Panasonic SZ7 vs Panasonic ZS100

Below is a extensive review of the Panasonic SZ7 versus Panasonic ZS100, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Large Sensor Compact and both are produced by Panasonic. There is a sizeable difference between the resolutions of the SZ7 (14MP) and ZS100 (20MP) and the SZ7 (1/2.3") and ZS100 (1") boast different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The SZ7 was revealed 5 years prior to the ZS100 and that is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic SZ7 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic ZS100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before getting into a detailed comparison, here is a short overview of how the SZ7 scores against the ZS100 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100. The full galleries are available at Panasonic SZ7 Gallery and Panasonic ZS100 Gallery.

For anyone who is planning to lug around your camera frequently, you'll need to consider its weight and size. The Panasonic SZ7 offers physical dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") along with a weight of 133 grams (0.29 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS100 has specifications of 111mm x 65mm x 44mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") along with a weight of 312 grams (0.69 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic SZ7 versus Panasonic ZS100 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the SZ7 compared to the ZS100.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ7 and ZS100 is 95 and 87 respectively.

In many cases, it is very hard to imagine the gap between sensor measurements purely by going over specifications. The visual underneath might offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ7 and ZS100.

To sum up, both of those cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The SZ7 having a tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF more challenging and the Panasonic ZS100 will deliver greater detail because of its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics way more aggressively. The older SZ7 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.