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Panasonic SZ10

 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ10 front
 
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Bump to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
  • 177g - 99 x 60 x 30mm
  • Announced January 2015
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
93
Imaging
40
Features
34
Overall
37

Panasonic SZ10 summary

Panasonic SZ10 is Panasonic's Small Sensor Superzoom camera first launched on January of 2015. The camera houses a 16MP, CCD 1/2.3" sized sensor and has a full resolution of 4608 x 3456.

The SZ10 stands at #168 out of 244 in Small Sensor Superzoom cameras & overall #805 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our database. Please try out our Advanced camera filter to get camera results based on your personal criteria.

Photography Glossary

The following is a graph of various factors used in the rating system.

Panasonic SZ10 family

The Panasonic SZ10 has a history of related digital cameras. Underneath, you can identify all past and newer models along with key specifications.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-SZ10 front thumbnailPanasonic SZ10 24-288mm
F3.1-6.3
16MP1/2.3"2015
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-SZ8 front thumbnailPanasonic SZ8
SZ10 vs SZ8
24-288mm
F3.1-6.3
16MP1/2.3"2014
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Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-SZ3 front thumbnailPanasonic SZ3
SZ10 vs SZ3
25-250mm
F3.1-5.9
16MP1/2.3"2013
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-SZ5 front thumbnailPanasonic SZ5
SZ10 vs SZ5
25-250mm
F3.1-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2012
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-SZ7 front thumbnailPanasonic SZ7
SZ10 vs SZ7
25-250mm
F3.1-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2012
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-S2 front thumbnailPanasonic S2
SZ10 vs S2
28-112mm
F3.1-6.5
14MP1/2.3"2012
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Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-SZ1 front thumbnailPanasonic SZ1
SZ10 vs SZ1
25-250mm
F3.1-5.9
16MP1/2.3"2012
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-S1 front thumbnailPanasonic S1
SZ10 vs S1
28-112mm
F3.1-5.6
12MP1/2.3"2011
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-S3 front thumbnailPanasonic S3
SZ10 vs S3
28-112mm
F3.1-5.6
14MP1/2.3"2011

Panasonic SZ10 Pros and Cons

Below is a shortlist of positives and negatives of the Panasonic SZ10 based on things which are normally regarded as crucial in a camera.

above average minimum ISO (100)
decently wide (24mm)
flash built-in
good resolution (16MP)
good zoom range (24-288mm 12.0 x zoom)
great zoom (288mm)
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (177g)
nice screen size (3 inches)
provides face detection autofocus
cannot use external flash
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of manual focus
lack of shutter priority mode
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
low battery life (200 per charge)
max fps low (1.4 frames per second)
no aperture priority mode
no external mic socket
no HDMI socket
no headphone socket
no manual control
no phase detect autofocus
no RAW support
no Time Lapse recording
pixelated screen (460 thousand dots)
slow at full zoom (f6.3)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
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Panasonic SZ10 Sensor info

The sensor specification in the Panasonic SZ10 is 6.08mm x 4.56mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor has the capability to capture 4608 x 3456 pixels and aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. The camera features Image Stabilization (Optical). In body stabilization is more effective than digital stabilization as the latter might produce cropping.

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The CCD sensor has 16MP and delivers a native ISO range of 100 - 1600. This ISO can be expanded electronically to a high of 6400. Sadly, RAW files are not supported therefore the user has less room to maneuver in post.

The picture underneath displays the SZ10's sensor dimensions compared to other common sizes. The SZ10 sensor has a crop factor of 5.9 and is highlighted in green.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ10 sensor size Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

To get a sense of specific aspect ratios, you can refer to the visual below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Panasonic SZ10 dimensions

Panasonic SZ10 weighs about 0.39 lb (177 grams / 6.24 oz) & the volume of the camera is 99mm x 60mm x 30mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.2"). The weight of average Small Sensor Superzoom camera is 387 grams so the Panasonic SZ10 is less heavy in comparison with its competitors.

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Down below is a shot of the Panasonic SZ10 beside a soft drink so you're able to get a sense of its scale.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ10 dimensions scale

The top view under will show you the button design on the SZ10.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ10 topview buttons dials

Panasonic SZ10 Lens info

The SZ10 offers a built in lens and it has a focal range of 24-288mm making it a 12.0 x zoom which won't be significant however it can be handy in certain circumstances.

At the widest 24mm, the lens features an aperture of f3.1 which will be really slow and not ideal for low light circumstances and you may find it hard to get a shallow depth of field. You would also need to boost the ISO which causes noisy pictures. For the tele end, 288mm is excellent zoom and comes to f6.3 which is quite slow and you would need to choose slow shutter speeds.

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Panasonic SZ10 Connectivity

The SZ10 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • Wireless Yes

Digital cameras that consist of NFC and Bluetooth connectivity are able to be controlled wirelessly with smartphones. You are able to transfer photos and usually change camera settings without the hassle of connecting physically to the camera.

Many applications even give a Liveview and release the shutter in case you are not near the camera. If the camera comes with a HDMI port, it can easily be hooked up to an external monitor. Most cameras enable you to recharge the battery pack using the USB socket.

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Panasonic SZ10 Video info

The highest possible video quality in the Panasonic SZ10 is 1280 x 720 and you can shoot in Motion JPEG format. 720p is low for today's requirements. You really should strive for a minimum 1080p quality for decent video. The camera does not offer a microphone and headphone socket which means that you have little control over the audio. It is perhaps a better idea to find a different model if you need decent audio for your video clips.

