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Canon S120 vs Panasonic ZS15

Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
57
Overall
45
Canon PowerShot S120 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
37
Overall
36

Canon S120 vs Panasonic ZS15 Key Specs

Canon S120
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F1.8-5.7) lens
  • 217g - 100 x 59 x 29mm
  • Revealed November 2013
  • Superseded the Canon S110
Panasonic ZS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 208g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Announced June 2012
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ25
  • Refreshed by Panasonic ZS20
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Canon S120 vs Panasonic ZS15 Overview

Let's look a little more in depth at the Canon S120 versus Panasonic ZS15, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Canon and Panasonic. The image resolution of the S120 (12MP) and the ZS15 (12MP) is very close but the S120 (1/1.7") and ZS15 (1/2.3") offer different sensor sizes.

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The S120 was released 18 months later than the ZS15 making them a generation apart from each other. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick summary of how the S120 scores versus the ZS15 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon S120 over the Panasonic ZS15

 S120 ZS15 
AnnouncedNovember 2013June 2012More recent by 18 months
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Display resolution922k460kSharper display (+462k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS15 over the Canon S120

 ZS15 S120 

Common features in the Canon S120 and Panasonic ZS15

 S120 ZS15 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Canon S120 vs Panasonic ZS15 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to lug around your camera often, you have to consider its weight and measurements. The Canon S120 has got outer measurements of 100mm x 59mm x 29mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 217 grams (0.48 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS15 has proportions of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") along with a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs).

Take a look at the Canon S120 versus Panasonic ZS15 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are utilizing at that time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the S120 versus the ZS15.

Canon S120 vs Panasonic ZS15 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the S120 and ZS15 is 92 and 92 respectively.

Canon S120 vs Panasonic ZS15 top view buttons comparison

Canon S120 vs Panasonic ZS15 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very hard to picture the gap in sensor measurements simply by looking through technical specs. The visual underneath may provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the S120 and ZS15.

As you can tell, both of these cameras have the same MP but different sensor measurements. The S120 comes with the larger sensor which should make obtaining shallow DOF less difficult. The younger S120 should have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon S120 vs Panasonic ZS15 sensor size comparison

Canon S120 vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon S120 vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon S120 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic ZS15 Portrait photography advice
42
focusing manually
supports face detect focus
supports RAW formats
no external flash support
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
21
manual focus not available
cannot use external flash
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon S120 Street photography details
Panasonic ZS15 Street photography details
65
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
comes with touch to focus
no moving screen
sensor is small (1/1.7")
heavier than others in class (217 grams)
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (208g)
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon S120 Sports photography advice
Panasonic ZS15 Sports photography advice
39
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking focus
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
does not have phase detect auto focus
36
great zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
low battery power (260 shots)
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon S120 Travel photography info
Panasonic ZS15 Travel photography info
67
comes with touch to focus
built-in flash
rather wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
heavier than others in class (217 grams)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
61
lighter than others (208 grams)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (24mm)
very long reach (384mm)
missing Timelapse mode
low battery power (260 CIPA)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon S120 Landscape photography info
Panasonic ZS15 Landscape photography info
57
focusing manually
rather wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
37
reasonably wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
low battery power (260 shots)
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon S120 Vlogging features
Panasonic ZS15 Vlogging features
35
rather wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
missing mic socket
heavier than others in class (217 grams)
33
reasonably wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others (208g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
missing external microphone support
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Canon S120 vs Panasonic ZS15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon S120 and Panasonic ZS15
 Canon PowerShot S120Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot S120 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-TZ25
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2013-11-26 2012-06-29
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 6 -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
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
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 12800 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 9 23
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) 24-384mm (16.0x)
Maximal aperture f/1.8-5.7 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing range 3cm 3cm
Crop factor 4.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 922k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech TFT PureColor II G Touch screen LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 secs 15 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 12.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 7.00 m 6.40 m
Flash settings Auto, on, slow synchro, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance 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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 217g (0.48 lbs) 208g (0.46 lbs)
Physical dimensions 100 x 59 x 29mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.1") 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
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 pictures 260 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6LH -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Launch price $449 $279