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Panasonic SZ5 Review

  • Overview
  • Alternatives
  • Panasonic SZ5

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    Main Features

    • 14MP - 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor
    • ISO 100 - 1600( expands to 6400)
    • 25-250 mm F3.1-5.9 Zoom Lens
    • Optical Image Stabilization
    • 3" Fixed Type Screen
    • 2 fps continuous shooting
    • HD - 1280 x 720 video
    • Built-in Wireless
    • 136g. 104 x 58 x 21 mm
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    CHECK PRICE

    Panasonic SZ5 Overview

    First introduced in July 2012 , Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 is a 14.0MP Small Sensor Compact camera with a 1/2.3-inch (6.08 x 4.56 mm ) sized CCD sensor, built-in Image Stabilization and 25-250 mm F3.1-5.9 lens.

    Panasonic SZ5 Review - Click for Table of Contents

    1. Overview
    2. Pros and Cons
    3. Sensor and Photography Features
    4. Physical Specs
    5. LCD and Viewfinder
    6. Connectivity, Storage and Battery
    7. Video
    8. Other Features
    9. Lens
    10. Photography Type Scores
    11. Alternatives
    12. Popular Comparisons
    13. Frequently Asked Questions
    14. Detailed Specifications

    Panasonic SZ5 has an Overall Score of 35/100 and ranked #349 out of 629 in Compact cameras (Top 10 Compact), and ranked #924 out of 1223 in all Cameras (Top 10 Overall).

    Main Scores
    Imaging
    Features
    Value for Money
    Portability
    Overall Score
    Check our Smart Finder Tool to filter, sort and compare all digital cameras.



    Panasonic SZ5 Physical Specs
    Panasonic SZ5 weighs 136 g (0.30 lb / 4.80 oz) and has external dimensions of 104 x 58 x 21 mm (4.09 x 2.28 x 0.83″). Considering that the average weight of Compact type cameras is 188g, Panasonic SZ5 is a remarkably light camera for its class. Even better, with a thickness of only 21mm, it is also quite small, 7mm thinner than the average of its class.
    Weight Comparison

    Compact Cameras

    Panasonic SZ5
    Min
    Average
    Max
    Thickness Comparison

    Compact Cameras

    Panasonic SZ5
    Min
    Average
    Max

    Here is the front and top view image of Panasonic SZ5 with the dimensions:

    Panasonic SZ5 Body Size Dimensions
    Front and Top View External Dimensions and Size of Panasonic SZ5 Camera Body

    In order to give you a better idea about the real life size of Panasonic SZ5, we have added an image of how it looks next to a credit card and an AA type battery.


    Panasonic SZ5 Body Size Compared to a Credit card and a Battery
    Physical size of the Panasonic SZ5 Body Compared to a Credit Card and an AA Battery


    Below you can find the comparison of the weight and thickness of Panasonic SZ5 with its main competitors:

    Panasonic SZ5 Size Compared to Main Competitors
    Model Weight vs SZ5 Thickness vs SZ5
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 Camera Fujifilm X-A2
    Compare
    350g 214g heavier 40mm 19mm thicker
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 Camera Fujifilm T400
    Compare
    159g 23g heavier 29mm 8mm thicker
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 Camera Panasonic ZS50
    Compare
    243g 107g heavier 34mm 13mm thicker
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 Camera Nikon D5
    Compare
    1415g 1279g heavier 92mm 71mm thicker
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 Camera Canon A3400 IS
    Compare
    126g 10g lighter 21mm equal thickness
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 Camera Canon 7D MII
    Compare
    910g 774g heavier 78mm 57mm thicker
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 Camera Canon 650D
    Compare
    575g 439g heavier 79mm 58mm thicker
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 Camera Panasonic TS30
    Compare
    142g 6g heavier 20mm 1mm thinner

    Weather Sealing

    Panasonic SZ5 doesn't have any environmental sealings on its body so you got to be extra careful to protect it against water and dust. If you shoot under these conditions very often, consider checking Top Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing page.

    Panasonic SZ5 Sensor and Photography Features

    Panasonic SZ5 has a 14.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.08 x 4.56 mm ) sized CCD sensor . You can shoot at maximum resolution of 4320 x 3240 pixels with aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. SZ5 has a native ISO range of 100 - 1600 which can be boosted to 6400 but unfortunately, Panasonic SZ5 doesn't have RAW file support. If you need a Compact camera with a RAW support, consider Nikon Coolpix P7100 or Canon PowerShot S120 in the same price range.

