Canon A2200 vs Panasonic Lumix TS20: A Hands-On Comparison for Value-Minded Photographers

When it comes to diving into digital photography without blowing your budget, compact cameras often offer a compelling stepping stone. Today, I’m putting under the microscope two budget-friendly compacts that hit the market a while back but still find relevance for those prioritizing portability, straightforward use, and value over bells and whistles: the Canon PowerShot A2200 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS20 (aka Lumix DMC-FT20).

Having personally tested thousands of cameras over the years - from pro-level mirrorless giants to entry-level compacts - I can tell you upfront: these two cameras belong to the budget compact realm and each carves its own niche. But which one deserves your hard-earned cash? Hopefully, this deep dive will clarify their strengths and where they fall short.

Let’s roll up our sleeves and dissect them across all the crucial photography disciplines, technical guts, and real-world usability!

Pocket-Sized Contenders: Design and Ergonomics Up Close

Right out of the gate, size and handling often dictate whether a camera comes along for the adventure or gathers dust.

Both cameras play the compact card but with subtle ergonomic twists.

• Canon A2200: Measuring 93 x 57 x 24 mm and tipping the scales at 135 grams, it’s genuinely slim and lightweight. It feels petite but not fragile in hand. The plastic body strikes a modest balance - nothing rugged but pleasantly pocketable.

• Panasonic TS20: Slightly larger at 101 x 58 x 19 mm and a smidge heavier at 142 grams, it has a more boxy silhouette but retains a slim profile. Its standout is the rugged, waterproof body with environmental sealing (dustproof, shockproof, freezeproof!) - great for those prone to outdoor misadventures.

While the Canon offers more of a classic pocket cam experience, the TS20 sacrifices a tad pocketability for durability. For casual travel and street shooters who want a zero-stress drop-in-the-bag body, TS20 earns points here.

Now, how do the button layout and controls stack up?

Neither camera is bristling with manual control clubs for thumbs. Both lack dedicated dials for aperture or shutter priority, leaning heavily on fully automatic modes. Canon’s top layout feels a little more minimalist, with a clean mode dial but no illumination on buttons. The Panasonic's buttons are straightforward, but neither camera is a tactile joy for power users craving quick access to manual tweaks.

If you favor simplicity and don’t mind auto-everything, this is fine. But pros and advanced hobbyists will likely want to look elsewhere.

Sensor and Image Quality: What’s Underneath the Hood?

This battle is where technical specs start translating into the images themselves.

Both cameras pack a 1/2.3" CCD sensor, a tiny chip by pro standards but typical for compacts in their era. Canon’s sensor resolution is 14 megapixels, whereas Panasonic edges out slightly with 16 megapixels. On paper, not a huge difference, but potentially noticeable in cropping or large prints.

The sensor areas are nearly identical (Canon 28.07 mm², Panasonic 27.72 mm²), meaning pixel density is roughly comparable. Neither offers a large sensor advantage here; they rely on processing to eke out detail.

A few notes on ISO:

• Canon’s native ISO tops out at 1600, with 80 as the base, offering moderate sensitivity.
• Panasonic has a much more flexible ISO range, 100 to 6400, giving it theoretical edge in low-light scenarios.

Yet both use CCD sensors notorious for higher noise at elevated ISOs, unlike modern CMOS counterparts. Expect noise and softness past ISO 400-800, with Panasonic potentially usable at ISO 1600 if processed carefully.

The image processor in Canon, a DIGIC 4 with iSAPS technology, is relatively dated but functional for noise reduction and color reproduction. Panasonic doesn’t specify its processor here but applies decent in-camera noise control, especially for outdoor shots.

So in raw image quality, both are limited by small sensors and older tech - ideal for snapshots rather than pixel-peeping or demanding prints.

Screen and User Interface: How Easy Is It To Frame & Review?

Shooting and reviewing photos should feel natural - not like you’re wrestling with menus.

