Panasonic ZS1 vs Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro Comparison

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Panasonic ZS1

10 MP | 1/2.5" (5.744 x 4.308 mm) CCD Sensor

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Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro

12 MP | APS-C (23.6 x 15.7 mm) CMOS Sensor

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Panasonic ZS1 vs Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two cameras with different body types: Panasonic ZS1, which was introduced in May 2009 is a Small Sensor Superzoom camera with a 10.0MP 1/2.5-inch sensor whereas Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro, which was introduced in November 2009 is a Advanced Mirrorless camera with a 12.0MP APS-C sensor. There is only 6 months difference between ZS1 and GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and technology level.

Comparing an interchangeble lens camera to a fixed lens camera is a bit tricky but we will do our best to make this a fair comparison.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Panasonic ZS1 and Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Panasonic ZS1 Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2009-05-14

10MP - 1/2.5-inch CCD Sensor

ISO 100 - 6400

25-300 mm F3.3-4.9 Zoom Lens

Optical Image Stabilization

2.7" Fixed Type Screen

3 fps continuous shooting

- 640 x 480 video resolution

229g. 103 x 60 x 33 mm

Also known as Lumix DMC-TZ6

Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2009-11-10

12MP - APS-C CMOS Sensor

ISO 200 - 3200

50 mm F2.5 Zoom Lens

3" Fixed Type Screen

3 fps continuous shooting

HD - 1280 x 720 video resolution

453g. 114 x 70 x 77 mm

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Panasonic ZS1 and Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 over Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro

Image Stabilization	Optical vs None	Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Face Detection Focus	Yes vs No	very handy for portraits
Max ISO	6.400 vs 3.200	100% higher Max ISO
Weight	229 g vs 453 g	224 g lighter
Focal Length - Wide	25mm vs 50mm	25 mm wider coverage
Focal Length - Tele	300mm vs 50mm	250 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom	12× vs 1×	more flexible focal coverage
Flash Coverage	5.3m vs 3.0m	2.3m longer range

Reasons to choose Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro over Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1

External Flash Shoe	Yes vs No	Better for flash photography
RAW Support	Yes vs No	Better image quality
Max Sensor Resolution	12 MP vs 10 MP	19% more pixels
LCD Screen Size	3" vs 2.7"	0.3 inches larger display
LCD Screen Resolution	920k dots vs 230k dots	300% higher resolution screen
Max Mech. Shutter	1/3200s vs 1/2000s	faster mechanical shutter
Manual Exposure	Yes vs No	better exposure control
Timelapse Recording	Yes vs No	creative shooting
Max Aperture - Wide	2.50 vs 3.30	faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele	2.50 vs 4.90	faster lens at tele
Sensor Pixel Area	30.35µm² vs 2.48µm²	1123% larger pixel area
Max Video Resolution	1280 x 720 vs 640 x 480	Higher Resolution Video

Common Strengths of Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 and Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro

Built-in Flash	Yes vs Yes	Useful in low-light

Common Weaknesses of Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 and Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro

Fixed Screen	Fixed Type vs No	No flexible viewing angles
Environmental Sealing	No vs No	not suitable for tough conditions
AE Bracketing	No vs No	Not good for multi-exposure HDR

Panasonic ZS1 vs Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Panasonic ZS1 and Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Panasonic ZS1 has external dimensions of 103 x 60 x 33 mm (4.06 x 2.36 x 1.3″) and weighs 229 g (0.50 lb / 8.08 oz) (including batteries). Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro has external dimensions of 114 x 70 x 77 mm (4.49 x 2.76 x 3.03″) and weighs 453 g (1.00 lb / 15.98 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Panasonic ZS1 and Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro. Panasonic ZS1 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 11mm narrower, 10mm shorter and 44mm thinner than Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro.

Comparison image of Panasonic ZS1 and Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Panasonic ZS1 is significantly lighter (224g ) than the Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

ZS1

GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

ZS1

GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro

Min

Average

Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 (Lumix DMC-TZ6) nor Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro provides any type of weather sealing in their body, so you have to give extra care especially when you are shooting outdoors. If weather sealing is a must-have feature for you, check these sections:
Top Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing
Top Mirrorless Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro's 3" LCD screen is slightly larger than Panasonic ZS1's 2.7" screen.

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.

Panasonic ZS1 vs Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro: Sensor Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 has a 10.0MP 1/2.5-inch (5.744 x 4.308 mm ) sized CCD sensor . On the other hand, Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro has a 12.0MP APS-C (23.6 x 15.7 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features GR engine III processor.

Below you can see the ZS1 and GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro sensor size comparison.

Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Panasonic ZS1 and Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro Cameras

As seen above, Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro has a 15.0x Larger sensor area than Panasonic ZS1. Larger sensors give photographer more control on the depth of field and blurry background compared to smaller sensor when shot in same focal length and aperture.

Panasonic ZS1 vs Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro Lens Specs Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 features a 25-300 mm F3.3-4.9 12× zoom lens whereas Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro features a 50 mm F2.5 1× zoom lens.

Panasonic ZS1 has 25mm wider coverage than the Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro. On the other hand, with a max aperture of f2.50, Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro is faster at widest end. On the tele end, Panasonic ZS1 has 250mm longer reach than the Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro. However, with a max aperture of f2.50, Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro is faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

ZS1

GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro

Widest - Ricoh WG-M1

Average

Telezoom

Mirrorless Cameras

ZS1

GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro

Longest - Canon SX520 HS

Average

Max Aperture at Tele

Mirrorless Cameras

ZS1

GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro

Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV

Average

Max Aperture at Wide

Mirrorless Cameras

ZS1

GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro

Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6

Average

What types of Photography are Panasonic ZS1 and Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro Good for?

In this section, we rank and compare Panasonic ZS1 and Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Panasonic ZS1 for Portrait Photography

POOR

Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Image Stabilization
Small 1/2.5" (5.744 x 4.308 mm) sensor
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.7 mm) sensor
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Optional External Viewfinder
Average Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Panasonic ZS1 for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Image Stabilization
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.5" (5.744 x 4.308 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
Read the details

Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.7 mm) sensor
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.50
Optional External Viewfinder
Medium sized Body
No Image Stabilization
No Live-view
50 mm - Poor Wide Angle Coverage
Read the details

Panasonic ZS1 for Sports Photography

POOR

Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro for Sports Photography

AVERAGE

Image Stabilization
11 Focus Points
300 mm Tele Lens
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Slow Continuous Shooting: 3.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Read the details

RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Optional External Viewfinder
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Average Max shutter speed: 1/3200s
No Image Stabilization
Slow Continuous Shooting: 3.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Focus Points
50 mm Tele Lens
Read the details

Panasonic ZS1 for Daily Photography

GOOD

Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Compact Body
229g
12.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.5" (5.744 x 4.308 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details

Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.7 mm) sensor
RAW shooting capability
Medium size Body
453g
Body Thickness 77mm
Read the details

Panasonic ZS1 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro for Landscape Photography

POOR

25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.5" (5.744 x 4.308 mm) sensor
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.7 mm) sensor
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
No Environmental Sealings
50 mm - Poor Wide Angle Coverage
Read the details

Panasonic ZS1 vs Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Panasonic ZS1 and Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 63 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Panasonic ZS1 and Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro scores compare:

Panasonic ZS1

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #378 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #1058 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #118 out of 127 in Rangefinder-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #517 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro is the overall winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Panasonic ZS1 in all criteria except one: Portability.
If small size and light body is a big priority for you, choose Panasonic ZS1. Otherwise, Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro is the better camera overall.

Panasonic ZS1

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Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro

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Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro vs Panasonic ZS1 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1	Ricoh GXR A12 50mm F2.5 Macro
Brand	Panasonic	Ricoh
Announced	2009-05-14	2009-11-10
Body Type	Compact	Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor
Type	CCD	CMOS
Size	1/2.5-inch	APS-C
Dimensions	5.744 x 4.308 mm	23.6 x 15.7 mm
Area	24.74mm²	370.52mm²
Megapixels	10 megapixels	12 megapixels
Max Resolution	3648 x 2736	4288 x 2848
Max Native Light sensitivity	6,400 ISO	3,200 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity	100 ISO	200 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points	11	n/a
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	fixed lens	fixed lens
Lens Focal Range	25-300 mm (12×)	50 mm (1×)
Max Aperture	F3.3-4.9	F2.5
Macro Focus Range	3cm	1cm
Screen
Type	Fixed type	Fixed type
Size	2.7"	3"
Resolution	230k dots	920k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	None	Electronic (optional)
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter	1/2000s	1/3200s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization	Optical	No
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	5.30 m (Auto ISO)	3.00 m
Max Flash Sync	n/a	s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting	3.0 fps	3.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution	640 x 480	1280 x 720
Video Formats	Motion JPEG	Motion JPEG
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	None	None
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight	229g	453g
Dimensions	103 x 60 x 33mm	114 x 70 x 77mm
Battery Life	n/a	320 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None	None
DxO Sensor Scores
	Report a correction	Report a correction