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Canon S120 vs Panasonic S3

Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
57
Overall
45
Canon PowerShot S120 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31

Canon S120 vs Panasonic S3 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
  • Announced November 2013
  • Replaced the Canon S110
Panasonic S3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • 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 S120 vs Panasonic S3 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Canon S120 and Panasonic S3, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by manufacturers Canon and Panasonic. The image resolution of the S120 (12MP) and the S3 (14MP) is relatively well matched but the S120 (1/1.7") and S3 (1/2.3") come with different sensor dimensions.

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The S120 was brought out 2 years after the S3 which is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go through a full comparison, below is a short introduction of how the S120 matches up vs the S3 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon S120 over the Panasonic S3

 S120 S3 
ReleasedNovember 2013January 2011Newer by 36 months
Manual focus More precise focusing
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution922k230kSharper screen (+692k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic S3 over the Canon S120

 S3 S120 

Common features in the Canon S120 and Panasonic S3

 S120 S3 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Canon S120 vs Panasonic S3 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to travel with your camera, you need to think about its weight and measurements. The Canon S120 has got physical dimensions of 100mm x 59mm x 29mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 217 grams (0.48 lbs) while the Panasonic S3 has proportions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") along with a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Examine the Canon S120 and Panasonic S3 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Following is the front view size comparison of the S120 compared to the S3.

Canon S120 vs Panasonic S3 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the S120 and S3 is 92 and 96 respectively.

Canon S120 vs Panasonic S3 top view buttons comparison

Canon S120 vs Panasonic S3 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its difficult to picture the gap between sensor dimensions merely by checking specs. The picture below will help give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the S120 and S3.

All in all, both of those cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The S120 due to its bigger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh less difficult and the Panasonic S3 will resolve extra detail having its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures much more aggressively. The fresher S120 provides an advantage in sensor innovation.

Canon S120 vs Panasonic S3 sensor size comparison

Canon S120 vs Panasonic S3 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon S120 vs Panasonic S3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon S120 Portrait photography details
Panasonic S3 Portrait photography details
42
you can focus manually
features face detection focusing
supports RAW files
external flash not possible
low resolution sensor (12MP)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
28
good resolution (14MP)
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon S120 Street photography highlights
Panasonic S3 Street photography highlights
65
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
features focus by touch
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/1.7")
more heavy than competition in class (217 grams)
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (117 grams)
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon S120 Sports photography info
Panasonic S3 Sports photography info
39
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features tracking autofocus
low resolution sensor (12MP)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
lacks phase detect AF
35
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14MP)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon S120
Travel photography with Panasonic S3
67
features focus by touch
has built in flash
really wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
more heavy than competition in class (217g)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
68
lighter than competition (117 grams)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon S120 Landscape photography info
Panasonic S3 Landscape photography info
57
you can focus manually
really wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
38
fairly wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.7")
lack of manual exposure
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon S120
Vlogging with Panasonic S3
35
really wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no external microphone jack
more heavy than competition in class (217 grams)
31
fairly wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (117g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external mic port
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Canon S120 vs Panasonic S3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon S120 and Panasonic S3
 Canon PowerShot S120Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
General Information
Company Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot S120 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2013-11-26 2011-01-05
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 6 Venus Engine IV
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 41.5mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 12800 6400
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 9 11
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Max aperture f/1.8-5.7 f/3.1-5.6
Macro focusing distance 3cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 4.8 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 922 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT PureColor II G Touch screen LCD TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 8s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 12.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 7.00 m 3.30 m
Flash modes Auto, on, slow synchro, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 or 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Mic 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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 217g (0.48 pounds) 117g (0.26 pounds)
Dimensions 100 x 59 x 29mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.1") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.3 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.9 not tested
DXO Low light rating 246 not tested
Other
Battery life 230 shots 250 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6LH -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $449 $110