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Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony WX1

Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1 front
Portability
96
Imaging
33
Features
18
Overall
27

Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony WX1 Key Specs

Panasonic ZR1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-200mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 158g - 98 x 55 x 26mm
  • Introduced July 2009
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-ZX1
Sony WX1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.4-5.9) lens
  • 149g - 91 x 52 x 20mm
  • Revealed August 2009
Photography Glossary

Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony WX1 Overview

In this article, we are looking at the Panasonic ZR1 versus Sony WX1, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Ultracompact by competitors Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the ZR1 (12MP) and the WX1 (10MP) is fairly close but the ZR1 (1/2.3") and WX1 (1/2.4") enjoy different sensor dimensions.

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The ZR1 was released about the same time to the WX1 so they are of a similar age. Both cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic ZR1 being a Compact camera and the Sony WX1 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go through a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the ZR1 scores against the WX1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR1 over the Sony WX1

 ZR1 WX1 

Reasons to pick Sony WX1 over the Panasonic ZR1

 WX1 ZR1 

Common features in the Panasonic ZR1 and Sony WX1

 ZR1 WX1 
RevealedJuly 2009August 2009Same age
Focus manually Lack of manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing2.7"2.7"Equivalent display sizing
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch display Neither contains Touch display

Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony WX1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry around your camera frequently, you need to consider its weight and size. The Panasonic ZR1 has got outer measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") accompanied by a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs) whilst the Sony WX1 has specifications of 91mm x 52mm x 20mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.8") and a weight of 149 grams (0.33 lbs).

See the Panasonic ZR1 versus Sony WX1 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you choose at the time. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the ZR1 vs the WX1.

Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony WX1 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the ZR1 and WX1 is 94 and 96 respectively.

Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony WX1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony WX1 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be tough to picture the gap in sensor sizes just by researching specifications. The image below will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the ZR1 and WX1.

To sum up, both cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The ZR1 due to its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF less difficult and the Panasonic ZR1 will render more detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop pics a little more aggressively.

Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony WX1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony WX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony WX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic ZR1
Portrait photography with Sony WX1
20
lack of manual focus
no manual mode
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
19
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.4")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic ZR1
Street photography with Sony WX1
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
55
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.4")
no RAW files
heavier than competition in class (149g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZR1 Sports photography details
Sony WX1 Sports photography details
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
26
image stabilization (Optical)
no shutter priority
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.4")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZR1 as a Travel photography camera
Sony WX1 as a Travel photography camera
57
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
56
built-in flash
quite wide (24mm)
no Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition in class (149g)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZR1 Landscape photography advice
Sony WX1 Landscape photography advice
32
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
no manual mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
lack of Timelapse mode
31
quite wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.4)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
manual mode not possible
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.4")
no RAW files
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZR1 Vlogging information
Sony WX1 Vlogging information
28
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone socket
28
quite wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.4)
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external mic support
heavier than competition in class (149 grams)
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Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony WX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZR1 and Sony WX1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-ZX1 -
Type Small Sensor Compact Ultracompact
Introduced 2009-07-27 2009-08-06
Physical type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine V Bionz
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.4"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 80 160
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-200mm (8.0x) 24-120mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.3-5.9 f/2.4-5.9
Macro focusing range 3cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7" 2.7"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 2 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.10 m 5.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync
External flash
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 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG -
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 158 gr (0.35 lb) 149 gr (0.33 lb)
Dimensions 98 x 55 x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") 91 x 52 x 20mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.8")
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
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC card, Internal Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail price $280 $149