Both have 2.7-inch fixed TFT LCDs with a resolution of 230k dots - not high-res by today’s Retina-level standards but serviceable.

Canon’s screen is fixed, no touch support, and tends to wash out in bright daylight, something I confronted often during outdoor shoots. The menus are straightforward but lack depth.

Panasonic’s screen matches it pixel to pixel, but the brighter, more contrasty panel helps visibility. It too offers no touch controls but menus are a bit crisper and icons clearer.

Neither camera offers an electronic viewfinder, so composing in bright sun can be tricky. If you plan lots of outdoor shooting or street photography with quick composition, this is a limitation to brace for.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Keeping Up with the Action?

If you’re chasing wildlife or sports moments, AF performance and burst speed matter.

• Canon A2200 has a modest contrast-detection autofocus with 9 points. It supports single, continuous, and face detection focusing modes. Face detection adds user-friendly framing assistance, though it struggles in dim light or fast action. The continuous AF can somewhat track moving subjects but has noticeable hunting.

• Panasonic TS20 ups the ante with 23 AF points, also contrast-detection but no face detection. This broader AF area is helpful for focusing on unpredictable targets in the frame. The AF is similarly middling in speed but can be a touch snappier and less prone to hunting.

Both cameras offer slow 1 FPS continuous shooting, meaning sports or wildlife photographers will miss out on capturing crisp multiple frames during fast bursts.

Bottom line: Neither camera shines as an action shooter, but Panasonic’s more AF points offer a slight edge for opportunistic focus.

Lens and Zoom Range: Versatility Through the Glass

Lenses matter as much as sensor these days.

• Canon’s fixed lens is 28-112mm equivalent with an F2.8-5.9 aperture range. The slightly wider 28mm start lends itself well to landscapes and group portraits. However, the narrow max aperture on the tele end can limit low-light reach.

• Panasonic’s lens covers 25-100mm equivalent at F3.9 to 5.7. Slightly wider angle but less zoom reach - more suited for street and travel snapshots than long telephoto shots.

Neither has image stabilization on the Canon, which can affect handheld low-light or telephoto sharpness - a real downside since slower shutter speeds require steadier hands or tripods.

Panasonic adds optical image stabilization (OIS), a useful perk for sharper photos in tricky light or when zoomed in - especially on a rugged camera destined for outdoor use.

For macro enthusiasts, Canon’s 3cm minimum focus distance beats Panasonic’s 5cm, allowing closer detail shots.

Build Quality and Environmental Suitability: Toughness Test

Not a headline you'd expect with cheap compacts, but Panasonic takes this seriously.

(This image also highlights the TS20's interface, but think durability when you see it!)

The TS20 offers waterproofing up to 7 meters, dustproof, shockproof, and freezeproof capabilities. This makes it a perfect budget option for beach trips, hikes in variable weather, or poolside adventures where many compacts would perish quickly.

The Canon A2200, by contrast, is a conventional compact with no weather sealing or rugged features. It requires more care and shelter from the elements.

If your photography inclines towards travel with unpredictable weather or active outdoor scenes, Panasonic’s ruggedness is a significant plus.

Battery Life and Storage: How Long Can You Shoot?

Neither camera is a marathon runner here, but it’s worth noting differences.

• Canon’s NB-8L battery claims around 280 shots per charge, a decent mid-range number for compacts. It also uses standard SD/SDHC/SDXC cards for storage.

• Panasonic’s claimed battery life is slightly lower at 250 shots but also uses SD cards plus includes some internal memory - handy in emergencies.

Neither supports USB charging or fast swapping batteries, so consider carrying spares on trips.

Video Performance: What Kind of Moving Pictures Can They Make?

If hybrid photo/video functionality is important, understanding the capabilities is key.

Both cameras max out at 1280 x 720 HD video at 30fps, recorded in MPEG-4 format.

• Neither offers advanced movie modes, manual exposure during recording, nor microphone/headphone jacks for audio control.

• Canon lacks image stabilization, which means handheld video might get shaky.

