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Panasonic SZ1 vs Sony H20

Portability
95
Imaging
38
Features
34
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 front
Portability
87
Imaging
32
Features
29
Overall
30

Panasonic SZ1 vs Sony H20 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
Sony H20
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 38-380mm (F3.5-4.4) lens
  • 250g - 107 x 69 x 47mm
  • Launched May 2009
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Panasonic SZ1 vs Sony H20 Overview

On this page, we will be looking at the Panasonic SZ1 versus Sony H20, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. There is a sizable difference between the resolutions of the SZ1 (16MP) and H20 (10MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SZ1 was launched 2 years after the H20 which is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going into a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief view of how the SZ1 scores versus the H20 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ1 over the Sony H20

 SZ1 H20 
LaunchedJanuary 2012May 2009More modern by 33 months

Reasons to pick Sony H20 over the Panasonic SZ1

 H20 SZ1 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing

Common features in the Panasonic SZ1 and Sony H20

 SZ1 H20 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size
Screen resolution230k230kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Panasonic SZ1 vs Sony H20 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry around your camera, you need to consider its weight and volume. The Panasonic SZ1 has physical measurements of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") having a weight of 131 grams (0.29 lbs) while the Sony H20 has sizing of 107mm x 69mm x 47mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.9") along with a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic SZ1 versus Sony H20 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have at that moment. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the SZ1 and the H20.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Sony H20 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the SZ1 and H20 is 95 and 87 respectively.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Sony H20 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ1 vs Sony H20 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is tough to imagine the contrast between sensor sizes purely by reading through specs. The picture underneath should offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ1 and H20.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different megapixels. You can count on the Panasonic SZ1 to resolve greater detail utilizing its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The more modern SZ1 provides a benefit in sensor tech.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Sony H20 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ1 vs Sony H20 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ1 vs Sony H20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Portrait photography info
Sony H20 Portrait photography info
34
MP count good (16MP)
includes face detection focus
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
27
you can focus manually
cannot use external flash
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic SZ1
Street photography with Sony H20
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (131g)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
heavier than competition in class (250g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Sports photography details
Sony H20 Sports photography details
40
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
includes tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
26
built in image stabilization (Optical)
low fps (2.0 frames/s)
resolution not great (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic SZ1
Travel photography with Sony H20
70
lighter than competitors (131 grams)
MP count good (16MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
very long zoom (250mm)
no Time Lapse mode
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.1)
51
has built in flash
very long reach (380mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition in class (250g)
resolution not great (10MP)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony H20 as a Landscape photography camera
42
decently wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual exposure
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
no Time Lapse mode
36
you can focus manually
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
resolution not great (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Vlogging info
Sony H20 Vlogging info
32
decently wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
lighter than competitors (131g)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic port
23
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external mic port
heavier than competition in class (250g)
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Panasonic SZ1 vs Sony H20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ1 and Sony H20
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Released 2012-01-09 2009-05-14
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
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 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-250mm (10.0x) 38-380mm (10.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/3.5-4.4
Macro focusing range 4cm 2cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 1.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.60 m 7.10 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain
Hot shoe
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)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4 -
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 131g (0.29 lb) 250g (0.55 lb)
Physical dimensions 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") 107 x 69 x 47mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 pictures -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID - NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $179 $249