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Canon A3100 IS vs Panasonic ZS20

Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
14
Overall
26
Canon PowerShot A3100 IS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
46
Overall
41

Canon A3100 IS vs Panasonic ZS20 Key Specs

Canon A3100 IS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 35-140mm (F2.7-5.6) lens
  • 165g - 97 x 58 x 28mm
  • Launched January 2010
Panasonic ZS20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 206g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Introduced April 2012
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ30
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic ZS15
  • Successor is Panasonic ZS25
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Canon A3100 IS vs Panasonic ZS20 Overview

Below is a extensive assessment of the Canon A3100 IS versus Panasonic ZS20, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Canon and Panasonic. The image resolution of the A3100 IS (12MP) and the ZS20 (14MP) is fairly comparable and they feature the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The A3100 IS was launched 3 years prior to the ZS20 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting in to a full comparison, below is a brief overview of how the A3100 IS grades against the ZS20 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon A3100 IS over the Panasonic ZS20

 A3100 IS ZS20 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Canon A3100 IS

 ZS20 A3100 IS 
IntroducedApril 2012January 2010More recent by 28 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Canon A3100 IS and Panasonic ZS20

 A3100 IS ZS20 
Focus manually No manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Canon A3100 IS vs Panasonic ZS20 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you will have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Canon A3100 IS provides outer dimensions of 97mm x 58mm x 28mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 165 grams (0.36 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS20 has measurements of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs).

Look at the Canon A3100 IS versus Panasonic ZS20 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you select at the time. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the A3100 IS against the ZS20.

Canon A3100 IS vs Panasonic ZS20 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the A3100 IS and ZS20 is 94 and 92 respectively.

Canon A3100 IS vs Panasonic ZS20 top view buttons comparison

Canon A3100 IS vs Panasonic ZS20 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be hard to visualize the contrast in sensor measurements merely by going through technical specs. The visual below will provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the A3100 IS and ZS20.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but different MP. You can anticipate the Panasonic ZS20 to show greater detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will let you crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The older A3100 IS will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon A3100 IS vs Panasonic ZS20 sensor size comparison

Canon A3100 IS vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A3100 IS vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon A3100 IS
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS20
21
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
30
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon A3100 IS Street photography details
Panasonic ZS20 Street photography details
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
65
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides touch focus
lighter than competition (206g)
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon A3100 IS Sports photography factors
Panasonic ZS20 Sports photography factors
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
low frames per second (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
47
great zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
offers tracking autofocus
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
low battery power (260 per charge)
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon A3100 IS Travel photography features
Panasonic ZS20 Travel photography features
51
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
wide angle not the best (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
68
lighter than competition (206 grams)
provides touch focus
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (24mm)
great zoom (480mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
low battery power (260 per charge)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A3100 IS Landscape photography info
Panasonic ZS20 Landscape photography info
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
lack of manual exposure
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
does not have Time Lapse mode
42
rather wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
low battery power (260 shots)
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon A3100 IS
Vlogging with Panasonic ZS20
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not the best (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
video res low (640 x 480 pixels)
does not have mic jack
34
rather wide (24mm)
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (206 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
lack of external microphone jack
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Canon A3100 IS vs Panasonic ZS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A3100 IS and Panasonic ZS20
 Canon PowerShot A3100 ISPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Panasonic
Model Canon PowerShot A3100 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
Also called - Lumix DMC-TZ30
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2010-01-05 2012-04-26
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
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 12MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 9 23
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 35-140mm (4.0x) 24-480mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.7-5.6 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus range 3cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7" 3"
Screen resolution 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15s 15s
Highest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.00 m 6.40 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 165 grams (0.36 pounds) 206 grams (0.45 pounds)
Dimensions 97 x 58 x 28mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 1.1") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 - 260 photographs
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model NB-8L -
Self timer Yes (2, 10, Custom, Face) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HD MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $159 $349