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Canon G15 vs Panasonic SZ3

Portability
86
Imaging
37
Features
58
Overall
45
Canon PowerShot G15 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 front
Portability
96
Imaging
40
Features
29
Overall
35

Canon G15 vs Panasonic SZ3 Key Specs

Canon G15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 352g - 107 x 76 x 40mm
  • Launched September 2012
  • Superseded the Canon G12
  • Renewed by Canon G16
Panasonic SZ3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 126g - 95 x 56 x 22mm
  • Introduced January 2013
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Canon G15 vs Panasonic SZ3 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Canon G15 versus Panasonic SZ3, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by competitors Canon and Panasonic. There is a noticeable difference between the image resolutions of the G15 (12MP) and SZ3 (16MP) and the G15 (1/1.7") and SZ3 (1/2.3") have different sensor dimensions.

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The G15 was launched 3 months earlier than the SZ3 and they are both of a similar age. Both of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before diving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the G15 matches up against the SZ3 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon G15 over the Panasonic SZ3

 G15 SZ3 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kSharper display (+692k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ3 over the Canon G15

 SZ3 G15 

Common features in the Canon G15 and Panasonic SZ3

 G15 SZ3 
IntroducedSeptember 2012January 2013Similar age
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Canon G15 vs Panasonic SZ3 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you'll need to factor its weight and size. The Canon G15 comes with physical dimensions of 107mm x 76mm x 40mm (4.2" x 3.0" x 1.6") with a weight of 352 grams (0.78 lbs) and the Panasonic SZ3 has specifications of 95mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs).

Examine the Canon G15 versus Panasonic SZ3 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are working with during that time. Following is a front view size comparison of the G15 versus the SZ3.

Canon G15 vs Panasonic SZ3 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the G15 and SZ3 is 86 and 96 respectively.

Canon G15 vs Panasonic SZ3 top view buttons comparison

Canon G15 vs Panasonic SZ3 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its hard to imagine the gap between sensor measurements purely by reading a spec sheet. The graphic below will help provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the G15 and SZ3.

Clearly, both of those cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The G15 because of its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF less difficult and the Panasonic SZ3 will offer more detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images a good deal more aggressively.

Canon G15 vs Panasonic SZ3 sensor size comparison

Canon G15 vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon G15 vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon G15 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic SZ3 as a Portrait photography camera
48
you can focus manually
great flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
supports face detection focus
exports RAW formats
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
30
MP count good (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon G15 Street photography information
Panasonic SZ3 Street photography information
59
has image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
heavier than competitors in class (352 grams)
64
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (126g)
fixed screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon G15
Sports photography with Panasonic SZ3
39
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking autofocus
great battery power (350 shots)
low frames per second (2.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
41
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon G15 Travel photography information
Panasonic SZ3 Travel photography information
61
great battery power (350 shots)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
heavier than competitors in class (352g)
megapixel count low (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
71
lighter than competition in class (126 grams)
MP count good (16MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
very long zoom (250mm)
missing Timelapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon G15 Landscape photography details
Panasonic SZ3 Landscape photography details
55
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
great battery power (350 CIPA)
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
doesn't have Time Lapse function
39
quite wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
manual mode not available
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon G15 Vlogging information
Panasonic SZ3 Vlogging information
33
reasonably wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic jack
heavier than competitors in class (352g)
31
quite wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (126g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external microphone socket
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Canon G15 vs Panasonic SZ3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon G15 and Panasonic SZ3
 Canon PowerShot G15Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3
General Information
Company Canon Panasonic
Model Canon PowerShot G15 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2012-09-17 2013-01-07
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 5 -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 12800 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 9 23
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Largest aperture f/1.8-2.8 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus range 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 4.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 922k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech TFT PureColor II G LCD TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (tunnel) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.00 m 4.10 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Second Curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/2000 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 352g (0.78 pounds) 126g (0.28 pounds)
Physical dimensions 107 x 76 x 40mm (4.2" x 3.0" x 1.6") 95 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 46 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 19.9 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.5 not tested
DXO Low light score 165 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 photographs 250 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-10L -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail price $499 $150