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Panasonic SZ10 Weather Sealing

There is no environment sealing in the Panasonic SZ10 so you need to be careful in wet or dusty conditions.

Panasonic SZ10 Display and Viewfinder

The Panasonic SZ10 is equipped with a 3 inch tilting screen supporting a resolution of 460 thousand dots.

Sadly the screen is not a touch screen.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ10 screen and viewfinder Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

The ViewFinder specifications for Panasonic SZ10 are the following:

  • ViewFinder None

Viewfinders are really useful for sunny outdoor conditions which can easily make the camera display washed out and very difficult to see.

Panasonic SZ10 Shutter info

Panasonic SZ10 continuous shooting rate is 1.4 frames per second. The maximum shutter speed is 1/2000s.

Photography Glossary

Panasonic SZ10 Flash and Hot shoe info

Panasonic SZ10 features only integrated flash with no external flash support.

Panasonic SZ10 Autofocusing info

Panasonic SZ10 features just Contrast Detect Autofocus & does not have Phase Detect Autofocus. Phase Detection focusing is a lot more quicker & accurate in comparison with Contrast Detect focusing. The camera supports Face detect which is useful for portrait photography.

The Sensor supports 9 focus points to pick from. Panasonic SZ10 has no manual focus. Manual focus option is useful for low light occasions or you need more precise focus control.

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Panasonic SZ10 Battery life

The battery life in the Panasonic SZ10 is made to last for 200 clicks based on the CIPA requirements making it lesser compared with it's competitors. The average Small Sensor Superzoom camera battery life is 316. Fujifilm HS35EXR features the best (600) battery life for this range of cameras.

Here is a listing of Small Sensor Superzoom cameras having the highest battery life:

Panasonic SZ10 for various kinds of photography

The following graph displays a summary of the Panasonic SZ10 for various kinds of photography. To look at more, visit the specific paragraph underneath.

Panasonic SZ10 Portrait photography features

The Panasonic SZ10 has a points total of 35 which is lousy, and means the camera is simply not good for portrait photography. Taking portrait photos leans greatly towards sensor specs, support for RAW photos & capability to use off-camera flash.

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MP count good (16MP)
has face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support

Panasonic SZ10 Street photography highlights

Getting a nice score of 70, the Panasonic SZ10 is a fine choice to use in street photography. A good street photography camera has a good balance of image quality plus portability.

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screen tilts
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (177g)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format

Panasonic SZ10 Sports photography information

A lousy sports photography points total of 34 suggests the Panasonic SZ10 is simply not good for photographing sports. A camera should have very good focusing plus fast continuous shooting for sports photography.

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image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
slow fps (1.4 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (200 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus

Panasonic SZ10 as a Travel photography camera

Portability is pretty crucial in picking a camera for travel. All things considered, the Panasonic SZ10 gets a nice 67 for a travelling camera which makes it a good fit to buy for your vacations.

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lighter than competitors (177 grams)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (24mm)
long reach (288mm)
no Timelapse recording
terrible battery power (200 per charge)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.1)

Panasonic SZ10 as a Landscape photography camera

When you're looking to pick a camera for landscape pictures, the most essential aspect will be image quality. The Panasonic SZ10 at it's lousy grade of 41 for a landscape camera is simply not good amongst its competition.

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decently wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
no manual exposure
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
bad battery life (200 shots)
no Time Lapse mode

Vlogging with Panasonic SZ10

A camera for vlogging really should have a moving screen, microphone port and preferably IBIS. Taking everything into account, the Panasonic SZ10 is simply not good for vlogging as it receives a lousy rating of 32.

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really wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect autofocus
lighter than others (177 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing mic port

Panasonic SZ10 Alternatives

If you want alternatives to the SZ10, here is a number of the top scored cameras which fall into the class of Small Sensor Superzoom.

The line chart listed below offers you a bird's eye view of the SZ10 compared to it's top rated competitors listed earlier.

There are a bunch of cameras you might take into account as alternate options. To browse through a detailed comparison, go to the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Manufacturer
Panasonic
Model
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ10
Class
Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced
2015-01-06
Physical type
Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CCD
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions
6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area
27.7mm²
Sensor resolution
16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio
1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution
4608 x 3456
RAW format
Highest native ISO
1600
Highest enhanced ISO
6400
Min native ISO
100
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points
9
Lens
Lens mount
fixed lens
Lens focal range
24-288mm (12.0x)
Max aperture
f/3.1-6.3
Focal length multiplier
5.9
Screen
Display type
Tilting
Display sizing
3 inches
Resolution of display
460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type
None
DXO scores
DXO Overall score
not tested
DXO Color Depth score
not tested
DXO Dynamic range score
not tested
DXO Low light score
not tested
Features
Minimum shutter speed
8 seconds
Fastest shutter speed
1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate
1.4 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range
5.20 m
Flash options
Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, on, slow sync w/redeye, off
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions
1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p)
Highest video resolution
1280x720
Video file format
Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless
Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight
177 gr (0.39 lb)
Dimensions
99 x 60 x 30mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.2")
Other
Battery life
200 pictures
Battery type
Battery Pack
Self timer
Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage
SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots
One
Retail price
$200