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Panasonic SZ1 vs Ricoh CX4

Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 front
 
Ricoh CX4 front
Portability
92
Imaging
33
Features
34
Overall
33

Panasonic SZ1 vs Ricoh CX4 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
  • Launched January 2012
Ricoh CX4
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-300mm (F3.5-5.6) lens
  • 205g - 102 x 59 x 29mm
  • Released August 2010
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Panasonic SZ1 vs Ricoh CX4 Overview

Following is a in-depth overview of the Panasonic SZ1 vs Ricoh CX4, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Panasonic and Ricoh. There exists a big gap between the resolutions of the SZ1 (16MP) and CX4 (10MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SZ1 was manufactured 17 months after the CX4 which makes them a generation away from one another. Both the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before delving into a more detailed comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the SZ1 scores versus the CX4 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ1 over the Ricoh CX4

 SZ1 CX4 
ReleasedJanuary 2012August 2010More modern by 17 months

Reasons to pick Ricoh CX4 over the Panasonic SZ1

 CX4 SZ1 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Screen resolution920k230kClearer screen (+690k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic SZ1 and Ricoh CX4

 SZ1 CX4 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Panasonic SZ1 vs Ricoh CX4 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry around your camera often, you have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Panasonic SZ1 has exterior measurements of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") with a weight of 131 grams (0.29 lbs) whilst the Ricoh CX4 has proportions of 102mm x 59mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 205 grams (0.45 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic SZ1 vs Ricoh CX4 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the SZ1 against the CX4.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Ricoh CX4 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ1 and CX4 is 95 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Ricoh CX4 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ1 vs Ricoh CX4 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is difficult to see the contrast between sensor sizes purely by checking a spec sheet. The pic below will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ1 and CX4.

As you can see, both of those cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same resolution. You should count on the Panasonic SZ1 to give extra detail due to its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures more aggressively. The newer SZ1 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Ricoh CX4 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ1 vs Ricoh CX4 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ1 vs Ricoh CX4 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic SZ1
Portrait photography with Ricoh CX4
34
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
has face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
26
has manual focus
no manual mode
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic SZ1
Street photography with Ricoh CX4
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (131g)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (205g)
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Sports photography highlights
Ricoh CX4 Sports photography highlights
40
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
max fps low (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
24
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (10MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic SZ1
Travel photography with Ricoh CX4
70
lighter than competition in class (131 grams)
MP count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
great zoom (250mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
66
lighter than competition (205 grams)
built-in flash
decently wide (28mm)
long zoom (300mm)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 as a Landscape photography camera
Ricoh CX4 as a Landscape photography camera
43
rather wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
42
has manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
no manual mode
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Vlogging factors
Ricoh CX4 Vlogging factors
32
rather wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection autofocus
lighter than competition in class (131 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external mic port
30
decently wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (205g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic socket
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Panasonic SZ1 vs Ricoh CX4 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ1 and Ricoh CX4
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1Ricoh CX4
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Ricoh
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 Ricoh CX4
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2012-01-09 2010-08-19
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - Smooth Imaging Engine IV
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 23 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-250mm (10.0x) 28-300mm (10.7x)
Largest aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/3.5-5.6
Macro focus range 4cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 230k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 8 secs 8 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.60 m 4.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow 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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4 Motion JPEG
Mic 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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 131g (0.29 lbs) 205g (0.45 lbs)
Physical dimensions 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") 102 x 59 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" 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 -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model - DB-100
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2, 10 or Custom)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $179 $211