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Canon S100 vs Panasonic ZS1

Portability
93
Imaging
36
Features
48
Overall
40
Canon PowerShot S100 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 front
Portability
91
Imaging
32
Features
25
Overall
29

Canon S100 vs Panasonic ZS1 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
  • Revealed December 2011
  • Previous Model is Canon S95
  • Newer Model is Canon S110
Panasonic ZS1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 229g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Launched May 2009
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ6
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Canon S100 vs Panasonic ZS1 Overview

Its time to look a bit more closely at the Canon S100 and Panasonic ZS1, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Canon and Panasonic. The image resolution of the S100 (12MP) and the ZS1 (10MP) is relatively similar but the S100 (1/1.7") and ZS1 (1/2.5") feature totally different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The S100 was released 2 years after the ZS1 which is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving in to a in depth comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the S100 scores vs the ZS1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon S100 over the Panasonic ZS1

 S100 ZS1 
LaunchedDecember 2011May 2009More modern by 32 months
Focus manually More precise focusing
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution461k230kClearer screen (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS1 over the Canon S100

 ZS1 S100 

Common features in the Canon S100 and Panasonic ZS1

 S100 ZS1 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Canon S100 vs Panasonic ZS1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry around your camera regularly, you should take into account its weight and size. The Canon S100 features outside dimensions of 99mm x 60mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") having a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS1 has specifications of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).

Compare the Canon S100 and Panasonic ZS1 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are utilising at the time. Following is the front view over all size comparison of the S100 compared to the ZS1.

Canon S100 vs Panasonic ZS1 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the S100 and ZS1 is 93 and 91 respectively.

Canon S100 vs Panasonic ZS1 top view buttons comparison

Canon S100 vs Panasonic ZS1 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is tough to see the contrast between sensor sizes merely by reviewing specs. The image here will give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the S100 and ZS1.

All in all, each of the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The S100 because of its bigger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field simpler and the Canon S100 will deliver extra detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots far more aggressively. The more modern S100 is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon S100 vs Panasonic ZS1 sensor size comparison

Canon S100 vs Panasonic ZS1 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon S100 vs Panasonic ZS1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon S100
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS1
44
focusing manually
great flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
has face detection focus
supports RAW formats
can't use external flash
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
24
includes face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.5")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon S100 Street photography advice
Panasonic ZS1 Street photography advice
65
image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/1.7")
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (229g)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.5")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon S100 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS1 as a Sports photography camera
32
image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking autofocus
low fps (2.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
low battery pack (200 per charge)
no phase detect auto focus
24
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow fps (3.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.5")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon S100 Travel photography features
Panasonic ZS1 Travel photography features
61
flash built-in
fairly wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
lack of Time Lapse function
low battery pack (200 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly display
62
lighter than competition (229 grams)
has built in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
long zoom (300mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon S100 Landscape photography details
Panasonic ZS1 Landscape photography details
50
focusing manually
fairly wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
low battery pack (200 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse function
30
pretty wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7")
no manual exposure
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.5")
has no RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon S100 Vlogging details
Panasonic ZS1 Vlogging details
36
fairly wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have a selfie friendly display
lack of external mic support
31
pretty wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection autofocus
lighter than competition (229g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (640 x 480 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone socket
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Canon S100 vs Panasonic ZS1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon S100 and Panasonic ZS1
 Canon PowerShot S100Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1
General Information
Brand Name Canon Panasonic
Model Canon PowerShot S100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-TZ6
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2011-12-22 2009-05-14
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 5 -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.5"
Sensor measurements 7.44 x 5.58mm 5.744 x 4.308mm
Sensor surface area 41.5mm² 24.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 9 11
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-120mm (5.0x) 25-300mm (12.0x)
Max aperture f/2.0-5.9 f/3.3-4.9
Macro focus distance 3cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 4.8 6.3
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 461 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.00 m 5.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/2000 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (120, 30 fps), 320 x 240 (240, 30 fps) 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG 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 BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 198 gr (0.44 lb) 229 gr (0.50 lb)
Dimensions 99 x 60 x 28mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 50 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 20.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.6 not tested
DXO Low light score 153 not tested
Other
Battery life 200 images -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model NB-5L -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $429 $0