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Panasonic SZ5 vs Ricoh CX2

Portability
95
Imaging
38
Features
34
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 front
 
Ricoh CX2 front
Portability
93
Imaging
32
Features
35
Overall
33

Panasonic SZ5 vs Ricoh CX2 Key Specs

Panasonic SZ5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Boost to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 104 x 58 x 21mm
  • Revealed July 2012
Ricoh CX2
(Full Review)
  • 9MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 28-300mm (F3.5-5.6) lens
  • 185g - 102 x 58 x 29mm
  • Launched August 2009
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Panasonic SZ5 vs Ricoh CX2 Overview

Following is a thorough comparison of the Panasonic SZ5 vs Ricoh CX2, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Panasonic and Ricoh. There is a crucial difference among the sensor resolutions of the SZ5 (14MP) and CX2 (9MP) but both cameras have the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SZ5 was launched 2 years after the CX2 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before delving into a in depth comparison, here is a concise summation of how the SZ5 scores vs the CX2 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ5 over the Ricoh CX2

 SZ5 CX2 
LaunchedJuly 2012August 2009More modern by 36 months

Reasons to pick Ricoh CX2 over the Panasonic SZ5

 CX2 SZ5 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Screen resolution920k230kSharper screen (+690k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic SZ5 and Ricoh CX2

 SZ5 CX2 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch screen Neither offers Touch screen

Panasonic SZ5 vs Ricoh CX2 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to carry around your camera regularly, you will want to consider its weight and volume. The Panasonic SZ5 offers external dimensions of 104mm x 58mm x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs) and the Ricoh CX2 has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 185 grams (0.41 lbs).

Check the Panasonic SZ5 vs Ricoh CX2 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you choose during that time. Following is a front view scale comparison of the SZ5 against the CX2.

Panasonic SZ5 vs Ricoh CX2 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ5 and CX2 is 95 and 93 respectively.

Panasonic SZ5 vs Ricoh CX2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ5 vs Ricoh CX2 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is tough to envision the contrast in sensor sizes only by viewing specifications. The picture here might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ5 and CX2.

Plainly, both of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same resolution. You should expect the Panasonic SZ5 to provide you with more detail utilizing its extra 5 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots more aggressively. The more modern SZ5 is going to have an advantage in sensor technology.

Panasonic SZ5 vs Ricoh CX2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ5 vs Ricoh CX2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ5 vs Ricoh CX2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 as a Portrait photography camera
Ricoh CX2 as a Portrait photography camera
34
MP count good (14MP)
has face detection autofocus
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
25
focusing manually
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
low resolution sensor (9MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 Street photography advice
Ricoh CX2 Street photography advice
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (136 grams)
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (185g)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 Sports photography advice
Ricoh CX2 Sports photography advice
40
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14MP)
has tracking autofocus
low frames per second (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
26
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no shutter priority
low resolution sensor (9 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 Travel photography highlights
Ricoh CX2 Travel photography highlights
70
lighter than competitors in class (136 grams)
MP count good (14MP)
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
very long reach (250mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
does not have selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.1)
66
lighter than competition (185g)
flash built-in
really wide (28mm)
very long reach (300mm)
low resolution sensor (9MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 as a Landscape photography camera
Ricoh CX2 as a Landscape photography camera
42
relatively wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not available
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
42
focusing manually
really wide (28mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual exposure
low resolution sensor (9MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 as a Vlogging camera
Ricoh CX2 as a Vlogging camera
32
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection autofocus
lighter than competitors in class (136g)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
does not have selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external mic jack
30
really wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (185 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (640 x 480 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone jack
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Panasonic SZ5 vs Ricoh CX2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ5 and Ricoh CX2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5Ricoh CX2
General Information
Company Panasonic Ricoh
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 Ricoh CX2
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2012-07-18 2009-08-20
Body design 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 14 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 4320 x 3240 3456 x 2592
Max native ISO 1600 1600
Max enhanced ISO 6400 -
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 23 -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-250mm (10.0x) 28-300mm (10.7x)
Max aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/3.5-5.6
Macro focusing distance 5cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 230k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech TFT Screen LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8s 8s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 2.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.60 m 3.00 m (ISO 400)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720p ( 30,25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video file format MPEG-4 Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 136 gr (0.30 lb) 185 gr (0.41 lb)
Physical dimensions 104 x 58 x 21mm (4.1" 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 shots -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID - DB-70
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2, 10 or Custom)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $195 $341