Canon ELPH 500 HS vs. Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10: A Comprehensive Compact Camera Showdown

When choosing a compact camera in today’s market, balancing portability, versatility, and image quality remains a challenge, especially among older models that still hold value. The Canon ELPH 500 HS and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10 (also known as Lumix TZ20/TZ22 in some regions) are two notable contenders from the early 2010s. While both are point-and-shoot cameras with fixed lenses designed for casual and enthusiast photographers, they target somewhat different use cases within the compact segment.

In this detailed comparison, drawn from extensive hands-on experience testing thousands of cameras, I’ll help you understand how these two cameras stack up in real-world photography disciplines, technical capabilities, and user convenience. Whether you’re a beginner looking for an easy-to-use device or an enthusiast needing a versatile travel companion, this breakdown will clarify which camera fits your needs best.

Getting a Feel for Size, Design, and Handling

Before diving into specs, ergonomics and handling often dictate how enjoyable a camera is to use day-to-day.

• Canon ELPH 500 HS is notably smaller, thinner, and lighter than the Panasonic ZS10, making it truly pocketable and unobtrusive for street and travel photography.
• Panasonic ZS10 packs a telephoto zoom lens, which increases its bulk and makes it less discreet but provides far greater framing flexibility.

Physically, the ELPH feels slightly more refined for casual grab-and-go shooting, while the thicker ZS10 offers a more substantial grip that suits telephoto shooting stability.

On the top panel:

• The Panasonic ZS10 sports dedicated dials and exposure controls, including manual mode and exposure compensation.
• The Canon ELPH 500 HS is simplified with fewer external controls, focusing on ease of use with automatic modes and limited manual options.

Ergonomics Summary: If discretion and simplicity matter most, the Canon ELPH wins. For more control and versatility at the cost of a larger body, Panasonic ZS10 is preferable.

Sensor and Image Quality: What Lies Beneath the Lens

Compact cameras live and die by their sensors and image processing capabilities. Let’s see how these two compare technically.

Both cameras feature similarly sized 1/2.3-inch sensors, which are standard for compact cameras of this class. The difference in sensor resolution is minor - 12MP for Canon vs. 14MP for Panasonic. In practice:

• The Canon ELPH 500 HS’s BSI-CMOS sensor helps gather light efficiently at base ISOs with its DIGIC 4 processor, but its maximum ISO of 3200 limits low-light performance.
• The Panasonic ZS10 pushes ISO sensitivity up to 6400, enhancing usability in dim conditions, though noise increases at that level.

Image Quality in Practice: In well-lit conditions, both cameras deliver sharp, vibrant photos suitable for social sharing and small prints. The Canon tends to render pleasing colors with respectable skin tones, great for portraits and general use. The Panasonic offers slightly better detail with higher resolution but can introduce more noise at higher ISOs due to its older CMOS sensor and aggressive image processing.

LCD Display and Viewfinder: Framing and Feedback

Since neither camera has an electronic viewfinder (EVF), composing shots relies heavily on the rear LCD screens.

Both feature 3-inch class high-resolution touch displays, enhancing ease of use for menu navigation and selecting focus points. The Canon’s PureColor II Touch TFT LCD provides a slightly larger canvas, improving visibility in bright environments, an essential factor given the absence of a viewfinder.

The Panasonic’s interface is similarly responsive but benefits from more granular manual controls accessible via touchscreen and physical buttons.

Practical Impact: For casual shooting and reviewing images, both LCDs perform well. The Canon’s bigger screen favors users prioritizing visual comfort, while the Panasonic’s control-rich interface supports those stepping up their creative workflows.

Autofocus and Burst Performance: Capturing the Moment

How fast and accurate the autofocus system performs often defines user satisfaction in many photographic situations.

The Canon ELPH 500 HS features 9 focus points with reliable center-weighted AF and face detection, making it user-friendly for family and portrait photography. However, it lacks continuous autofocus and tracking, limiting its performance in fast-moving situations.

In contrast, the Panasonic ZS10 offers 23 focus points with continuous AF and tracking. This makes a big difference when shooting:

• Wildlife - The longer zoom paired with AF tracking helps capture animals in motion.
• Sports - Faster burst rates (10fps versus 3fps) allow for capturing action sequences better.
• Street - Continuous AF helps with unpredictable subjects and quick framing.

Real-World Autofocus Insight: While the Canon is reliable for static subjects and portraits, the Panasonic delivers much better results for active shooting disciplines thanks to multiple AF points, continuous and tracking capabilities.

Lens and Zoom: The Power of Reach Versus Brightness

A camera’s lens and zoom range define its visual framing possibilities and suitability for various photography styles.

• Canon’s lens offers a bright f/2.0 aperture at the wide end, an advantage for low-light shooting and shallow depth of field.
• Panasonic goes for extreme versatility with a 16× superzoom reaching 384mm equivalent, albeit with a narrower aperture (starting f/3.3).

This means:

• Portraits & Bokeh: Canon’s wider aperture enables better subject isolation with creamy background blur, enhancing skin tone rendition.
• Wildlife & Travel: Panasonic’s massive zoom is invaluable when shooting distant subjects, from birds to landmarks.

Image Stabilization: Both cameras include optical stabilization, which is essential for handheld zoom shots and low-light scenarios.

Handling Different Photography Genres

Let’s look at how each camera performs across key photography types you might be interested in.

Portrait Photography

• Canon ELPH 500 HS shines with its bright f/2.0 lens enabling attractive bokeh and highlights accurate, natural skin tones aided by face detection AF. Its touch-focused single AF allows convenient eye detection, although it’s limited by no continuous AF.
• Panasonic ZS10 can capture portraits well but slower max aperture limits bokeh. Lack of face/eye AF highlights its more generalist autofocus design.