    Panasonic SZ5 is not the highest resolution Small Sensor camera. Kodak Astro Zoom AZ651 with its 21.0MP sensor is leading in this class. Check the comparison of Panasonic SZ5 vs Kodak Astro Zoom AZ651 or take a look at Highest resolution Compact cameras list.

    Let's look at how the size of the Panasonic SZ5's 1/2.3-inch sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

    Panasonic SZ5 Sensor Size Comparison
    Comparison image of Panasonic SZ5 Sensor Size with other standard sensors

    Panasonic SZ5 Lens

    Panasonic SZ5 features a 25-250 mm F3.1-5.9 10× zoom lens. Lens has a good wide angle capability starting at 25mm and 250mm reach on tele gives a lot of flexibility and satisfy most of your needs.

    Wide Coverage

    Compact Cameras

    SZ5
    Widest - Ricoh WG-M1
    Average
    Telezoom

    Compact Cameras

    SZ5
    Longest - Canon SX520 HS
    Average

    With a max aperture of f3.10 at 25mm, we can not consider this lens fast on wide end, and it is slow at the tele end with its max aperture of f5.90.

    Max Aperture at Wide

    Compact Cameras

    SZ5
    Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
    Average
    Max Aperture at Tele

    Compact Cameras

    SZ5
    Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
    Average

    SZ5 is also equipped with Optical image stabilization system which is very handy especially at lower shutter speeds.



    Panasonic SZ5 LCD

    Panasonic SZ5 has a Fixed Type 3" LCD screen with a resolution of 230k dots. Both the screen size and the screen resolution is up to the standards of this class.



    Panasonic SZ5 back view and LCD

    SZ5 doesn't have a viewfinder and no option for external viewfinder. Lack of a viewfinder can be problematic especially under strong light where visibility of LCD screens goes down dramatically. If you need a Compact camera with a built-in viewfinder in a similar price range, consider Nikon Coolpix P7100 (Compare) or Nikon Coolpix P7000 (Compare).
    If the price is not an issue, take a look at our Top Rated Cameras with Viewfinders.

    Panasonic SZ5 Connectivity, Storage and Battery

    Panasonic SZ5 features built-in wireless (Wi-Fi) connectivity ( IEEE 802.11b/g/n 2412MHz - 2462MHz (11ch)) which lets you transfer your photos directly to compatible devices without any physical connection.

    Panasonic SZ5 has a USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port to connect your camera to other devices.

    Battery

    Panasonic SZ5 is powered by a proprietary battery which provides a shooting life of 250 according to CIPA standards. Considering that the average battery life of Compact type cameras is 255 shots, its battery life is about average in its class but it would still be wise to invest in some spare batteries for long photo trips.

    Battery Life Comparison in Small Sensor Compact Cameras

    Panasonic SZ5
    Min
    Average
    Max

    Fujifilm X30 with its 470shots is the model with longest battery life among Small Sensor Compact cameras. Check the comparison of Panasonic SZ5 vs Fujifilm X30 or take a look at Longest Battery Life Compact cameras list.

    Panasonic SZ5 Features Compared to Main Competitors
    Model Max Video Battery Life Wi-fi Bluetooth NFC
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 Camera Fujifilm X-A2
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 410shots Yes No No
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 Camera Fujifilm T400
    Compare
    1280 x 720 180shots No No No
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 Camera Panasonic ZS50
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 300shots Yes No Yes
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 Camera Nikon D5
    Compare
    3840 x 2160 3780shots No No No
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 Camera Canon A3400 IS
    Compare
    1280 x 720 180shots No No No
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 Camera Canon 7D MII
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 670shots No No No
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 Camera Canon 650D
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 440shots No No No
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 Camera Panasonic TS30
    Compare
    1280 x 720 250shots No No No

    Panasonic SZ5 Video Features

    With Panasonic SZ5, you can record your videos at a highest resolution of 1280 x 720 at 30,25 fps and save in and MPEG-4 formats. 1280 x 720 is a low video resolution by todays standards. If video quality is important for you, we recommend you to look at cameras with Full HD, even better 4K / Ultra-HD resolution .

