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Canon A2100 IS vs Panasonic SZ5

Portability
92
Imaging
34
Features
20
Overall
28
Canon PowerShot A2100 IS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 front
Portability
95
Imaging
37
Features
34
Overall
35

Canon A2100 IS vs Panasonic SZ5 Key Specs

Canon A2100 IS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 36-216mm (F3.2-5.9) lens
  • 185g - 102 x 64 x 32mm
  • Announced February 2009
Panasonic SZ5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Push to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 104 x 58 x 21mm
  • Launched July 2012
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Canon A2100 IS vs Panasonic SZ5 Overview

Below, we will be contrasting the Canon A2100 IS versus Panasonic SZ5, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by companies Canon and Panasonic. The image resolution of the A2100 IS (12MP) and the SZ5 (14MP) is relatively well matched and they possess the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The A2100 IS was manufactured 4 years prior to the SZ5 which is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting straight into a complete comparison, below is a simple overview of how the A2100 IS scores versus the SZ5 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon A2100 IS over the Panasonic SZ5

 A2100 IS SZ5 

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ5 over the Canon A2100 IS

 SZ5 A2100 IS 
LaunchedJuly 2012February 2009More modern by 41 months

Common features in the Canon A2100 IS and Panasonic SZ5

 A2100 IS SZ5 
Manual focus Lack of manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen size
Screen resolution230k230kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Canon A2100 IS vs Panasonic SZ5 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry around your camera often, you'll need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Canon A2100 IS offers physical dimensions of 102mm x 64mm x 32mm (4.0" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 185 grams (0.41 lbs) whilst the Panasonic SZ5 has proportions of 104mm x 58mm x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") along with a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs).

See the Canon A2100 IS versus Panasonic SZ5 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. Here is the front view scale comparison of the A2100 IS vs the SZ5.

Canon A2100 IS vs Panasonic SZ5 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A2100 IS and SZ5 is 92 and 95 respectively.

Canon A2100 IS vs Panasonic SZ5 top view buttons comparison

Canon A2100 IS vs Panasonic SZ5 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is tough to envision the gap between sensor sizes just by checking specs. The image below will give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the A2100 IS and SZ5.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same resolution. You can count on the Panasonic SZ5 to give you extra detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop pictures much more aggressively. The more aged A2100 IS is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon A2100 IS vs Panasonic SZ5 sensor size comparison

Canon A2100 IS vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A2100 IS vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A2100 IS Portrait photography details
Panasonic SZ5 Portrait photography details
26
has face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
33
good megapixels (14MP)
comes with face detect focusing
manual focus not available
no manual mode
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon A2100 IS as a Street photography camera
Panasonic SZ5 as a Street photography camera
55
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (136g)
fixed screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Canon A2100 IS as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic SZ5 as a Sports photography camera
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
low MP (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
39
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14MP)
comes with tracking focus
low fps (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon A2100 IS
Travel photography with Panasonic SZ5
50
built-in flash
no Time Lapse recording
low MP (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (36mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
70
lighter than competitors in class (136g)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
long zoom (250mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A2100 IS Landscape photography features
Panasonic SZ5 Landscape photography features
31
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (36mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
no manual control
low MP (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
no Time Lapse recording
42
relatively wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14MP)
manual focus not available
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon A2100 IS
Vlogging with Panasonic SZ5
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focusing
wide angle not the best (36mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
screen is not selfie friendly
low quality video (640 x 480 resolution)
no external mic socket
32
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focusing
lighter than competitors in class (136g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone support
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Canon A2100 IS vs Panasonic SZ5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A2100 IS and Panasonic SZ5
 Canon PowerShot A2100 ISPanasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
General Information
Brand Canon Panasonic
Model Canon PowerShot A2100 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2009-02-18 2012-07-18
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 1600 1600
Maximum enhanced ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 23
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 36-216mm (6.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.2-5.9 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus range 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech - TFT Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 secs 8 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.50 m 5.60 m
Flash modes Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720p ( 30,25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 185g (0.41 lbs) 136g (0.30 lbs)
Dimensions 102 x 64 x 32mm (4.0" x 2.5" x 1.3") 104 x 58 x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 250 photographs
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model 2 x AA -
Self timer Yes (2, 10, Custom, Face) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HD MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $220 $195