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Panasonic SZ1 vs Sony HX100V

Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX100V front
Portability
66
Imaging
39
Features
50
Overall
43

Panasonic SZ1 vs Sony HX100V Key Specs

Panasonic SZ1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • 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
Sony HX100V
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 27-810mm (F2.8-5.6) lens
  • 577g - 122 x 87 x 93mm
  • Announced October 2011
  • Updated by Sony HX200V
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Panasonic SZ1 vs Sony HX100V Overview

Below, we are analyzing the Panasonic SZ1 vs Sony HX100V, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the SZ1 (16MP) and the HX100V (16MP) is fairly similar and they enjoy the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SZ1 was launched 3 months later than the HX100V and they are both of a similar age. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic SZ1 being a Compact camera and the Sony HX100V being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting through a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the SZ1 grades versus the HX100V in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary

        

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ1 over the Sony HX100V

 SZ1 HX100V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX100V over the Panasonic SZ1

 HX100V SZ1 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic SZ1 and Sony HX100V

 SZ1 HX100V 
AnnouncedJanuary 2012October 2011Similar age
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Panasonic SZ1 vs Sony HX100V Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry your camera regularly, you will have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic SZ1 has outer measurements of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 131 grams (0.29 lbs) while the Sony HX100V has dimensions of 122mm x 87mm x 93mm (4.8" x 3.4" x 3.7") and a weight of 577 grams (1.27 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic SZ1 vs Sony HX100V in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you select at that moment. Following is the front view over all size comparison of the SZ1 and the HX100V.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Sony HX100V size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the SZ1 and HX100V is 95 and 66 respectively.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Sony HX100V top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ1 vs Sony HX100V Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is tough to visualize the gap between sensor sizing purely by reviewing specifications. The visual underneath should give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ1 and HX100V.

To sum up, both the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements and the same exact megapixels and you can expect similar quality of photographs though you should really consider the launch date of the products into consideration.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Sony HX100V sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ1 vs Sony HX100V Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ1 vs Sony HX100V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Portrait photography advice
Sony HX100V Portrait photography advice
34
MP count good (16 megapixels)
provides face detection autofocus
no manual focus
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
39
you can focus manually
MP count decent (16MP)
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Street photography advice
Sony HX100V Street photography advice
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (131g)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
50
tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
more heavy than average (577 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Sports photography features
Sony HX100V Sports photography features
40
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
49
great zoom range (27-810mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX100V as a Travel photography camera
70
lighter than competition (131 grams)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
great reach (250mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
does not feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
54
MP count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (27mm)
long zoom (810mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
more heavy than average (577 grams)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Landscape photography information
Sony HX100V Landscape photography information
43
fairly wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual exposure
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
does not have Time Lapse function
47
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (27mm)
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic SZ1
Vlogging with Sony HX100V
32
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
lighter than competition (131g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not feature selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external mic port
25
reasonably wide (27mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external microphone jack
more heavy than average (577g)
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Panasonic SZ1 vs Sony HX100V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ1 and Sony HX100V
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX100V
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX100V
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2012-01-09 2011-10-21
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by - BIONZ
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-250mm (10.0x) 27-810mm (30.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/2.8-5.6
Macro focus distance 4cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech TFT Color LCD XtraFine LCD display with TruBlack technology
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 1.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.60 m 12.70 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 131g (0.29 lb) 577g (1.27 lb)
Dimensions 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") 122 x 87 x 93mm (4.8" x 3.4" x 3.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 photographs -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery model - NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Launch pricing $179 $429