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Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic LX5

Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
24
Overall
30
Canon PowerShot SD970 IS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 front
Portability
88
Imaging
35
Features
44
Overall
38

Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic LX5 Key Specs

Canon SD970 IS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 37-185mm (F3.2-5.7) lens
  • 160g - 96 x 57 x 26mm
  • Announced February 2009
  • Other Name is Digital IXUS 990 IS
Panasonic LX5
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.63" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-90mm (F2.0-3.3) lens
  • 271g - 110 x 65 x 43mm
  • Announced December 2011
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic LX3
  • Later Model is Panasonic LX7
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Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic LX5 Overview

Below, we are evaluating the Canon SD970 IS and Panasonic LX5, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by manufacturers Canon and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the SD970 IS (12MP) and the LX5 (10MP) is very comparable but the SD970 IS (1/2.3") and LX5 (1/1.63") come with different sensor measurements.

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The SD970 IS was unveiled 3 years before the LX5 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving in to a in-depth comparison, below is a simple summary of how the SD970 IS matches up vs the LX5 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SD970 IS over the Panasonic LX5

 SD970 IS LX5 
Display resolution461k460kClearer display (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic LX5 over the Canon SD970 IS

 LX5 SD970 IS 
AnnouncedDecember 2011February 2009More recent by 34 months
Focus manually Very accurate focus

Common features in the Canon SD970 IS and Panasonic LX5

 SD970 IS LX5 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurements
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic LX5 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to lug around your camera regularly, you have to factor its weight and proportions. The Canon SD970 IS provides outside measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 26mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0") accompanied by a weight of 160 grams (0.35 lbs) and the Panasonic LX5 has measurements of 110mm x 65mm x 43mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.7") with a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs).

Analyze the Canon SD970 IS and Panasonic LX5 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. The following is the front view measurements comparison of the SD970 IS and the LX5.

Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic LX5 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SD970 IS and LX5 is 94 and 88 respectively.

Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic LX5 top view buttons comparison

Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic LX5 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very difficult to visualize the contrast in sensor measurements just by seeing technical specs. The visual below will provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the SD970 IS and LX5.

As you can tell, the two cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The SD970 IS using its smaller sensor is going to make achieving bokeh more challenging and the Canon SD970 IS will provide more detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop photos much more aggressively. The older SD970 IS will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic LX5 sensor size comparison

Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic LX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic LX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon SD970 IS
Portrait photography with Panasonic LX5
26
supports face detect focus
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
41
has manual focus
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/1.63")
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Street Comparison

Canon SD970 IS as a Street photography camera
Panasonic LX5 as a Street photography camera
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
59
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
fixed screen
sensor is tiny (1/1.63")
heavier than average (271g)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SD970 IS as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic LX5 as a Sports photography camera
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
max fps low (3.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/1.63")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SD970 IS Travel photography highlights
Panasonic LX5 Travel photography highlights
51
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
wide angle not great (37mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
59
built-in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
does not have Time Lapse recording
heavier than average (271g)
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SD970 IS as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic LX5 as a Landscape photography camera
32
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (37mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
manual mode not available
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
52
has manual focus
pretty wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/1.63")
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD970 IS Vlogging information
Panasonic LX5 Vlogging information
27
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focus
wide angle not great (37mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have mic socket
29
pretty wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have mic socket
heavier than average (271g)
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Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic LX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD970 IS and Panasonic LX5
 Canon PowerShot SD970 ISPanasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Panasonic
Model Canon PowerShot SD970 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
Also called Digital IXUS 990 IS -
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2009-02-18 2011-12-15
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.63"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 8.07 x 5.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 44.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 9 23
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 37-185mm (5.0x) 24-90mm (3.8x)
Largest aperture f/3.2-5.7 f/2.0-3.3
Macro focus distance 2cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 4.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 461 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic (optional)
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.50 m 7.20 m
Flash options Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG AVCHD Lite
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 160g (0.35 lbs) 271g (0.60 lbs)
Dimensions 96 x 57 x 26mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0") 110 x 65 x 43mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 41
DXO Color Depth score not tested 19.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 10.8
DXO Low light score not tested 132
Other
Battery model NB-5L -
Self timer Yes (2, 10, Custom, Face) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HD /MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at release - $294