Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic SZ1

Lets look a little more in depth at the Canon SD970 IS and Panasonic SZ1, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by rivals Canon and Panasonic. There is a big difference among the sensor resolutions of the SD970 IS (12MP) and SZ1 (16MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SD970 IS was manufactured 3 years prior to the SZ1 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before getting right into a in depth comparison, here is a concise summation of how the SD970 IS grades vs the SZ1 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Canon PowerShot SD970 IS and Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1. The entire galleries are provided at Canon SD970 IS Gallery and Panasonic SZ1 Gallery.

In case you're intending to carry around your camera often, you have to factor in its weight and size. The Canon SD970 IS has got exterior dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 26mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0") with a weight of 160 grams (0.35 lbs) whilst the Panasonic SZ1 has specifications of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") with a weight of 131 grams (0.29 lbs).

Take a look at the Canon SD970 IS and Panasonic SZ1 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. Following is a front view scale comparison of the SD970 IS and the SZ1.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the SD970 IS and SZ1 is 94 and 95 respectively.

Oftentimes, its tough to imagine the gap in sensor sizes only by researching a spec sheet. The pic below will give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the SD970 IS and SZ1.

As you can see, both the cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different MP. You should anticipate the Panasonic SZ1 to render more detail due to its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The more aged SD970 IS will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.