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Canon SX10 IS vs Panasonic ZS20

Portability
65
Imaging
33
Features
39
Overall
35
Canon PowerShot SX10 IS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
46
Overall
40

Canon SX10 IS vs Panasonic ZS20 Key Specs

Canon SX10 IS
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 28-560mm (F2.8-5.7) lens
  • 600g - 128 x 88 x 87mm
  • Launched January 2009
  • Newer Model is Canon SX20 IS
Panasonic ZS20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 206g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Introduced April 2012
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ30
  • Succeeded the Panasonic ZS15
  • Successor is Panasonic ZS25
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Canon SX10 IS vs Panasonic ZS20 Overview

The following is a complete overview of the Canon SX10 IS and Panasonic ZS20, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by brands Canon and Panasonic. There exists a huge gap among the sensor resolutions of the SX10 IS (10MP) and ZS20 (14MP) but they possess the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SX10 IS was introduced 4 years earlier than the ZS20 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Canon SX10 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic ZS20 being a Compact camera.

Before getting through a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the SX10 IS matches up versus the ZS20 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX10 IS over the Panasonic ZS20

 SX10 IS ZS20 
Manual focus More precise focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Canon SX10 IS

 ZS20 SX10 IS 
IntroducedApril 2012January 2009Newer by 39 months
Screen sizing3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Canon SX10 IS and Panasonic ZS20

 SX10 IS ZS20 

Canon SX10 IS vs Panasonic ZS20 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to travel with your camera often, you have to consider its weight and volume. The Canon SX10 IS offers external dimensions of 128mm x 88mm x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") with a weight of 600 grams (1.32 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS20 has sizing of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs).

Take a look at the Canon SX10 IS and Panasonic ZS20 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have attached at that moment. Below is the front view over all size comparison of the SX10 IS against the ZS20.

Canon SX10 IS vs Panasonic ZS20 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SX10 IS and ZS20 is 65 and 92 respectively.

Canon SX10 IS vs Panasonic ZS20 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX10 IS vs Panasonic ZS20 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its hard to imagine the contrast in sensor dimensions merely by checking out specs. The image below may give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX10 IS and ZS20.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit different megapixels. You should count on the Panasonic ZS20 to show greater detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop shots far more aggressively. The more aged SX10 IS will be behind in sensor technology.

Canon SX10 IS vs Panasonic ZS20 sensor size comparison

Canon SX10 IS vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX10 IS vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX10 IS Portrait photography info
Panasonic ZS20 Portrait photography info
39
manual focus
above average flash sync (1/500 seconds)
provides face detect focus
low megapixels (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
30
good megapixels (14MP)
manual focus not available
no external flash support
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX10 IS Street photography highlights
Panasonic ZS20 Street photography highlights
49
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Optical)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
more heavy than average (600 grams)
65
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features touch focus
lighter than competition (206g)
no moving screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SX10 IS
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS20
33
incredible zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
47
great zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (260 CIPA)
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SX10 IS
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS20
52
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
pretty wide (28mm)
great zoom (560mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
more heavy than average (600g)
low megapixels (10MP)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
68
lighter than competition (206g)
features touch focus
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
very long reach (480mm)
no Time Lapse recording
bad battery pack (260 per charge)
does not feature selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX10 IS Landscape photography details
Panasonic ZS20 Landscape photography details
34
manual focus
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.5 inches)
low megapixels (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
does not have Timelapse recording
42
fairly wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
bad battery pack (260 shots)
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX10 IS Vlogging features
Panasonic ZS20 Vlogging features
52
pretty wide (28mm)
screen is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focus
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
low res video (640 x 480 pixels)
does not have microphone jack
more heavy than average (600 grams)
34
fairly wide (24mm)
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (206 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not feature selfie friendly display
no mic port
Photography Glossary

Canon SX10 IS vs Panasonic ZS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX10 IS and Panasonic ZS20
 Canon PowerShot SX10 ISPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
General Information
Make Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot SX10 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-TZ30
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2009-01-15 2012-04-26
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 9 23
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-560mm (20.0x) 24-480mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.7 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing range 0cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.5 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 seconds 15 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/3200 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.20 m 6.40 m
Flash options Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/500 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (60, 30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 600 grams (1.32 pounds) 206 grams (0.45 pounds)
Dimensions 128 x 88 x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
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 - 260 photos
Battery form - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec or custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/MMC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail price $275 $349