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Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic ZS40

Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
24
Overall
30
Canon PowerShot SD970 IS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
58
Overall
48

Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic ZS40 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
  • Launched February 2009
  • Additionally Known as Digital IXUS 990 IS
Panasonic ZS40
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Push to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 240g - 111 x 64 x 34mm
  • Revealed January 2014
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ60
  • Succeeded the Panasonic ZS35
  • Later Model is Panasonic ZS45
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Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic ZS40 Overview

Following is a detailed comparison of the Canon SD970 IS and Panasonic ZS40, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Canon and Panasonic. There exists a noticeable gap between the image resolutions of the SD970 IS (12MP) and ZS40 (18MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SD970 IS was manufactured 5 years prior to the ZS40 which is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before delving straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a brief summary of how the SD970 IS grades against the ZS40 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SD970 IS over the Panasonic ZS40

 SD970 IS ZS40 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS40 over the Canon SD970 IS

 ZS40 SD970 IS 
RevealedJanuary 2014February 2009More modern by 59 months
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Screen resolution920k461kClearer screen (+459k dot)

Common features in the Canon SD970 IS and Panasonic ZS40

 SD970 IS ZS40 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic ZS40 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry around your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Canon SD970 IS comes with outer 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 ZS40 has dimensions of 111mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3") and a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

Check the Canon SD970 IS and Panasonic ZS40 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you choose at that time. Here is a front view measurements comparison of the SD970 IS versus the ZS40.

Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic ZS40 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SD970 IS and ZS40 is 94 and 90 respectively.

Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic ZS40 top view buttons comparison

Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic ZS40 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor sizes just by looking at specs. The image here might give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the SD970 IS and ZS40.

All in all, the two cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different MP. You can expect the Panasonic ZS40 to give more detail due to its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The more aged SD970 IS is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic ZS40 sensor size comparison

Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SD970 IS Portrait photography details
Panasonic ZS40 Portrait photography details
26
comes with face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
51
manual focus
good MP (18 megapixels)
supports face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Canon SD970 IS as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZS40 as a Street photography camera
56
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
69
image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
lighter than competitors in class (240g)
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Canon SD970 IS Sports photography details
Panasonic ZS40 Sports photography details
25
image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
54
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SD970 IS Travel photography advice
Panasonic ZS40 Travel photography advice
51
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (37mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
69
lighter than competitors in class (240 grams)
good MP (18MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SD970 IS
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS40
32
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (37mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
lack of manual mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
lack of Timelapse mode
55
manual focus
decently wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18 megapixels)
supports RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD970 IS Vlogging details
Panasonic ZS40 Vlogging details
27
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection autofocus
wide angle not the best (37mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
screen is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external microphone support
34
decently wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors in class (240 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have external microphone support
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Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic ZS40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD970 IS and Panasonic ZS40
 Canon PowerShot SD970 ISPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot SD970 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
Also Known as Digital IXUS 990 IS Lumix DMC-TZ60
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2009-02-18 2014-01-06
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Venus Engine
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Max enhanced ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 9 23
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 37-185mm (5.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.2-5.7 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing range 2cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 461 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech - TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 200 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Features
Min shutter speed 15s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/1600s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 6.40 m
Flash modes Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AEB
WB 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) 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 160g (0.35 lbs) 240g (0.53 lbs)
Physical dimensions 96 x 57 x 26mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0") 111 x 64 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3")
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 - 300 images
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID 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 One One
Pricing at release - $450