Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic ZS15

Following is a extended analysis of the Canon SD970 IS and Panasonic ZS15, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Canon and Panasonic. The resolution of the SD970 IS (12MP) and the ZS15 (12MP) is fairly close and they possess the exact same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

Body cameras now worn by bakery staff to deter stealing

The SD970 IS was introduced 4 years prior to the ZS15 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a short summation of how the SD970 IS matches up vs the ZS15 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Canon PowerShot SD970 IS and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15. The whole galleries are viewable at Canon SD970 IS Gallery and Panasonic ZS15 Gallery.

In case you're planning to carry around your camera often, you will have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Canon SD970 IS has exterior dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 26mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0") and a weight of 160 grams (0.35 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS15 has dimensions of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") and a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs).

See the Canon SD970 IS and Panasonic ZS15 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have at that time. Underneath is the front view dimensions comparison of the SD970 IS compared to the ZS15.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the SD970 IS and ZS15 is 94 and 92 respectively.

Often, it can be tough to visualise the difference in sensor sizes purely by researching specifications. The picture underneath may give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SD970 IS and ZS15.

Plainly, both cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements and the same exact resolution so you should expect comparable quality of images but you may want to take the production date of the cameras into account. The more aged SD970 IS will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.