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Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic FH20

Portability
87
Imaging
33
Features
28
Overall
31
Canon PowerShot SX120 IS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
21
Overall
30

Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic FH20 Key Specs

Canon SX120 IS
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 36-360mm (F2.8-4.3) lens
  • 285g - 111 x 71 x 45mm
  • Launched August 2009
Panasonic FH20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-224mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 100 x 56 x 28mm
  • Revealed January 2010
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FS30
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Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic FH20 Overview

On this page, we will be looking at the Canon SX120 IS versus Panasonic FH20, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by manufacturers Canon and Panasonic. There exists a considerable gap among the resolutions of the SX120 IS (10MP) and FH20 (14MP) and the SX120 IS (1/2.5") and FH20 (1/2.3") provide different sensor sizing.

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The SX120 IS was manufactured 4 months before the FH20 which means that they are of a similar age. Both the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before getting right into a in depth comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the SX120 IS matches up vs the FH20 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon SX120 IS over the Panasonic FH20

 SX120 IS FH20 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH20 over the Canon SX120 IS

 FH20 SX120 IS 

Common features in the Canon SX120 IS and Panasonic FH20

 SX120 IS FH20 
RevealedAugust 2009January 2010Same age
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither offers Touch friendly screen

Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic FH20 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to travel with your camera, you will need to think about its weight and volume. The Canon SX120 IS offers external measurements of 111mm x 71mm x 45mm (4.4" x 2.8" x 1.8") with a weight of 285 grams (0.63 lbs) while the Panasonic FH20 has sizing of 100mm x 56mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

Look at the Canon SX120 IS versus Panasonic FH20 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you select at the time. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the SX120 IS versus the FH20.

Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic FH20 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SX120 IS and FH20 is 87 and 93 respectively.

Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic FH20 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic FH20 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very hard to visualize the contrast in sensor dimensions just by checking out a spec sheet. The picture underneath should give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the SX120 IS and FH20.

As you can see, both cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The SX120 IS because of its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF trickier and the Panasonic FH20 will show more detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop pictures more aggressively.

Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic FH20 sensor size comparison

Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic FH20 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic FH20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Portrait photography information
Panasonic FH20 Portrait photography information
33
manual focus
high flash sync (1/500s)
external flash not possible
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.5")
lacks RAW files
28
good resolution (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
no manual control
no external flash support
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX120 IS as a Street photography camera
Panasonic FH20 as a Street photography camera
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/2.5")
lacks RAW files
heavier than competitors in class (285 grams)
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Sports photography highlights
Panasonic FH20 Sports photography highlights
26
has image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second low (1.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.5")
lacks phase detect auto focus
35
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Travel photography information
Panasonic FH20 Travel photography information
51
built-in flash
great reach (360mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
heavier than competitors in class (285g)
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
wide angle not fantastic (36mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
64
good resolution (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse function
does not contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Landscape photography information
Panasonic FH20 Landscape photography information
36
manual focus
screen size is decent (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (36mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.5")
lacks RAW files
lack of Time Lapse mode
37
relatively wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7")
no manual control
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Vlogging information
Panasonic FH20 Vlogging information
23
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (36mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
video res low (640 x 480 pixels)
lack of external mic port
heavier than competitors in class (285 grams)
28
relatively wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not contain selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone jack
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Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic FH20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX120 IS and Panasonic FH20
 Canon PowerShot SX120 ISPanasonic Lumix DMC-FH20
General Information
Brand Name Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot SX120 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20
Also called - Lumix DMC-FS30
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2009-08-19 2010-01-06
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.5" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 5.744 x 4.308mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 24.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 3:2 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 36-360mm (10.0x) 28-224mm (8.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-4.3 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 6.3 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2500 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.00 m 5.80 m (Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/500 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps), 160 x 120 (15 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 285 gr (0.63 lb) 178 gr (0.39 lb)
Physical dimensions 111 x 71 x 45mm (4.4" x 2.8" x 1.8") 100 x 56 x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" 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 ID 2 x AA -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $249 $179