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Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic FH5

Portability
87
Imaging
33
Features
28
Overall
31
Canon PowerShot SX120 IS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
31
Overall
35

Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic FH5 Key Specs

Canon SX120 IS
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 36-360mm (F2.8-4.3) lens
  • 285g - 111 x 71 x 45mm
  • Released August 2009
Panasonic FH5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 121g - 94 x 54 x 19mm
  • Introduced January 2011
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-FS18
Photography Glossary

Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic FH5 Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Canon SX120 IS and Panasonic FH5, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by companies Canon and Panasonic. There is a substantial difference between the resolutions of the SX120 IS (10MP) and FH5 (16MP) and the SX120 IS (1/2.5") and FH5 (1/2.3") come with different sensor measurements.

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The SX120 IS was announced 16 months prior to the FH5 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving through a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the SX120 IS grades versus the FH5 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX120 IS over the Panasonic FH5

 SX120 IS FH5 
Focus manually Very exact focus
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH5 over the Canon SX120 IS

 FH5 SX120 IS 
IntroducedJanuary 2011August 2009Fresher by 16 months

Common features in the Canon SX120 IS and Panasonic FH5

 SX120 IS FH5 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither features Touch friendly display

Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic FH5 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry your camera often, you are going to need to think about its weight and measurements. The Canon SX120 IS enjoys external dimensions 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 FH5 has proportions of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") having a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs).

Check the Canon SX120 IS and Panasonic FH5 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are using at that time. Below is the front view overall size comparison of the SX120 IS and the FH5.

Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic FH5 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the SX120 IS and FH5 is 87 and 96 respectively.

Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic FH5 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic FH5 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's tough to picture the contrast between sensor sizing purely by going over specs. The graphic below will give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX120 IS and FH5.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The SX120 IS with its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF harder and the Panasonic FH5 will deliver greater detail with its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop pics far more aggressively. The older SX120 IS is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic FH5 sensor size comparison

Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic FH5 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic FH5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Portrait photography factors
Panasonic FH5 Portrait photography factors
33
has manual focus
great flash sync speed (1/500 seconds)
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.5")
lacks RAW files
34
decent megapixels (16MP)
features face detect focusing
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SX120 IS
Street photography with Panasonic FH5
51
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.5")
lacks RAW files
heavier than others in class (285 grams)
67
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has touch to focus
lighter than competition in class (121 grams)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX120 IS as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FH5 as a Sports photography camera
26
image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.5")
lacks phase detect auto focus
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
features tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SX120 IS
Travel photography with Panasonic FH5
51
flash built-in
great zoom (360mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
heavier than others in class (285 grams)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
wide angle not great (36mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
71
lighter than competition in class (121g)
has touch to focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic FH5 Landscape photography highlights
36
has manual focus
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (36mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.5")
lacks RAW files
lack of Time Lapse function
38
rather wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.7 inch)
manual mode not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon SX120 IS
Vlogging with Panasonic FH5
23
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not great (36mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
video res low (640 x 480 pxls)
lack of mic port
heavier than others in class (285 grams)
33
rather wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focusing
lighter than competition in class (121 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
no mic socket
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Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic FH5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX120 IS and Panasonic FH5
 Canon PowerShot SX120 ISPanasonic Lumix DMC-FH5
General Information
Brand Name Canon Panasonic
Model Canon PowerShot SX120 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5
Also called - Lumix DMC-FS18
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Released 2009-08-19 2011-01-05
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 Venus Engine IV
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.5" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 5.744 x 4.308mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 24.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 36-360mm (10.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-4.3 f/3.1-6.5
Macro focus range 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 6.3 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2500 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per second 4.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.00 m 3.30 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/500 secs -
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 (30 fps), 160 x 120 (15 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 285 gr (0.63 lb) 121 gr (0.27 lb)
Dimensions 111 x 71 x 45mm (4.4" x 2.8" x 1.8") 94 x 54 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 260 photos
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model 2 x AA -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $249 $169