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Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
96
Imaging
40
Features
29
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax MX-1 Key Specs

Panasonic SZ3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 126g - 95 x 56 x 22mm
  • Released January 2013
Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Announced July 2013
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Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

In this article, we are reviewing the Panasonic SZ3 and Pentax MX-1, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a noticeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the SZ3 (16MP) and MX-1 (12MP) and the SZ3 (1/2.3") and MX-1 (1/1.7") use different sensor sizing.

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The SZ3 was brought out 5 months before the MX-1 which means that they are of a similar age. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go through a complete comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the SZ3 scores against the MX-1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ3 over the Pentax MX-1

 SZ3 MX-1 

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Panasonic SZ3

 MX-1 SZ3 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kSharper display (+690k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic SZ3 and Pentax MX-1

 SZ3 MX-1 
AnnouncedJanuary 2013July 2013Same age
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch display Neither offers Touch display

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry around your camera regularly, you're going to have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic SZ3 offers exterior dimensions of 95mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs) and the Pentax MX-1 has dimensions of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") along with a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic SZ3 and Pentax MX-1 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the SZ3 versus the MX-1.

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ3 and MX-1 is 96 and 84 respectively.

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be hard to picture the difference in sensor sizes purely by looking through technical specs. The picture here might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ3 and MX-1.

As you can tell, both of those cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The SZ3 because of its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF harder and the Panasonic SZ3 will result in more detail having its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos far more aggressively.

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Portrait photography camera
30
decent megapixels (16MP)
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
42
you can focus manually
features face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
can't use external flash
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Street photography details
Pentax MX-1 Street photography details
64
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (126 grams)
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
65
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
sensor is small (1/1.7")
heavier than others (391 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic SZ3
Sports photography with Pentax MX-1
41
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
low frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
43
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features tracking autofocus
great battery (290 per charge)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Travel photography information
Pentax MX-1 Travel photography information
71
lighter than competitors (126 grams)
decent megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
great reach (250mm)
lack of Timelapse function
does not have selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
61
great battery (290 CIPA)
has built in flash
quite wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
does not have Time Lapse function
heavier than others (391g)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax MX-1 Landscape photography highlights
39
reasonably wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
manual mode not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
lack of Timelapse function
55
you can focus manually
quite wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
screen is a good size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
great battery (290 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Vlogging advice
Pentax MX-1 Vlogging advice
31
reasonably wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (126g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
does not have selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external microphone port
33
quite wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
does not have external mic support
heavier than others (391 grams)
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Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ3 and Pentax MX-1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3Pentax MX-1
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 Pentax MX-1
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Released 2013-01-07 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 area 27.7mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 23 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-250mm (10.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/1.8-2.5
Macro focus range 5cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 4.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology TFT LCD TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.10 m 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
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)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
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 126 grams (0.28 pounds) 391 grams (0.86 pounds)
Dimensions 95 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") 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 photographs 290 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-Li-106
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $150 $400