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Canon S120 vs Panasonic FX48

Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
57
Overall
45
Canon PowerShot S120 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
21
Overall
29

Canon S120 vs Panasonic FX48 Key Specs

Canon S120
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F1.8-5.7) lens
  • 217g - 100 x 59 x 29mm
  • Launched November 2013
  • Succeeded the Canon S110
Panasonic FX48
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200 (Raise to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 150g - 95 x 53 x 22mm
  • Revealed January 2009
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-FX40
Photography Glossary

Canon S120 vs Panasonic FX48 Overview

The following is a complete analysis of the Canon S120 and Panasonic FX48, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by competitors Canon and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the S120 (12MP) and the FX48 (12MP) is pretty close but the S120 (1/1.7") and FX48 (1/2.3") boast different sensor dimensions.

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The S120 was announced 4 years after the FX48 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before we go right into a full comparison, here is a quick view of how the S120 scores against the FX48 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon S120 over the Panasonic FX48

 S120 FX48 
RevealedNovember 2013January 2009Newer by 59 months
Manual focus More accurate focus
Screen size3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution922k230kClearer screen (+692k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FX48 over the Canon S120

 FX48 S120 

Common features in the Canon S120 and Panasonic FX48

 S120 FX48 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Canon S120 vs Panasonic FX48 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to travel with your camera frequently, you will have to factor in its weight and size. The Canon S120 offers exterior dimensions of 100mm x 59mm x 29mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 217 grams (0.48 lbs) and the Panasonic FX48 has specifications of 95mm x 53mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.9") along with a weight of 150 grams (0.33 lbs).

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Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Underneath is a front view scale comparison of the S120 against the FX48.

Canon S120 vs Panasonic FX48 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the S120 and FX48 is 92 and 95 respectively.

Canon S120 vs Panasonic FX48 top view buttons comparison

Canon S120 vs Panasonic FX48 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be tough to imagine the contrast in sensor dimensions simply by looking through a spec sheet. The picture underneath may give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the S120 and FX48.

As you can see, both cameras come with the identical megapixel count albeit different sensor dimensions. The S120 comes with the bigger sensor which is going to make getting shallow DOF simpler. The more modern S120 should have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon S120 vs Panasonic FX48 sensor size comparison

Canon S120 vs Panasonic FX48 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon S120 vs Panasonic FX48 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon S120 Portrait photography info
Panasonic FX48 Portrait photography info
42
has manual focus
supports face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
27
offers face detect focus
lack of manual focus
no external flash support
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon S120 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic FX48 as a Street photography camera
65
image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
provides focus by touch
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
more heavy than competitors in class (217 grams)
57
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon S120 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FX48 as a Sports photography camera
39
image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking autofocus
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
lacks phase detect autofocus
25
image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon S120
Travel photography with Panasonic FX48
67
provides focus by touch
flash built-in
quite wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
more heavy than competitors in class (217g)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
58
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon S120 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic FX48 Landscape photography highlights
57
has manual focus
quite wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen is a good size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
33
quite wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.5")
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon S120 Vlogging advice
Panasonic FX48 Vlogging advice
35
quite wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone socket
more heavy than competitors in class (217g)
31
quite wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focus
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
low res video (640 x 480 pxls)
lack of microphone port
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Canon S120 vs Panasonic FX48 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon S120 and Panasonic FX48
 Canon PowerShot S120Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48
General Information
Make Canon Panasonic
Model Canon PowerShot S120 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48
Alternate name - Lumix DMC-FX40
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2013-11-26 2009-01-27
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 6 -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 41.5mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Maximum boosted ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 11
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-120mm (5.0x) 25-125mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture f/1.8-5.7 f/2.8-5.9
Macro focus range 3cm 5cm
Crop factor 4.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 2.5 inches
Display resolution 922k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech TFT PureColor II G Touch screen LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/3000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 12.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.00 m 6.00 m
Flash modes Auto, on, slow synchro, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 or 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 217 grams (0.48 lbs) 150 grams (0.33 lbs)
Physical dimensions 100 x 59 x 29mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.1") 95 x 53 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.3 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.9 not tested
DXO Low light score 246 not tested
Other
Battery life 230 photos -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model NB-6LH -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $449 $325