Landscape Photography

• Panasonic ZS10's higher resolution sensor (14 MP) combined with an extensive zoom range lets you capture wide vistas and distant details from one vantage point.
• Canon’s sensor and sensor tech are solid but less resolution and shorter zoom make panoramic framing less versatile.
• Neither camera offers weather sealing, so care is needed outdoors.

Wildlife Photography

• Panasonic ZS10’s 16× zoom and 10 fps burst with AF tracking make it a better fit for shooting moving animals or birds.
• Canon’s limited zoom (4.4×) and slow burst rates restrict its usefulness here.

Sports Photography

• Panasonic ZS10 wins with faster autofocus and burst shooting, vital for tracking and timing action shots.
• Canon’s 3 fps and no AF tracking are clear disadvantages.

Street Photography

• Canon ELPH 500 HS excels due to its smaller size and discreet design.
• Panasonic’s bulk and telephoto lens make it less ideal for unobtrusive shooting.

Macro Photography

• Both cameras offer close macro focus down to 3cm, sufficient for casual close-ups.
• Panasonic’s more versatile zoom can let you frame diverse macro subjects easily.

Night & Astro Photography

• Low-light sensor noise at high ISOs is better controlled by the Panasonic ZS10, with its 6400 ISO ceiling.
• Neither camera supports RAW, limiting post-processing flexibility. Long exposures are capped, limiting astrophotography capability.

Video Capabilities

Panasonic offers smoother video capture (60fps Full HD) and more advanced AVCHD codec support, making it preferable for casual videography. Canon’s video frame rates are limited but image stabilization helps handheld shooting.

Travel Photography

Both compact cameras cater to travel, but:

• The Canon ELPH is easier to carry with a slimmer profile.
• The Panasonic ZS10’s zoom versatility and longer battery life suit more varied shooting needs on the go.

Professional Use

Neither camera supports RAW or has advanced workflow support, limiting their appeal for professional applications. Both excel mostly as travel or casual photography companions.

Build Quality, Battery Life, and Storage

Neither model offers weather sealing, so cautious use outdoors or in adverse conditions is required.

The Panasonic ZS10’s longer battery life and additional internal memory add convenience when traveling or shooting away from power.

Connectivity and Extras

Neither camera provides Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or NFC connectivity, limiting wireless image transfers. Both include USB 2.0 and HDMI ports for direct connection to computers or displays.

Notably, the Panasonic ZS10 features built-in GPS, an advantage for geotagging your photos automatically during travel.

Cost and Value Analysis

The Panasonic commands a premium but delivers superior specifications, especially the superzoom and faster burst rates. The Canon appeals to budget buyers wanting a simple, compact camera for everyday use.

Sample Gallery: Seeing the Results Side-by-Side

To illustrate real-world output differences, here is a collection of sample images taken with both models highlighting their respective strengths:

Canon ELPH 500 HS front Canon ELPH 500 HS screen back Panasonic ZS10 front Panasonic ZS10 screen back

Notice the Canon’s rendering of portraits with pleasing skin tones and subtle background blur, while Panasonic’s zoom captures distant subjects with clarity and detail.

Putting It All Together: Performance Overview

Based on our hands-on experience with both cameras, here is an overall scoring breakdown visualizing their performance across all tested criteria:

The Panasonic Lumix ZS10 leads in versatility and speed, whereas the Canon ELPH 500 HS scores higher for compactness and straightforward operation.

How They Stack Up Across Different Photography Genres

Mapping their suitability to popular photography categories helps clarify their best-fit use cases:

• Canon ELPH 500 HS: Best for beginners and casual photographers focusing on street, travel, and portraiture.
• Panasonic ZS10: Better suited to enthusiasts and hobbyists seeking superzoom reach, wildlife, sports versatility, and improved video.

Final Recommendations: Which Camera Should You Choose?

Here’s a distilled guide to help you decide based on your personal photography goals and preferences:

Choose Canon ELPH 500 HS if:

• You want a pocket-friendly, easy-to-use compact camera.
• You prioritize bright lens aperture for portraits and low-light still photos.
• You mostly shoot static subjects like family snapshots, street scenes, and casual travel photos.
• You don’t need manual exposure modes or advanced autofocus.
• Budget is a primary concern.

Choose Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10 if:

• You want a single camera that covers a wide variety of photography genres including wildlife, sports, and landscapes.
• You value superzoom reach (24-384mm equivalent) with optical image stabilization.
• Fast continuous shooting and autofocus tracking are important to you.
• You want Full HD video at up to 60 fps with flexible formats.
• GPS tagging and longer battery life are desirable features.
• You’re willing to accept a larger, heavier body.

In Closing: Understanding Your Creative Companion

Both the Canon ELPH 500 HS and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10 represent thoughtful camera designs targeting distinctive users within the compact segment. The Canon emphasizes simplicity, portability, and bright lenses, while the Panasonic pushes versatility with its incredible zoom and faster performance.

Whichever model you pick, these cameras remind us how advanced compact digital photography was even a decade ago, and how different creative paths demand different tools. To get the most from these cameras, consider pairing them with protective cases, extra batteries, and high-speed memory cards.

If possible, I recommend visiting a store to handle both models and get a feel for their ergonomics and menu layouts firsthand. Real-world experience aids decision-making beyond specs and numbers.

Happy shooting, and may your next camera open fresh doors to your photographic journey!