has physical dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") with a weight of 131 grams (0.29 lbs) and the Ricoh CX2 has specifications of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 185 grams (0.41 lbs).

Check the Panasonic SZ1 and Ricoh CX2 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are working with at that moment. Following is the front view sizing comparison of the SZ1 versus the CX2.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Ricoh CX2 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ1 and CX2 is 95 and 93 respectively.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Ricoh CX2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ1 vs Ricoh CX2 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is difficult to imagine the gap between sensor dimensions only by looking at a spec sheet. The picture underneath should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ1 and CX2.

As you can see, each of the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but different MP. You can expect to see the Panasonic SZ1 to give you extra detail utilizing its extra 7MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos far more aggressively. The younger SZ1 should have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Ricoh CX2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ1 vs Ricoh CX2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ1 vs Ricoh CX2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic SZ1
Portrait photography with Ricoh CX2
34
decent megapixels (16MP)
supports face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
25
has manual focus
no manual mode
no external flash support
low resolution (9 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 as a Street photography camera
Ricoh CX2 as a Street photography camera
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (131g)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others in class (185 grams)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 as a Sports photography camera
Ricoh CX2 as a Sports photography camera
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
supports tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
26
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lack of shutter priority mode
low resolution (9MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic SZ1
Travel photography with Ricoh CX2
70
lighter than competitors (131g)
decent megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
really wide (25mm)
long reach (250mm)
missing Timelapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
66
lighter than others in class (185 grams)
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
very long reach (300mm)
low resolution (9MP)
does not have a selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic SZ1
Landscape photography with Ricoh CX2
43
really wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
missing Timelapse function
42
has manual focus
quite wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
no manual mode
low resolution (9 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Vlogging advice
Ricoh CX2 Vlogging advice
32
really wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focusing
lighter than competitors (131 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone port
30
quite wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others in class (185 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not have a selfie friendly display
low quality video (640 x 480 pxls)
missing external microphone socket
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Panasonic SZ1 vs Ricoh CX2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ1 and Ricoh CX2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1Ricoh CX2
General Information
Brand Panasonic Ricoh
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 Ricoh CX2
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2012-01-09 2009-08-20
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - Smooth Imaging Engine IV
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 9 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 3456 x 2592
Max native ISO 6400 1600
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 23 -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-250mm (10.0x) 28-300mm (10.7x)
Maximal aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/3.5-5.6
Macro focusing range 4cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8 seconds 8 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per sec -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.60 m 3.00 m (ISO 400)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
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) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video format MPEG-4 Motion JPEG
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 None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 131 grams (0.29 lbs) 185 grams (0.41 lbs)
Dimensions 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") 102 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 photos -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID - DB-70
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2, 10 or Custom)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $179 $341