    SZ5 has a built-in Mono microphone and a Mono speaker.
    Panasonic SZ5 doesn't have any connections for external microphones and headphones. If you need a Compact camera with external microphone connectivity, consider Nikon Coolpix P7100 or Nikon Coolpix P7000 in a similar price range.

    Panasonic SZ5 Other Features

    Max Shutter speed

    Panasonic SZ5 can shoot continuously at max speed of 2 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/1600 sec.

    Flash

    Unfortunately SZ5 doesn't have an external flash shoe so you are limited with the built-in flash.

    Focusing

    Panasonic SZ5 features a Contrast Detection autofocusing system. The AF system has 23 points to choose from.

    Panasonic SZ5 also features Face detection AF where it intelligently detects the faces in the frame and locks the focus automatically.

    Panasonic SZ5 PROs and CONs Review

    Now let's get in to more details of our Panasonic SZ5 review by analysing its specs and features and listing out its pros and cons compared to average competitor cameras in its class.

    PROs
    Built-in Wireless (Wi-fi)
    Image Stabilization
    Face Detection Focusing
    23 Focus Points
    136g Light Body
    25mm Wide Angle Lens
    250mm Good Tele Lens
    3D Shooting Capability
    Panorama Shooting
    Report a correction

    Buy Panasonic SZ5 from AMAZON or B&H PHOTO


    CONs
    No Articulating Screen
    No External Flash Shoe
    No Full HD Video
    No Touch Screen
    No Built-in Viewfinder
    No RAW Shooting
    Low Resolution Sensor: 14.0MP
    Max Sensitivity only ISO 1.600
    Low Screen Resolution ( 230kdots )
    1/1600s Low Max Shutter Speed
    Slow Continuous Shooting: 2.0fps
    Low Battery Life: 250 shots
    No Manual Focusing
    No Manual Exposure
    No Environmental Sealing
    Slow Lens at Wide: f3.10
    Slow Lens at Tele: f5.90
    Report a correction
    What type of Photography is Panasonic SZ5 Good for?
    In this section, we review and score Panasonic SZ5 in 5 different photography areas.

    Panasonic SZ5 for Portrait Photography

    Panasonic SZ5 has a score of 22 for Portrait Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Portrait We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Portrait Photography list and consider these alternatives over theSZ5.
    Image Stabilization
    Average Resolution Sensor: 14.0MP
    Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
    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 of how we scored Panasonic SZ5 for Portrait Photography

    Panasonic SZ5 for Street Photography

    Panasonic SZ5 has a score of 55 for Street Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Street is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Street Photography list.
    Live-view
    Face-Detection Focusing
    Image Stabilization
    25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
    Small Body
    No Built-in Viewfinder
    No Manual Focus Mode
    No RAW shooting capability
    Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor

    Read the details of how we scored Panasonic SZ5 for Street Photography

    Panasonic SZ5 for Sports Photography

    Panasonic SZ5 has a score of 19 for Sports Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Sports We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Sports Photography list and consider these alternatives over theSZ5.
    23 Focus Points
    Wireless Connection
    Image Stabilization
    250 mm Tele Lens
    Slow Continuous Shooting: 2.0fps
    Environmental Sealings
    Slow Max shutter speed: 1/1600s
    Poor Battery Life: 250 shots
    Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
    No Manual Exposure Mode
    No Manual Focus Mode
    No Built-in Viewfinder
    No External Flash Shoe
    Slow Lens at Tele: f5.90
    No RAW shooting capability

    Read the details of how we scored Panasonic SZ5 for Sports Photography

    Panasonic SZ5 for Daily Photography

    Panasonic SZ5 has a score of 62 for Daily Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Daily Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 Compact Cameras for Daily Photography list.
    Compact Body
    136g
    Body Thickness 21mm
    10.0X Optical Zoom
    Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
    No RAW shooting capability

    Read the details of how we scored Panasonic SZ5 for Daily Photography

    Panasonic SZ5 for Landscape Photography

    Panasonic SZ5 has a score of 18 for Landscape Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Landscape We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Landscape Photography list and consider these alternatives over theSZ5.
    25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
    Average Resolution Sensor: 14.0MP
    No Manual Exposure Mode
    No Manual Focus Mode
    No RAW shooting capability
    Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
    No Environmental Sealings

    Read the details of how we scored Panasonic SZ5 for Landscape Photography
    Panasonic SZ5 Alternatives
    In this section, we analyse how Panasonic SZ5 compares with other Compact cameras within a similar price range.
    Read a more detailed analysis of Panasonic SZ5 alternatives.