• Panasonic includes optical stabilization, giving smoother footage during handheld filming.

Both lack 4K or high frame rate options, so don’t expect cutting-edge video features.

Image Samples and Real-World Use: Putting Pixels to the Test

I shot side-by-side photo galleries in similar lighting to compare.

Canon A2200 front Canon A2200 screen back Panasonic TS20 front Panasonic TS20 screen back

In daylight, both deliver punchy colors and decent sharpness for prints up to 8x10 inches. Canon’s lens produces slightly warmer tones, pleasing on skin for portraits, but sometimes veers towards overexposed highlights in bright scenes.

Panasonic images show cooler, more neutral color rendering with better shadow detail thanks to slightly larger ISO range and OIS allowing steadier handheld shots.

Portrait skin tones on the Canon are more flattering, helped by its face detection auto-exposure. Both cameras produce soft bokeh due to small sensors and variable aperture lenses, but Canon’s wider aperture on the wide end offers marginally better background separation.

For macro shots, Canon’s closer focusing distance delivers superior close-up detail.

Night and low-light shots reveal Panasonic’s higher ISO capability and OIS producing clearer images with less blur than Canon’s noisier, softer results.

Performance Scorecards and Genre-Specific Ratings

Enough talk - here’s the hard numbers summary from my hands-on tests:

Looking closer at different photography styles clarifies choices:

• Portraits: Canon edges out for skin tones and facial recognition.
• Landscapes: Panasonic’s OIS and ruggedness make it versatile outdoors.
• Wildlife & Sports: Neither excels; Panasonic’s faster AF points give it slight edge.
• Street: Canon’s smaller size tip the scales here.
• Macro: Canon’s 3cm minimum focus wins hands down.
• Night/Astro: Panasonic’s higher max ISO and stabilization help.
• Video: Panasonic stabilizes better and offers slightly cleaner footage.
• Travel: Panasonic’s ruggedness fights for lead.
• Professional Workflows: Both too limited without RAW support or manual controls.

Who Should Buy Which? Clear-Cut Recommendations

Buy the Canon PowerShot A2200 if:

• You want a simple, easy-to-carry compact for casual portraits, family events, and simple street snaps.
• Skin tones and face detection are your priority.
• You shoot primarily in good lighting and don’t need rugged features.
• You prefer a slightly smaller, comfortable grip without rugged bulk.
• Your budget is tight and you can find it at a discount or second-hand.

Buy the Panasonic Lumix TS20 if:

• You need a rugged, waterproof camera for travel, hiking, or beach use where drops, dust, and water are a risk.
• You want image stabilization to improve handheld shots.
• Higher ISO and low-light shooting flexibility are more important.
• You value versatility across outdoor shooting styles.
• Portability is important but you’re willing to accept a slightly larger profile for durability.

Final Words From the Field: Budget Compacts with Different Souls

In my extensive hands-on experience, the gap between these two is largely defined by intended user lifestyle and use environments more than pure imaging power.

The Canon A2200 is your quintessential budget snapshot compact - quietly competent, easy on the wallet, ideal for beginners or casual shooters not venturing into tough environments.

Meanwhile, the Panasonic TS20 is a surprisingly tough little camera punching far above its weight when you consider waterproofing and stabilization in an entry-level compact. It brings peace of mind outdoors and slightly better all-around image flexibility.

Neither camera is a powerhouse by modern standards. For serious image quality, manual controls, or faster shooting, you’ll need to look elsewhere (especially if you want RAW or 4K!). But within their class and value point, both have clear strengths.

If I personally had to pick one to toss in my bag for casual outdoor trips, the Panasonic TS20’s ruggedness and OIS tip the scales. For day-to-day, well-lit family shoots where size and skin tone matter, I’d lean Canon.

So consider where your photography is headed - and choose accordingly. After all, the best camera is the one that fits your lifestyle and you carry happily.

Happy shooting!

If you found this comparison helpful, let me know - I've got loads more camera reviews and hands-on insights to share.