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Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic SZ10

Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
24
Overall
30
Canon PowerShot SD970 IS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ10 front
Portability
93
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38

Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic SZ10 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
  • Introduced February 2009
  • Alternate Name is Digital IXUS 990 IS
Panasonic SZ10
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Increase to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
  • 177g - 99 x 60 x 30mm
  • Released January 2015
Photography Glossary

Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic SZ10 Overview

Its time to look a little more in depth at the Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic SZ10, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Canon and Panasonic. There exists a crucial gap among the image resolutions of the SD970 IS (12MP) and SZ10 (16MP) but both cameras offer the identical sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SD970 IS was introduced 6 years earlier than the SZ10 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before getting right into a in depth comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the SD970 IS scores versus the SZ10 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SD970 IS over the Panasonic SZ10

 SD970 IS SZ10 
Display resolution461k460kSharper display (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ10 over the Canon SD970 IS

 SZ10 SD970 IS 
ReleasedJanuary 2015February 2009Fresher by 71 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Canon SD970 IS and Panasonic SZ10

 SD970 IS SZ10 
Manual focus No manual focusing
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic SZ10 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry your camera regularly, you'll need to think about its weight and volume. The Canon SD970 IS comes with external measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 26mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0") having a weight of 160 grams (0.35 lbs) and the Panasonic SZ10 has sizing of 99mm x 60mm x 30mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.2") accompanied by a weight of 177 grams (0.39 lbs).

Look at the Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic SZ10 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the SD970 IS versus the SZ10.

Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic SZ10 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SD970 IS and SZ10 is 94 and 93 respectively.

Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic SZ10 top view buttons comparison

Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic SZ10 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is tough to envision the difference in sensor sizing simply by looking through technical specs. The visual here should give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the SD970 IS and SZ10.

As you have seen, each of the cameras feature the identical sensor size but not the same MP. You should expect to see the Panasonic SZ10 to provide you with more detail using its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics way more aggressively. The older SD970 IS will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic SZ10 sensor size comparison

Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic SZ10 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic SZ10 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SD970 IS Portrait photography advice
Panasonic SZ10 Portrait photography advice
26
includes face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
no manual control
can't use external flash
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
36
MP count good (16MP)
features face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SD970 IS Street photography info
Panasonic SZ10 Street photography info
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
70
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (177 grams)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SD970 IS
Sports photography with Panasonic SZ10
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
34
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
continuous shooting slow (1.4 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
low battery life (200 per charge)
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SD970 IS as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic SZ10 as a Travel photography camera
51
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse mode
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (37mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
67
lighter than competition in class (177 grams)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (24mm)
long reach (288mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
low battery life (200 shots)
does not offer selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SD970 IS Landscape photography advice
Panasonic SZ10 Landscape photography advice
32
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (37mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
no manual control
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
lack of Timelapse mode
42
decently wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not available
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
low battery life (200 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD970 IS Vlogging factors
Panasonic SZ10 Vlogging factors
28
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focusing
wide angle not great (37mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
display isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of microphone port
32
decently wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focusing
lighter than competition in class (177g)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
does not offer selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone support
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Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic SZ10 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD970 IS and Panasonic SZ10
 Canon PowerShot SD970 ISPanasonic Lumix DMC-SZ10
General Information
Make Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot SD970 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ10
Also called Digital IXUS 990 IS -
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2009-02-18 2015-01-06
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 1600 1600
Maximum enhanced ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 37-185mm (5.0x) 24-288mm (12.0x)
Max aperture f/3.2-5.7 f/3.1-6.3
Macro focusing range 2cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 461 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 secs 8 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s 1.4 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 5.20 m
Flash options Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, on, slow sync w/redeye, off
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 160g (0.35 pounds) 177g (0.39 pounds)
Physical dimensions 96 x 57 x 26mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0") 99 x 60 x 30mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 200 shots
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-5L -
Self timer Yes (2, 10, Custom, Face) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HD /MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail price - $200