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Canon S100 vs Panasonic SZ5

Portability
93
Imaging
36
Features
48
Overall
40
Canon PowerShot S100 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 front
Portability
95
Imaging
37
Features
34
Overall
35

Canon S100 vs Panasonic SZ5 Key Specs

Canon S100
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.0-5.9) lens
  • 198g - 99 x 60 x 28mm
  • Released December 2011
  • Succeeded the Canon S95
  • Newer Model is Canon S110
Panasonic SZ5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Increase to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 104 x 58 x 21mm
  • Announced July 2012
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Canon S100 vs Panasonic SZ5 Overview

Below is a complete assessment of the Canon S100 and Panasonic SZ5, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by manufacturers Canon and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the S100 (12MP) and the SZ5 (14MP) is very close but the S100 (1/1.7") and SZ5 (1/2.3") possess different sensor size.

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The S100 was released 6 months prior to the SZ5 and they are both of a similar generation. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before going through a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple view of how the S100 grades versus the SZ5 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon S100 over the Panasonic SZ5

 S100 SZ5 
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Display resolution461k230kSharper display (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ5 over the Canon S100

 SZ5 S100 

Common features in the Canon S100 and Panasonic SZ5

 S100 SZ5 
AnnouncedDecember 2011July 2012Same generation
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch display Neither comes with Touch display

Canon S100 vs Panasonic SZ5 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to lug around your camera, you have to factor its weight and size. The Canon S100 comes with exterior dimensions of 99mm x 60mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") and a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs) whilst the Panasonic SZ5 has specifications of 104mm x 58mm x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs).

Look at the Canon S100 and Panasonic SZ5 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have attached at that moment. Here is the front view scale comparison of the S100 compared to the SZ5.

Canon S100 vs Panasonic SZ5 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the S100 and SZ5 is 93 and 95 respectively.

Canon S100 vs Panasonic SZ5 top view buttons comparison

Canon S100 vs Panasonic SZ5 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is difficult to imagine the difference in sensor measurements only by researching specifications. The photograph below might give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the S100 and SZ5.

Plainly, the 2 cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The S100 featuring a larger sensor is going to make shooting bokeh easier and the Panasonic SZ5 will render more detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos much more aggressively.

Canon S100 vs Panasonic SZ5 sensor size comparison

Canon S100 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon S100 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon S100 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic SZ5 Portrait photography factors
44
has manual focus
flash sync is higher than normal (1/2,000s)
comes with face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
can't use external flash
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
33
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
comes with face detect focusing
no manual focus
manual mode not available
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon S100 Street photography features
Panasonic SZ5 Street photography features
65
has image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (136g)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon S100 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic SZ5 as a Sports photography camera
32
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with tracking autofocus
max fps low (2.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
terrible battery power (200 shots)
doesn't have phase detect AF
39
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon S100
Travel photography with Panasonic SZ5
61
built-in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
no Timelapse mode
terrible battery power (200 per charge)
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
70
lighter than competitors in class (136g)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
very long reach (250mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon S100
Landscape photography with Panasonic SZ5
50
has manual focus
reasonably wide (24mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
terrible battery power (200 CIPA)
no Timelapse mode
42
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not available
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon S100 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic SZ5 as a Vlogging camera
36
reasonably wide (24mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
no external microphone port
32
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focusing
lighter than competitors in class (136g)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have mic jack
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Canon S100 vs Panasonic SZ5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon S100 and Panasonic SZ5
 Canon PowerShot S100Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
General Information
Company Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot S100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Released 2011-12-22 2012-07-18
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 5 -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 6400 1600
Max enhanced ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 9 23
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.0-5.9 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing range 3cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 4.8 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 461k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - TFT Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 secs 8 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed 2.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 7.00 m 5.60 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/2000 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (120, 30 fps), 320 x 240 (240, 30 fps) 1280 x 720p ( 30,25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 198 gr (0.44 pounds) 136 gr (0.30 pounds)
Dimensions 99 x 60 x 28mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") 104 x 58 x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 50 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 20.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.6 not tested
DXO Low light rating 153 not tested
Other
Battery life 200 photos 250 photos
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-5L -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Launch price $429 $195