Panasonic ZS100 vs Leica D-Lux 7 Comparison

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Panasonic ZS100

20 MP | 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) MOS Sensor

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Leica D-Lux 7

17 MP | Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) CMOS Sensor

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Panasonic ZS100 vs Leica D-Lux 7 Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing ZS100 and D-Lux 7, two Large Sensor Compact cameras from Panasonic and Leica. Panasonic ZS100 has a 20.0MP 1-inch sensor whereas Leica D-Lux 7 has a 17.0MP Four Thirds sensor. Panasonic ZS100 was introduced to market in January 2016 and Leica D-Lux 7 was launched in November 2018. As you can see, ZS100 is 2 years older than D-Lux 7. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Panasonic ZS100 and Leica D-Lux 7 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Panasonic ZS100 Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2016-01-05

20MP - 1-inch MOS Sensor

ISO 125 - 12800 ( expands to 80-25600)

25-250 mm F2.8-5.9 Zoom Lens

Optical Image Stabilization

3" Fixed Type Screen

1166k dot Electronic viewfinder

9.9 fps continuous shooting

4K (UHD) - 3840 x 2160 video resolution

Built-in Wireless

312g. 111 x 65 x 44 mm

Also known as Lumix DMC-TZ100

Leica D-Lux 7 Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2018-11-20

17MP - Four Thirds CMOS Sensor

ISO 200 - 25600

24-75 mm F1.7-2.8 Zoom Lens

Optical Image Stabilization

3" Fixed Type Screen

2760k dot Electronic viewfinder

11.0 fps continuous shooting

4K (UHD) - 3840 x 2160 video resolution

Built-in Wireless

403g. 118 x 66 x 64 mm

Replaced Leica D-Lux Compare

Panasonic ZS100 was replaced by Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS200. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS200 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100 (Lumix DMC-TZ100)
Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS200 vs Leica D-Lux 7

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Panasonic ZS100 and Leica D-Lux 7 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100 over Leica D-Lux 7

Built-in Flash	Yes vs No	Useful in low-light
Max Sensor Resolution	20 MP vs 17 MP	17% more pixels
Weight	312 g vs 403 g	91 g lighter
Focal Length - Tele	250mm vs 75mm	175 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom	10x vs 3.1x	more flexible focal coverage
4K Photo Mode	Yes vs No	Extract 8MP photos from 4K Video
Post Focus Mode	Yes vs No	Change focus point after taking a shot

Reasons to choose Leica D-Lux 7 over Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100

External Flash Shoe	Yes vs No	Better for flash photography
Viewfinder Magnification	0.7x vs 0.46x	Larger Viewfinder
Max ISO	25.600 vs 12.800	100% higher Max ISO
LCD Screen Resolution	1.240k dots vs 1.040k dots	19% higher resolution screen
Max Mech. Shutter	1/4000s vs 1/2000s	faster mechanical shutter
Continuous Shooting	11.0fps vs 9.9fps	1.1 fps faster
Battery Life	340 shots vs 300 shots	40 more frames with a single charge
Focal Length - Wide	24mm vs 25mm	1 mm wider coverage
Max Aperture - Wide	1.70 vs 2.80	faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele	2.80 vs 5.90	faster lens at tele
Viewfinder Resolution	2760k dot vs 1166k dot	136% higher resolution
Sensor Pixel Area	13.37µm² vs 5.82µm²	129% larger pixel area
Bluetooth	Yes vs No	Connect your camera to other devices via Blueetooth
UHS Card Support	UHS-I vs none	Read/Write in Ultra High Speeds

Common Strengths of Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100 and Leica D-Lux 7

Wireless Connection	Yes vs Yes	Better connectivity
Image Stabilization	Optical vs Optical	Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Touch Screen	Yes vs Yes	Easy control of camera functions
Viewfinder	Yes (Electronic) vs Yes (Electronic)	Better framing and control
RAW Support	Yes vs Yes	Better image quality
Face Detection Focus	Yes vs Yes	very handy for portraits
Max Resolution	20 MP vs 17 MP	Bigger prints and more details
LCD Screen Resolution	1.040k dots vs 1.240k dots	High resolution screens
Manual Focusing	Yes vs Yes	both have manual focusing modes
Manual Exposure	Yes vs Yes	better exposure control
Timelapse Recording	Yes vs Yes	creative shooting
AE Bracketing	Yes vs Yes	Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Smartphone Remote	Yes vs Yes	Remote control your camera with a smartphone

Common Weaknesses of Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100 and Leica D-Lux 7

Fixed Screen	Fixed Type vs No	No flexible viewing angles
Environmental Sealing	No vs No	not suitable for tough conditions

Panasonic ZS100 vs Leica D-Lux 7: 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 ZS100 and Leica D-Lux 7 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Panasonic ZS100 has external dimensions of 111 x 65 x 44 mm (4.37 x 2.56 x 1.73″) and weighs 312 g (0.69 lb / 11.01 oz) (including batteries). Leica D-Lux 7 has external dimensions of 118 x 66 x 64 mm (4.65 x 2.6 x 2.52″) and weighs 403 g (0.89 lb / 14.22 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Panasonic ZS100 and Leica D-Lux 7. Panasonic ZS100 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 7mm narrower, 1mm shorter and 20mm thinner than Leica D-Lux 7.

Comparison image of Panasonic ZS100 and Leica D-Lux 7 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Panasonic ZS100 and Leica D-Lux 7.

Comparison image of Panasonic ZS100 and Leica D-Lux 7 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Panasonic ZS100 and Leica D-Lux 7.

