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Canon A3500 IS vs Panasonic ZS5

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37
Canon PowerShot A3500 IS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 front
Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
30
Overall
33

Canon A3500 IS vs Panasonic ZS5 Key Specs

Canon A3500 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F2.8-6.9) lens
  • 135g - 98 x 56 x 20mm
  • Introduced January 2013
Panasonic ZS5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 214g - 103 x 60 x 32mm
  • Launched June 2010
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ8
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Canon A3500 IS vs Panasonic ZS5 Overview

On this page, we are contrasting the Canon A3500 IS and Panasonic ZS5, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Canon and Panasonic. There exists a sizable gap between the resolutions of the A3500 IS (16MP) and ZS5 (12MP) but both cameras have the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The A3500 IS was manufactured 2 years after the ZS5 which is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before delving straight to a thorough comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the A3500 IS scores vs the ZS5 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon A3500 IS over the Panasonic ZS5

 A3500 IS ZS5 
LaunchedJanuary 2013June 2010Newer by 32 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS5 over the Canon A3500 IS

 ZS5 A3500 IS 

Common features in the Canon A3500 IS and Panasonic ZS5

 A3500 IS ZS5 
Manual focus No manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kThe same display resolution
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Canon A3500 IS vs Panasonic ZS5 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera frequently, you have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Canon A3500 IS comes with external measurements of 98mm x 56mm x 20mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") and a weight of 135 grams (0.30 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS5 has dimensions of 103mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs).

Contrast the Canon A3500 IS and Panasonic ZS5 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you choose at that time. The following is a front view measurement comparison of the A3500 IS and the ZS5.

Canon A3500 IS vs Panasonic ZS5 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A3500 IS and ZS5 is 96 and 92 respectively.

Canon A3500 IS vs Panasonic ZS5 top view buttons comparison

Canon A3500 IS vs Panasonic ZS5 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is difficult to visualise the difference between sensor dimensions merely by reading through technical specs. The pic underneath should give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the A3500 IS and ZS5.

As you have seen, both of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but not the same MP. You can expect to see the Canon A3500 IS to give you more detail due to its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos more aggressively. The newer A3500 IS is going to have an edge in sensor technology.

Canon A3500 IS vs Panasonic ZS5 sensor size comparison

Canon A3500 IS vs Panasonic ZS5 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A3500 IS vs Panasonic ZS5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon A3500 IS
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS5
34
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
supports face detection focusing
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
27
provides face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
can't use external flash
MP count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon A3500 IS
Street photography with Panasonic ZS5
67
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports focus via touch
lighter than competition in class (135g)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (214 grams)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon A3500 IS as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS5 as a Sports photography camera
38
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (200 shots)
lacks phase detect AF
31
image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking focus
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,300s)
max fps low (2.0 frames per second)
MP count low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon A3500 IS as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS5 as a Travel photography camera
68
lighter than competition in class (135g)
supports focus via touch
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
terrible battery life (200 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
63
lighter than competitors (214g)
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
great reach (300mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
MP count low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A3500 IS Landscape photography factors
Panasonic ZS5 Landscape photography factors
41
pretty wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
manual focus not available
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
manual mode not available
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
terrible battery life (200 per charge)
missing Time Lapse recording
33
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7")
MP count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon A3500 IS Vlogging highlights
Panasonic ZS5 Vlogging highlights
34
pretty wide (28mm)
screen is touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focusing
lighter than competition in class (135g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic support
31
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect autofocus
lighter than competitors (214 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing mic support
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Canon A3500 IS vs Panasonic ZS5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A3500 IS and Panasonic ZS5
 Canon PowerShot A3500 ISPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5
General Information
Brand Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot A3500 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5
Also called - Lumix DMC-TZ8
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2013-01-07 2010-06-16
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor DIGIC 4 Venus Engine HD II
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 9 11
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) 25-300mm (12.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-6.9 f/3.3-4.9
Macro focusing distance 3cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1300s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.00 m 5.30 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 135 grams (0.30 lbs) 214 grams (0.47 lbs)
Physical dimensions 98 x 56 x 20mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") 103 x 60 x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 shots -
Battery style 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
Launch cost $115 $300