Panasonic ZS100 Image Quality

The Canon G7X II "only" offers a 4.2x zoom lens compared to the 10x zoom of the ZS100, but it's a much brighter f/1.8-2.8 vs f/2.8-5.9 optic, and both cameras use similar 1"-type 20-megapixel sensors and are currently priced the same as well. Image quality here at base ISO is fairly similar, with about the same amount of detail captured and similar noise levels, however there are some notable differences. First, the Panasonic's tone curve is such that its image looks a bit darker than the Canon when middle gray is the same brightness, giving the G7X II's image a brighter look overall. Colors from the Canon are also more neutral and pleasing. The ZS100 does however hold onto a little more detail in our red-leaf swatch, showing some of the fine thread pattern which the G7X II's default processing smooths over. Sharpening halos are also a little less noticeable from the Panasonic, though both produce visible haloing along high-contrast edges.

The Olympus Stylus 1 features a 10.7x constant f/2.8 aperture lens, but its imager is a much smaller 12-megapixel 1/1.7"-type sensor. As you can see here at base ISO, the ZS100 easily resolves significantly more detail as well as produces lower noise, though stronger noise reduction from the Stylus 1 helps to compensate further reducing detail compared to the ZS100. Tone curve and colors are however more pleasing from the Olympus.

Here, we compare the ZS100 to its bigger brother, the FZ1000, which likely shares the same or very similar sensor and processor, however the FZ1000 features a larger 16x f/2.8-4 lens. As you'd expect image quality is quite similar from these two siblings, however the FZ1000's image is a bit sharper with higher contrast and slightly better detail, thanks to a better performing lens.

Here we decided to compare the ZS100 to its little brother, the 18-megapixel ZS60, to show what advantages a 1"-type sensor has over a much smaller 1/2.3"-type sensor typically used in travel zoom cameras. The smaller sensor allows the ZS60 to offer a 30x optical zoom in roughly the same form factor as the 10x ZS100, however as you can see, the ZS100 offers much better image quality even here at base ISO. The ZS60 has to apply much stronger noise reduction to keep noise levels in check, which smears fine detail even here at ISO 80. Contrast and sharpness are lower as well, but that's likely due to the longer lens.

The much larger Sony RX10 II actually features a shorter 8.3x lens, but its constant f/2.8 lens is much faster (brighter) at the tele end. Here at base ISO, the Sony produces a brighter, more contrasty images with more pleasing colors and fewer sharpening artifacts. The Sony also produces a cleaner, smoother rendering of our difficult red-leaf fabric, however the Panasonic actually resolves some of the fine thread pattern which the Sony does not, but the ZS100 obscures some of the low-contrast detail.

The ZS100 produces a cleaner looking image here at ISO 1600, however the G7X Mark II holds on to more detail and generates fewer noise reduction artifacts. Tone curve, contrast and colors are still more pleasing from the Canon.

The Stylus 1's image quality falls further behind the ZS100's here at ISO 1600, already pushing the limits of a 1/1.7" sensor. The Stylus 1 image is noisier despite suffering from stronger noise reduction artifacts which smears fine detail. Interestingly, the Stylus 1 does retain slightly more detail in the red-leaf swatch, though the higher noise makes it look more detailed than it really is. Color and brightness are still more pleasing from the Olympus, though.

Again, very similar image quality from these two 1"-type siblings, with just a slight edge going to the FZ1000 in terms of sharpness and contrast, but slightly lower noise from the ZS100.

There's really no contest here at ISO 1600 between the ZS100 and ZS60, with the ZS100 producing a noticeably cleaner, more detailed image thanks to its much larger sensor.

The Sony RX10 II continues to produce a brighter, more contrasty image than the Panasonic ZS100 at ISO 1600, but noise is coarser and more evident in flatter areas, and fine detail in the mosaic crop is more blotchy. The Sony does much better with our tricky red-leaf swatch while the Panasonic smears almost all fine detail away.

Here at ISO 3200, the Canon G7X II shows much higher luminance noise, but it arguably manages to reproduce fine detail in our mosaic crop a little better than the ZS100, however both show strong noise reduction artifacts and mottling. Both cameras really struggle to reproduce any detail in our red-leaf swatch, but the ZS100 does show a touch more. Once again, color and contrast are better from the Canon.

There's really no contest here at ISO 3200 between these two cameras. The ZS100 produces much lower noise levels while retaining much better detail. Colors have started to fade from the Stylus 1, but are arguably still better overall than the ZS100.

Once again, very similar image quality from these two 1"-sensored siblings at ISO 3200, with only minor differences in noise, sharpness and contrast.

As expected, the much larger sensor in the ZS100 is able to produce a much better, cleaner image at ISO 3200 than the tiny one in the ZS60.

The Panasonic ZS100 continues to produce lower noise levels than the Sony RX10 II, and it manages to hold on to slightly more detail. Interestingly, it's now the Sony which is showing more obvious sharpening artifacts along high-contrast edges, but it still produces more pleasing color and contrast.