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Panasonic SZ8 vs Ricoh CX5

Portability
94
Imaging
40
Features
31
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 front
 
Ricoh CX5 front
Portability
92
Imaging
34
Features
35
Overall
34

Panasonic SZ8 vs Ricoh CX5 Key Specs

Panasonic SZ8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Bump to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
  • 159g - 100 x 60 x 27mm
  • Revealed January 2014
Ricoh CX5
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-300mm (F3.5-5.6) lens
  • 205g - 102 x 59 x 29mm
  • Released July 2011
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Panasonic SZ8 vs Ricoh CX5 Overview

Following is a detailed analysis of the Panasonic SZ8 vs Ricoh CX5, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by companies Panasonic and Ricoh. There exists a sizable gap between the sensor resolutions of the SZ8 (16MP) and CX5 (10MP) but they use the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SZ8 was released 2 years after the CX5 which is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving in to a detailed comparison, below is a brief overview of how the SZ8 matches up against the CX5 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ8 over the Ricoh CX5

 SZ8 CX5 
ReleasedJanuary 2014July 2011More modern by 31 months

Reasons to pick Ricoh CX5 over the Panasonic SZ8

 CX5 SZ8 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Display resolution920k460kCrisper display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic SZ8 and Ricoh CX5

 SZ8 CX5 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Panasonic SZ8 vs Ricoh CX5 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry around your camera frequently, you should consider its weight and size. The Panasonic SZ8 comes with physical dimensions of 100mm x 60mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") with a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs) while the Ricoh CX5 has specifications of 102mm x 59mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 205 grams (0.45 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic SZ8 vs Ricoh CX5 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you choose during that time. Underneath is the front view proportions comparison of the SZ8 and the CX5.

Panasonic SZ8 vs Ricoh CX5 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ8 and CX5 is 94 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic SZ8 vs Ricoh CX5 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ8 vs Ricoh CX5 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is difficult to picture the gap between sensor sizes merely by reading through a spec sheet. The picture below should offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ8 and CX5.

As you can see, both of the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but different megapixels. You can expect to see the Panasonic SZ8 to resolve greater detail as a result of its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will help you crop pics much more aggressively. The newer SZ8 provides a benefit in sensor tech.

Panasonic SZ8 vs Ricoh CX5 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ8 vs Ricoh CX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ8 vs Ricoh CX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Portrait photography factors
Ricoh CX5 Portrait photography factors
35
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
comes with face detection focus
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
28
manual focus
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic SZ8
Street photography with Ricoh CX5
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (159g)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others (205 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic SZ8
Sports photography with Ricoh CX5
34
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
low fps (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
bad battery life (200 CIPA)
no phase detect auto focus
25
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Travel photography details
Ricoh CX5 Travel photography details
67
lighter than competitors in class (159 grams)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (24mm)
long zoom (288mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
bad battery life (200 per charge)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
66
lighter than others (205g)
has built in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
very long zoom (300mm)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Landscape photography highlights
Ricoh CX5 Landscape photography highlights
42
rather wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
bad battery life (200 CIPA)
does not have Timelapse recording
45
manual focus
pretty wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Vlogging highlights
Ricoh CX5 Vlogging highlights
32
rather wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focus
lighter than competitors in class (159g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external microphone socket
30
pretty wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others (205g)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external mic support
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Panasonic SZ8 vs Ricoh CX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ8 and Ricoh CX5
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8Ricoh CX5
General Information
Make Panasonic Ricoh
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 Ricoh CX5
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2014-01-06 2011-07-19
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine Smooth Imaging Engine IV
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Max boosted ISO 6400 -
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 9 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-288mm (12.0x) 28-300mm (10.7x)
Largest aperture f/3.1-6.3 f/3.5-5.6
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8 secs 8 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.20 m 4.00 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow 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 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 159g (0.35 pounds) 205g (0.45 pounds)
Dimensions 100 x 60 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") 102 x 59 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 200 photographs -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery model - DB-100
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2, 10 or Custom)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $275 $399