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Canon S120 vs Panasonic ZS30

Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
57
Overall
45
Canon PowerShot S120 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 front
Portability
92
Imaging
42
Features
48
Overall
44

Canon S120 vs Panasonic ZS30 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
  • Released November 2013
  • Earlier Model is Canon S110
Panasonic ZS30
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 198g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Introduced January 2013
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ40
  • Previous Model is Panasonic ZS25
  • Successor is Panasonic ZS35
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Canon S120 vs Panasonic ZS30 Overview

Let's look a bit more in depth at the Canon S120 vs Panasonic ZS30, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Canon and Panasonic. There exists a large gap among the sensor resolutions of the S120 (12MP) and ZS30 (18MP) and the S120 (1/1.7") and ZS30 (1/2.3") posses different sensor size.

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The S120 was released 11 months after the ZS30 so they are of a similar age. Both cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before getting into a in depth comparison, here is a concise summation of how the S120 scores vs the ZS30 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon S120 over the Panasonic ZS30

 S120 ZS30 
IntroducedNovember 2013January 2013Newer by 11 months
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Screen resolution922k920kCrisper screen (+2k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS30 over the Canon S120

 ZS30 S120 

Common features in the Canon S120 and Panasonic ZS30

 S120 ZS30 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen size
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Canon S120 vs Panasonic ZS30 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to travel with your camera often, you'll need to consider its weight and proportions. The Canon S120 has outside 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 ZS30 has measurements of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs).

Check the Canon S120 vs Panasonic ZS30 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are working with at that moment. Underneath is a front view proportions comparison of the S120 vs the ZS30.

Canon S120 vs Panasonic ZS30 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the S120 and ZS30 is 92 and 92 respectively.

Canon S120 vs Panasonic ZS30 top view buttons comparison

Canon S120 vs Panasonic ZS30 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its difficult to imagine the contrast in sensor dimensions just by seeing a spec sheet. The picture below might provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the S120 and ZS30.

Clearly, the 2 cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The S120 because of its bigger sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF less difficult and the Panasonic ZS30 will provide more detail as a result of its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The more modern S120 provides an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon S120 vs Panasonic ZS30 sensor size comparison

Canon S120 vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon S120 vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon S120 Portrait photography features
Panasonic ZS30 Portrait photography features
42
has manual focus
includes face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
external flash not possible
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
33
decent megapixels (18MP)
manual focus not available
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon S120 Street photography information
Panasonic ZS30 Street photography information
65
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
has touch to focus
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
more heavy than average (217g)
66
image stabilization (Optical)
boasts focus via touch
lighter than competition (198g)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon S120 Sports photography features
Panasonic ZS30 Sports photography features
39
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes tracking autofocus
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
no phase detect auto focus
46
amazing zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
has tracking focus
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,200 seconds)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery power (260 shots)
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon S120 Travel photography factors
Panasonic ZS30 Travel photography factors
67
has touch to focus
flash built-in
really wide (24mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
more heavy than average (217g)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
69
lighter than competition (198g)
boasts focus via touch
decent megapixels (18MP)
built-in flash
really wide (24mm)
very long reach (480mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
bad battery power (260 shots)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon S120
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS30
57
has manual focus
really wide (24mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
44
really wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
manual focus not available
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
bad battery power (260 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon S120 Vlogging features
Panasonic ZS30 Vlogging features
35
really wide (24mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external microphone jack
more heavy than average (217g)
35
really wide (24mm)
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (198 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
lack of microphone port
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Canon S120 vs Panasonic ZS30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon S120 and Panasonic ZS30
 Canon PowerShot S120Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
General Information
Make Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot S120 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
Also called as - Lumix DMC-TZ40
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2013-11-26 2013-01-07
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor 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 12 megapixel 18 megapixel
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
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 12800 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 9 23
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) 24-480mm (20.0x)
Maximum aperture f/1.8-5.7 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing distance 3cm 3cm
Crop factor 4.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 922k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech TFT PureColor II G Touch screen LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15s 15s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1200s
Continuous shooting speed 12.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.00 m 6.40 m
Flash settings Auto, on, slow synchro, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 217 gr (0.48 lb) 198 gr (0.44 lb)
Physical dimensions 100 x 59 x 29mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.1") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
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 photographs 260 photographs
Style 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 recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $449 $250