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Panasonic SZ5 vs Ricoh CX3

Portability
95
Imaging
37
Features
34
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 front
 
Ricoh CX3 front
Portability
92
Imaging
33
Features
35
Overall
33

Panasonic SZ5 vs Ricoh CX3 Key Specs

Panasonic SZ5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Bump to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 104 x 58 x 21mm
  • Introduced July 2012
Ricoh CX3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-300mm (F3.5-5.6) lens
  • 206g - 102 x 58 x 29mm
  • Released June 2010
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Panasonic SZ5 vs Ricoh CX3 Overview

Here is a extended review of the Panasonic SZ5 vs Ricoh CX3, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Panasonic and Ricoh. There exists a substantial gap among the resolutions of the SZ5 (14MP) and CX3 (10MP) but they come with the exact same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SZ5 was revealed 2 years later than the CX3 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving through a detailed comparison, below is a short overview of how the SZ5 grades against the CX3 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ5 over the Ricoh CX3

 SZ5 CX3 
ReleasedJuly 2012June 2010Fresher by 26 months

Reasons to pick Ricoh CX3 over the Panasonic SZ5

 CX3 SZ5 
Manual focus More precise focus
Screen resolution920k230kClearer screen (+690k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic SZ5 and Ricoh CX3

 SZ5 CX3 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Panasonic SZ5 vs Ricoh CX3 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Panasonic SZ5 provides outside dimensions of 104mm x 58mm x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") and a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs) whilst the Ricoh CX3 has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic SZ5 vs Ricoh CX3 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are employing at that time. Below is the front view dimensions comparison of the SZ5 and the CX3.

Panasonic SZ5 vs Ricoh CX3 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ5 and CX3 is 95 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic SZ5 vs Ricoh CX3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ5 vs Ricoh CX3 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor sizing just by researching a spec sheet. The graphic here should offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ5 and CX3.

As you can see, the two cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same MP. You can expect the Panasonic SZ5 to result in extra detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop photographs much more aggressively. The more recent SZ5 will have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic SZ5 vs Ricoh CX3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ5 vs Ricoh CX3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ5 vs Ricoh CX3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 Portrait photography highlights
Ricoh CX3 Portrait photography highlights
33
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
supports face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
26
has manual focus
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 Street photography factors
Ricoh CX3 Street photography factors
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (136 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (206 grams)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 Sports photography advice
Ricoh CX3 Sports photography advice
39
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14MP)
supports tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
26
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lack of shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic SZ5
Travel photography with Ricoh CX3
70
lighter than average in class (136 grams)
megapixel count good (14MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
great zoom (250mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
66
lighter than competition (206 grams)
has built in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
great zoom (300mm)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 Landscape photography features
Ricoh CX3 Landscape photography features
42
quite wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse function
42
has manual focus
pretty wide (28mm)
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual mode
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 Vlogging advice
Ricoh CX3 Vlogging advice
32
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focusing
lighter than average in class (136 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external mic jack
30
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (206 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no mic socket
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Panasonic SZ5 vs Ricoh CX3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ5 and Ricoh CX3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5Ricoh CX3
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Ricoh
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 Ricoh CX3
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2012-07-18 2010-06-16
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor 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 area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4320 x 3240 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Maximum enhanced ISO 6400 -
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 23 -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-250mm (10.0x) 28-300mm (10.7x)
Highest aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/3.5-5.6
Macro focus range 5cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology TFT Screen LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8 secs 8 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 2.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.60 m 4.00 m
Flash options 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) 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 Built-In None
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 136g (0.30 lbs) 206g (0.45 lbs)
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 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 type Battery Pack -
Battery model - DB-100
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2, 10 or Custom)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch cost $195 $329