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Canon A3500 IS vs Panasonic ZS20

Portability
96
Imaging
40
Features
35
Overall
38
Canon PowerShot A3500 IS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
46
Overall
41

Canon A3500 IS vs Panasonic ZS20 Key Specs

Canon A3500 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F2.8-6.9) lens
  • 135g - 98 x 56 x 20mm
  • Revealed January 2013
Panasonic ZS20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • 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
  • Succeeded the Panasonic ZS15
  • Renewed by Panasonic ZS25
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Canon A3500 IS vs Panasonic ZS20 Overview

The following is a thorough assessment of the Canon A3500 IS and Panasonic ZS20, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Canon and Panasonic. The resolution of the A3500 IS (16MP) and the ZS20 (14MP) is relatively similar and they come with the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The A3500 IS was announced 9 months after the ZS20 and they are of a similar generation. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a short summation of how the A3500 IS matches up versus the ZS20 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon A3500 IS over the Panasonic ZS20

 A3500 IS ZS20 
IntroducedJanuary 2013April 2012Newer by 9 months

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Canon A3500 IS

 ZS20 A3500 IS 
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Canon A3500 IS and Panasonic ZS20

 A3500 IS ZS20 
Manual focus Lack of manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Canon A3500 IS vs Panasonic ZS20 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Canon A3500 IS features outer measurements of 98mm x 56mm x 20mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") having a weight of 135 grams (0.30 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS20 has dimensions of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs).

Check out the Canon A3500 IS and Panasonic ZS20 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have during that time. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the A3500 IS against the ZS20.

Canon A3500 IS vs Panasonic ZS20 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A3500 IS and ZS20 is 96 and 92 respectively.

Canon A3500 IS vs Panasonic ZS20 top view buttons comparison

Canon A3500 IS vs Panasonic ZS20 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be hard to see the difference between sensor dimensions purely by reviewing a spec sheet. The pic here might provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the A3500 IS and ZS20.

As you can see, both the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same megapixels. You should count on the Canon A3500 IS to deliver greater detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The fresher A3500 IS is going to have a benefit in sensor tech.

Canon A3500 IS vs Panasonic ZS20 sensor size comparison

Canon A3500 IS vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A3500 IS vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon A3500 IS
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS20
35
megapixel count good (16MP)
comes with face detection focus
manual focus not available
no manual mode
no external flash support
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
30
MP count good (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon A3500 IS
Street photography with Panasonic ZS20
67
image stabilization (Optical)
provides touch to focus
lighter than competition in class (135 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
65
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides touch focus
lighter than others (206g)
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon A3500 IS Sports photography advice
Panasonic ZS20 Sports photography advice
38
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (200 per charge)
does not have phase detect auto focus
47
amazing zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14MP)
supports tracking focus
sensor is small (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (260 shots)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon A3500 IS as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS20 as a Travel photography camera
68
lighter than competition in class (135g)
provides touch to focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse recording
not so great battery life (200 per charge)
does not have a selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
68
lighter than others (206g)
provides touch focus
MP count good (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
great reach (480mm)
lack of Timelapse function
terrible battery power (260 shots)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon A3500 IS
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS20
42
quite wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
no manual mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
not so great battery life (200 CIPA)
no Time Lapse recording
42
fairly wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
terrible battery power (260 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon A3500 IS Vlogging features
Panasonic ZS20 Vlogging features
34
quite wide (28mm)
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focus
lighter than competition in class (135g)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not have a selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic socket
34
fairly wide (24mm)
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others (206 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
lack of microphone socket
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Canon A3500 IS vs Panasonic ZS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A3500 IS and Panasonic ZS20
 Canon PowerShot A3500 ISPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
General Information
Make Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot A3500 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-TZ30
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2013-01-07 2012-04-26
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor DIGIC 4 -
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 surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 9 23
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) 24-480mm (20.0x)
Max aperture f/2.8-6.9 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing distance 3cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 secs 15 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.00 m 6.40 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 135 grams (0.30 lbs) 206 grams (0.45 lbs)
Dimensions 98 x 56 x 20mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 200 pictures 260 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-11L -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $115 $349