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Panasonic SZ7 vs Panasonic ZS20

Portability
95
Imaging
37
Features
41
Overall
38
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
46
Overall
40

Panasonic SZ7 vs Panasonic ZS20 Key Specs

Panasonic SZ7
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 133g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Revealed January 2012
Panasonic ZS20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 206g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Launched April 2012
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ30
  • Old Model is Panasonic ZS15
  • Refreshed by Panasonic ZS25
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Panasonic SZ7 vs Panasonic ZS20 Overview

Its time to look a little more closely at the Panasonic SZ7 and Panasonic ZS20, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are designed by Panasonic. The resolution of the SZ7 (14MP) and the ZS20 (14MP) is very similar and they use the exact same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SZ7 was brought out 3 months earlier than the ZS20 which means that they are of a similar age. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting in to a detailed comparison, below is a concise overview of how the SZ7 grades against the ZS20 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ7 over the Panasonic ZS20

 SZ7 ZS20 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Panasonic SZ7

 ZS20 SZ7 
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Panasonic SZ7 and Panasonic ZS20

 SZ7 ZS20 
LaunchedJanuary 2012April 2012Similar age
Focus manually Lack of manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurements
Display resolution460k460kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Panasonic SZ7 vs Panasonic ZS20 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry around your camera regularly, you need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic SZ7 offers physical measurements of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") with a weight of 133 grams (0.29 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS20 has dimensions of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic SZ7 and Panasonic ZS20 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are using at that time. Here is the front view over all size comparison of the SZ7 versus the ZS20.

Panasonic SZ7 vs Panasonic ZS20 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ7 and ZS20 is 95 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic SZ7 vs Panasonic ZS20 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ7 vs Panasonic ZS20 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is tough to visualise the gap between sensor sizes only by reviewing specifications. The pic underneath will help provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ7 and ZS20.

To sum up, both of these cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements and the identical megapixels therefore you can expect similar quality of files however you may want to factor the age of the products into consideration.

Panasonic SZ7 vs Panasonic ZS20 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ7 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ7 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ7 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic ZS20 Portrait photography advice
33
decent MP (14MP)
comes with face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
30
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ7 Street photography features
Panasonic ZS20 Street photography features
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (133 grams)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
65
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has touch focus
lighter than competitors (206 grams)
no moving screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ7 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS20 as a Sports photography camera
43
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
47
incredible zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery pack (260 CIPA)
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ7 Travel photography information
Panasonic ZS20 Travel photography information
70
lighter than average in class (133 grams)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
very long zoom (250mm)
no Time Lapse mode
does not feature selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
68
lighter than competitors (206g)
has touch focus
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (24mm)
great reach (480mm)
no Timelapse recording
low battery pack (260 shots)
does not feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ7 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic ZS20 Landscape photography advice
42
pretty wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
no Time Lapse mode
42
decently wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
low battery pack (260 shots)
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ7 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic ZS20 Vlogging highlights
35
pretty wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average in class (133g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
no external mic jack
34
decently wide (24mm)
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors (206g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not feature selfie friendly display
no external microphone jack
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Panasonic SZ7 vs Panasonic ZS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ7 and Panasonic ZS20
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
General Information
Make Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
Also called - Lumix DMC-TZ30
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2012-01-09 2012-04-26
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4320 x 3240 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 23 23
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-250mm (10.0x) 24-480mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing range 4cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 8 seconds 15 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 10.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.60 m 6.40 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 133 grams (0.29 pounds) 206 grams (0.45 pounds)
Dimensions 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" 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 220 pictures 260 pictures
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $199 $349