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Canon A3100 IS vs Panasonic ZS5

Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
14
Overall
26
Canon PowerShot A3100 IS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 front
Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
30
Overall
33

Canon A3100 IS vs Panasonic ZS5 Key Specs

Canon A3100 IS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 35-140mm (F2.7-5.6) lens
  • 165g - 97 x 58 x 28mm
  • Introduced January 2010
Panasonic ZS5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 214g - 103 x 60 x 32mm
  • Introduced June 2010
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ8
Photography Glossary

Canon A3100 IS vs Panasonic ZS5 Overview

Its time to examine more in depth at the Canon A3100 IS vs Panasonic ZS5, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Canon and Panasonic. The image resolution of the A3100 IS (12MP) and the ZS5 (12MP) is relatively comparable and they feature the exact same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The A3100 IS was announced 5 months prior to the ZS5 so they are of a similar generation. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go in to a full comparison, below is a quick view of how the A3100 IS grades against the ZS5 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon A3100 IS over the Panasonic ZS5

 A3100 IS ZS5 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS5 over the Canon A3100 IS

 ZS5 A3100 IS 

Common features in the Canon A3100 IS and Panasonic ZS5

 A3100 IS ZS5 
IntroducedJanuary 2010June 2010Same generation
Manually focus No manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension2.7"2.7"Identical screen measurements
Screen resolution230k230kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Canon A3100 IS vs Panasonic ZS5 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry around your camera frequently, you will want to factor in its weight and size. The Canon A3100 IS has outside dimensions of 97mm x 58mm x 28mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 165 grams (0.36 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS5 has specifications of 103mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs).

Examine the Canon A3100 IS vs Panasonic ZS5 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are utilising at the time. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the A3100 IS compared to the ZS5.

Canon A3100 IS vs Panasonic ZS5 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the A3100 IS and ZS5 is 94 and 92 respectively.

Canon A3100 IS vs Panasonic ZS5 top view buttons comparison

Canon A3100 IS vs Panasonic ZS5 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's hard to picture the difference in sensor sizes just by checking out specifications. The image below will help offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the A3100 IS and ZS5.

Plainly, the two cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements and the same exact MP so you should expect comparable quality of files but you would want to consider the production date of the cameras into account.

Canon A3100 IS vs Panasonic ZS5 sensor size comparison

Canon A3100 IS vs Panasonic ZS5 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A3100 IS vs Panasonic ZS5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A3100 IS as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS5 as a Portrait photography camera
21
manual focus not available
no manual mode
no external flash support
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
27
features face detection focus
lack of manual focus
cannot use external flash
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon A3100 IS as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZS5 as a Street photography camera
56
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (214g)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon A3100 IS Sports photography information
Panasonic ZS5 Sports photography information
25
image stabilization (Optical)
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
31
has image stabilization (Optical)
features tracking autofocus
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,300 seconds)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon A3100 IS as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS5 as a Travel photography camera
51
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse recording
low MP (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.7)
63
lighter than competitors in class (214g)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
long zoom (300mm)
missing Timelapse function
MP count low (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon A3100 IS
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS5
27
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.7)
screen is small (2.7")
no manual mode
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
does not have Timelapse recording
33
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inch)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon A3100 IS Vlogging info
Panasonic ZS5 Vlogging info
25
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not good (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.7)
display isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (640 x 480 pxls)
does not have microphone port
31
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focus
lighter than competitors in class (214g)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external microphone support
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Canon A3100 IS vs Panasonic ZS5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A3100 IS and Panasonic ZS5
 Canon PowerShot A3100 ISPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5
General Information
Company Canon Panasonic
Model Canon PowerShot A3100 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5
Also called as - Lumix DMC-TZ8
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2010-01-05 2010-06-16
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Venus Engine HD II
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 surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 9 11
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 35-140mm (4.0x) 25-300mm (12.0x)
Max aperture f/2.7-5.6 f/3.3-4.9
Macro focus distance 3cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/1300 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.00 m 5.30 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 165g (0.36 lb) 214g (0.47 lb)
Dimensions 97 x 58 x 28mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 1.1") 103 x 60 x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
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 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
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $159 $300