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Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic FH5

Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
24
Overall
30
Canon PowerShot SD970 IS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
31
Overall
35

Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic FH5 Key Specs

Canon SD970 IS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 37-185mm (F3.2-5.7) lens
  • 160g - 96 x 57 x 26mm
  • Released February 2009
  • Also referred to as Digital IXUS 990 IS
Panasonic FH5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 121g - 94 x 54 x 19mm
  • Announced January 2011
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-FS18
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Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic FH5 Overview

Its time to look a little more closely at the Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic FH5, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by brands Canon and Panasonic. There is a crucial difference between the resolutions of the SD970 IS (12MP) and FH5 (16MP) but they possess the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SD970 IS was introduced 22 months before the FH5 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Each of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving in to a thorough comparison, below is a simple summary of how the SD970 IS grades versus the FH5 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SD970 IS over the Panasonic FH5

 SD970 IS FH5 
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution461k230kCrisper display (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH5 over the Canon SD970 IS

 FH5 SD970 IS 
AnnouncedJanuary 2011February 2009More recent by 22 months

Common features in the Canon SD970 IS and Panasonic FH5

 SD970 IS FH5 
Manually focus Lack of manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic FH5 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to lug around your camera, you need to consider its weight and volume. The Canon SD970 IS offers external dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 26mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0") along with a weight of 160 grams (0.35 lbs) while the Panasonic FH5 has sizing of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") and a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs).

Look at the Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic FH5 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are working with during that time. Here is the front view overall size comparison of the SD970 IS vs the FH5.

Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic FH5 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the SD970 IS and FH5 is 94 and 96 respectively.

Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic FH5 top view buttons comparison

Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic FH5 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very tough to envision the contrast between sensor measurements simply by reading technical specs. The graphic below will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the SD970 IS and FH5.

As you have seen, the two cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same MP. You should expect to see the Panasonic FH5 to offer greater detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop photos a little more aggressively. The older SD970 IS is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic FH5 sensor size comparison

Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic FH5 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic FH5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon SD970 IS
Portrait photography with Panasonic FH5
26
provides face detect focus
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
34
good megapixels (16MP)
features face detect focusing
no manual focus
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SD970 IS
Street photography with Panasonic FH5
56
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
67
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes focus by touch
lighter than average (121g)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon SD970 IS as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FH5 as a Sports photography camera
25
image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second low (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
low resolution (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
features tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
no shutter priority
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SD970 IS Travel photography highlights
Panasonic FH5 Travel photography highlights
51
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse function
low resolution (12MP)
does not feature selfie friendly display
wide angle not good (37mm)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
71
lighter than average (121 grams)
includes focus by touch
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
doesn't have selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SD970 IS Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic FH5 Landscape photography highlights
32
good sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (37mm)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
manual mode not possible
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
does not have Time Lapse function
38
quite wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
no manual focus
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD970 IS Vlogging highlights
Panasonic FH5 Vlogging highlights
28
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focus
wide angle not good (37mm)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
does not feature selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic port
33
quite wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focusing
lighter than average (121 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have mic port
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Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic FH5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD970 IS and Panasonic FH5
 Canon PowerShot SD970 ISPanasonic Lumix DMC-FH5
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Panasonic
Model Canon PowerShot SD970 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5
Otherwise known as Digital IXUS 990 IS Lumix DMC-FS18
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Released 2009-02-18 2011-01-05
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Venus Engine IV
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 9 11
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 37-185mm (5.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.2-5.7 f/3.1-6.5
Macro focus distance 2cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 461 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.50 m 3.30 m
Flash settings Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
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 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 160g (0.35 lbs) 121g (0.27 lbs)
Dimensions 96 x 57 x 26mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0") 94 x 54 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 260 photos
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery model NB-5L -
Self timer Yes (2, 10, Custom, Face) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HD /MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail pricing - $169