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Canon S120 vs Panasonic ZR1

Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
57
Overall
45
Canon PowerShot S120 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Canon S120 vs Panasonic ZR1 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
  • Introduced November 2013
  • Replaced the Canon S110
Panasonic ZR1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-200mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 158g - 98 x 55 x 26mm
  • Revealed July 2009
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-ZX1
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Canon S120 vs Panasonic ZR1 Overview

The following is a in-depth comparison of the Canon S120 and Panasonic ZR1, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by competitors Canon and Panasonic. The resolution of the S120 (12MP) and the ZR1 (12MP) is relatively close but the S120 (1/1.7") and ZR1 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor measurements.

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The S120 was released 4 years after the ZR1 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before delving right into a full comparison, here is a quick overview of how the S120 matches up against the ZR1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon S120 over the Panasonic ZR1

 S120 ZR1 
RevealedNovember 2013July 2009Newer by 53 months
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution922k230kSharper screen (+692k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR1 over the Canon S120

 ZR1 S120 

Common features in the Canon S120 and Panasonic ZR1

 S120 ZR1 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Canon S120 vs Panasonic ZR1 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to travel with your camera regularly, you are going to need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Canon S120 comes with outside measurements of 100mm x 59mm x 29mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 217 grams (0.48 lbs) and the Panasonic ZR1 has dimensions of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") having a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs).

Compare the Canon S120 and Panasonic ZR1 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the S120 against the ZR1.

Canon S120 vs Panasonic ZR1 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the S120 and ZR1 is 92 and 94 respectively.

Canon S120 vs Panasonic ZR1 top view buttons comparison

Canon S120 vs Panasonic ZR1 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its difficult to visualise the difference in sensor dimensions simply by researching technical specs. The image here may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the S120 and ZR1.

As you can tell, both of the cameras feature the identical megapixels albeit not the same sensor dimensions. The S120 provides the bigger sensor which should make achieving shallower depth of field simpler. The more modern S120 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Canon S120 vs Panasonic ZR1 sensor size comparison

Canon S120 vs Panasonic ZR1 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon S120 vs Panasonic ZR1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon S120 Portrait photography information
Panasonic ZR1 Portrait photography information
42
focusing manually
features face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
external flash not possible
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
21
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon S120
Street photography with Panasonic ZR1
65
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
offers focus by touch
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
more heavy than competition (217g)
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon S120 Sports photography info
Panasonic ZR1 Sports photography info
38
has image stabilization (Optical)
features tracking focus
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon S120 Travel photography details
Panasonic ZR1 Travel photography details
67
offers focus by touch
built-in flash
really wide (24mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
more heavy than competition (217 grams)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
57
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
MP count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon S120 Landscape photography features
Panasonic ZR1 Landscape photography features
57
focusing manually
really wide (24mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
screen size is decent (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
32
decently wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inches)
lack of manual mode
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
lack of Timelapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon S120
Vlogging with Panasonic ZR1
35
really wide (24mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
missing microphone port
more heavy than competition (217 grams)
28
decently wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external microphone support
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Canon S120 vs Panasonic ZR1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon S120 and Panasonic ZR1
 Canon PowerShot S120Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1
General Information
Make Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot S120 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1
Other name - Lumix DMC-ZX1
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2013-11-26 2009-07-27
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 6 Venus Engine V
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 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias 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 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 9 11
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) 25-200mm (8.0x)
Max aperture f/1.8-5.7 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing range 3cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 4.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 2.7"
Resolution of display 922k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT PureColor II G Touch screen LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 12.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.00 m 5.10 m
Flash options Auto, on, slow synchro, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 or 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 217 gr (0.48 pounds) 158 gr (0.35 pounds)
Physical dimensions 100 x 59 x 29mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.1") 98 x 55 x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0")
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 images -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID NB-6LH -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $449 $280