    Popular Comparisons of Panasonic SZ5

    Here is the eight most popular comparisons of Panasonic SZ5 amongst Camera Decision readers.

    Fujifilm X-A2
    Fujifilm X-A2
    Compare
    Fujifilm T400
    Fujifilm T400
    Compare
    Panasonic ZS50
    Panasonic ZS50
    Compare
    Nikon D5
    Nikon D5
    Compare
    Canon A3400 IS
    Canon A3400 IS
    Compare
    Canon 7D MII
    Canon 7D MII
    Compare
    Canon 650D
    Canon 650D
    Compare
    Panasonic TS30
    Panasonic TS30
    Compare

    Panasonic SZ5 Alternatives in Cameras

    It would also be interesting to compare Panasonic SZ5 with Cameras. Below we have listed 4 highest ranked cameras in Panasonic SZ5's price range.

    Frequently Asked Questions about Panasonic SZ5
    Does the Panasonic SZ5 have Image Stabilization?
    Does the Panasonic SZ5 have RAW support?
    Does the Panasonic SZ5 have Weather Sealing?
    Does the Panasonic SZ5 have built-in GPS?
    What is the Max ISO of Panasonic SZ5?
    What is the Sensor Size of Panasonic SZ5?
    is the Panasonic SZ5 a Full Frame (FF) camera?
    Does the Panasonic SZ5 have Touch Screen?
    Does the Panasonic SZ5 have built-in Wireless?
    What is the Max Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) of Panasonic SZ5?
    What is the Weight of Panasonic SZ5?
    What are the Dimensions of Panasonic SZ5?
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 Detailed Specifications

    General
    Brand Panasonic
    Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
    Announced 2012-07-18
    Body Type Compact
    Lens
    Manual Focus
    Lens Mount fixed lens
    Lens Focal Range 25-250 mm (10×)
    Max Aperture F3.1-5.9
    Macro Focus Range 5cm
    Screen
    Screen Type Fixed Type
    Screen Technology TFT Screen LCD
    Screen Size 3"
    Screen Resolution 230k dots
    Live View
    Touch Screen
    Viewfinder
    Viewfinder None
    Viewfinder Resolution no electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Coverage n/a
    Viewfinder Magnification n/a
    Photography Features
    Min Shutter Speed 8s
    Max Mechanical Shutter Speed 1/1600s
    Continuous Shooting 2.0 fps
    Shutter Priority
    Aperture Priority
    Manual Exposure Mode
    Exposure Compensation n/a
    Custom White Balance
    Image Stabilization
    Built-in Flash
    Flash Range 5.60 m
    Flash Modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
    External Flash
    AE Bracketing
    WB Bracketing
    Exposure Modes
    Multi-Segment
    Average
    Spot
    Partial
    AF-Area
    Center Weighted
    DxO Sensor Scores
    DxO Overall Score not tested
    DxO Color Depth not tested
    DxO Dynamic Range not tested
    DxO Low Light ISO not tested
    Report a correction

    Sensor
    Sensor Type CCD
    Sensor Size 1/2.3-inch
    Sensor Dimensions 6.08 x 4.56 mm
    Sensor Area 27.72mm2
    Sensor Resolution 14 megapixels
    Max Image Resolution 4320 x 3240
    Max Native ISO 1,600
    Max Boosted ISO 6400
    Min Native ISO 100
    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 23
    Number of Cross Focus Points Unknown
    Video Features
    Video Resolutions 1280 x 720p ( 30,25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
    Max Video Resolution 1280 x 720
    Video Formats MPEG-4
    Microphone Port
    Headphone Port
    Connectivity
    Wireless Connectivity Built-In
    HDMI
    USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
    Physical
    Environmental Sealing
    Water Proof
    Dust Proof
    Shock Proof
    Crush Proof
    Freeze Proof
    Weight 136g
    Physical Dimensions 104 x 58 x 21mm
    Battery Life 250 shots
    Battery Type Battery Pack
    Other Features
    Self Timer Yes (2 or 10 secs)
    Timelapse Recording
    GPS None
    Storage Type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
    Storage Slots 1


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