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Canon D20 vs Panasonic S3

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
37
Overall
36
Canon PowerShot D20 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31

Canon D20 vs Panasonic S3 Key Specs

Canon D20
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.9-4.8) lens
  • 228g - 112 x 71 x 28mm
  • Revealed June 2013
Panasonic S3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-5.6) lens
  • 117g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Released January 2011
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Canon D20 vs Panasonic S3 Overview

In this article, we are reviewing the Canon D20 versus Panasonic S3, one being a Waterproof and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Canon and Panasonic. The resolution of the D20 (12MP) and the S3 (14MP) is very close and they enjoy the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The D20 was unveiled 2 years later than the S3 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving in to a full comparison, below is a concise view of how the D20 grades versus the S3 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon D20 over the Panasonic S3

 D20 S3 
ReleasedJune 2013January 2011Fresher by 30 months
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution461k230kSharper display (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic S3 over the Canon D20

 S3 D20 

Common features in the Canon D20 and Panasonic S3

 D20 S3 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Canon D20 vs Panasonic S3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry your camera, you should factor in its weight and measurements. The Canon D20 provides physical measurements of 112mm x 71mm x 28mm (4.4" x 2.8" x 1.1") and a weight of 228 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Panasonic S3 has proportions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") with a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Contrast the Canon D20 versus Panasonic S3 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are using at that time. Here is the front view over all size comparison of the D20 and the S3.

Canon D20 vs Panasonic S3 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the D20 and S3 is 91 and 96 respectively.

Canon D20 vs Panasonic S3 top view buttons comparison

Canon D20 vs Panasonic S3 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its difficult to see the difference in sensor sizing merely by researching specs. The graphic below may give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the D20 and S3.

All in all, both of those cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same MP. You should expect to see the Panasonic S3 to result in more detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop pics a little more aggressively. The newer D20 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Canon D20 vs Panasonic S3 sensor size comparison

Canon D20 vs Panasonic S3 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon D20 vs Panasonic S3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon D20 Portrait photography details
Panasonic S3 Portrait photography details
33
has manual focus
supports face detection focusing
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
28
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon D20
Street photography with Panasonic S3
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
weather sealing
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (117 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon D20
Sports photography with Panasonic S3
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
weather sealing
no shutter priority mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
35
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
max frames per second low (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon D20 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic S3 as a Travel photography camera
60
weather sealing
has built in flash
decently wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse function
low megapixels (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.9)
68
lighter than average (117g)
megapixel count good (14MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse recording
does not have selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon D20 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic S3 Landscape photography advice
44
has manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
weather sealing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.9)
lack of manual mode
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
does not have Timelapse function
38
relatively wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14MP)
no manual focus
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is small (2.7")
manual exposure not available
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon D20 Vlogging features
Panasonic S3 Vlogging features
33
decently wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow max aperture (f3.9)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have external microphone support
31
relatively wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (117g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
does not have selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
no mic port
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Canon D20 vs Panasonic S3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon D20 and Panasonic S3
 Canon PowerShot D20Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot D20 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
Class Waterproof Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2013-06-18 2011-01-05
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 Venus Engine IV
Sensor type CMOS 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 12MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 9 11
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.9-4.8 f/3.1-5.6
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 461 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology PureColor II TFT LCD TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 seconds 8 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed - 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 3.30 m
Flash settings Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 240 (240 fps) 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format H.264 MPEG-4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 228g (0.50 lbs) 117g (0.26 lbs)
Dimensions 112 x 71 x 28mm (4.4" x 2.8" x 1.1") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
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 - 250 photos
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6L -
Self timer Yes (2, 10, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $299 $110