Top View Comparison image of Panasonic ZS100 and Leica D-Lux 7 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Panasonic ZS100 is significantly lighter (91g ) than the Leica D-Lux 7 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

ZS100

D-Lux 7

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

ZS100

D-Lux 7

Min

Average

Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100 (Lumix DMC-TZ100) nor Leica D-Lux 7 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

LCD Screen Size and Features

Panasonic ZS100 and Leica D-Lux 7's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 3".

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

Panasonic ZS100 vs Leica D-Lux 7: Sensor Comparison

Panasonic ZS100 has a 20.0MP 1-inch (13.2 x 8.8 mm ) sized MOS sensor and features Venus Engine processor. On the other hand, Leica D-Lux 7 has a 17.0MP Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm ) sized CMOS sensor .

Below you can see the ZS100 and D-Lux 7 sensor size comparison.

Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Panasonic ZS100 and Leica D-Lux 7 Cameras

As seen above, Leica D-Lux 7 has a 1.9x Larger sensor area than Panasonic ZS100. 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 ZS100 vs Leica D-Lux 7 Lens Specs Comparison

Panasonic ZS100 features a 25-250 mm F2.8-5.9 10x zoom lens whereas Leica D-Lux 7 features a 24-75 mm F1.7-2.8 3.1x zoom lens.

Leica D-Lux 7 has 1mm wider coverage than the Panasonic ZS100. At f1.70, it is also faster at widest end. On the tele end, Panasonic ZS100 has 175mm longer reach than the Leica D-Lux 7. However, with a max aperture of f2.80, Leica D-Lux 7 is faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

ZS100

D-Lux 7

Widest - Canon G1 X II

Average

Telezoom

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

ZS100

D-Lux 7

Longest - Panasonic ZS200

Average

Max Aperture at Tele

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

ZS100

D-Lux 7

Fastest - Leica Q

Average

Max Aperture at Wide

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

ZS100

D-Lux 7

Fastest - Panasonic LX10

Average

What types of Photography are Panasonic ZS100 and Leica D-Lux 7 Good for?

In this section, we rank and compare Panasonic ZS100 and Leica D-Lux 7 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 ZS100 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Leica D-Lux 7 for Portrait Photography

GOOD

Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
No External Flash Shoe
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 17.0MP
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Panasonic ZS100 for Street Photography

EXCELLENT

Leica D-Lux 7 for Street Photography

EXCELLENT

Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.80
25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Read the details

Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fast Lens at Wide: f1.70
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Read the details

Panasonic ZS100 for Sports Photography

AVERAGE

Leica D-Lux 7 for Sports Photography

AVERAGE

Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 9.9fps
49 Focus Points
Wireless Connection
250 mm Tele Lens
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
No External Flash Shoe
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.90
Read the details

Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 11.0fps
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
49 Focus Points
Wireless Connection
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
75 mm Tele Lens
Read the details

Panasonic ZS100 for Daily Photography

GOOD

Leica D-Lux 7 for Daily Photography

GOOD

RAW shooting capability
Compact Body
10.0X Optical Zoom
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
312g
Body Thickness 44mm
Read the details

Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
RAW shooting capability
Compact Body
403g
Body Thickness 64mm
3.1X Optical Zoom
Read the details

Panasonic ZS100 for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE

Leica D-Lux 7 for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE

Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 17.0MP
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Panasonic ZS100 vs Leica D-Lux 7: 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 ZS100 and Leica D-Lux 7, 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 ZS100 and Leica D-Lux 7 scores compare:

Panasonic ZS100

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #7 out of 61 in Large Sensor Compact cameras
Ranked #154 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Leica D-Lux 7

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #19 out of 61 in Large sensor compact cameras
Ranked #213 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Panasonic ZS100 has a higher Overall Score than the Leica D-Lux 7. It also has more features, more compact body and offers higher value for the money. But there is one area that ZS100 trails behind the D-Lux 7: Imaging.
If image quality is the most important aspect in a camera, choose the Leica D-Lux 7. If not, we recommend the Panasonic ZS100.

Leica D-Lux 7 vs Panasonic ZS100 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100	Leica D-Lux 7
Brand	Panasonic	Leica
Announced	2016-01-05	2018-11-20
Body Type	Large Sensor Compact	Large sensor compact
Sensor
Type	MOS	CMOS
Size	1-inch	Four Thirds
Dimensions	13.2 x 8.8 mm	17.3 x 13 mm
Area	116.16mm²	224.90mm²
Megapixels	20 megapixels	17 megapixels
Max Resolution	5472 x 3648	4736 x 3552
Max Native Light sensitivity	12,800 ISO	25,600 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity	25600 ISO	-
Min Native Light sensitivity	125 ISO	200 ISO
Min Boosted Light Sensitivity	80 ISO	100 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	49	49
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	fixed lens	fixed lens
Lens Focal Range	25-250 mm (10x)	24-75 mm (3.1x)
Max Aperture	F2.8-5.9	F1.7-2.8
Macro Focus Range	5cm	3cm
Screen
Type	Fixed type	Fixed type
Size	3"	3"
Resolution	1,040k dots	1,240k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	Electronic	Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution	1,166k dots	2,760k dots
Viewfinder Coverage	100%	100%
Viewfinder Magnification	0.46x	0.7x
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter	1/2000s	1/4000s
Max Electronic Shutter	1/16000s	1/16000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization	Optical	Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	8.00 m (at Auto ISO)	no built-in flash
External Flash
Continuous Shooting	9.9 fps	11.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution	3840 x 2160	3840 x 2160
Video Formats	MPEG-4, AVCHD	MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	Built-In	Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight	312g	403g
Dimensions	111 x 65 x 44mm	118 x 66 x 64mm
Battery Life	300 shots	340 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None	None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score	70	not tested
DxO Color Depth	22.8	not tested
DxO Dynamic Range	12.5	not tested
DxO Low Light ISO	559	not tested
	Report a correction	Report a correction