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Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic S2

Portability
87
Imaging
33
Features
28
Overall
31
Canon PowerShot SX120 IS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2 front
Portability
96
Imaging
38
Features
29
Overall
34

Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic S2 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
  • Launched August 2009
Panasonic S2
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 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
  • 112g - 98 x 57 x 21mm
  • Announced January 2012
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Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic S2 Overview

Below is a complete assessment of the Canon SX120 IS versus Panasonic S2, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by brands Canon and Panasonic. There is a substantial difference among the sensor resolutions of the SX120 IS (10MP) and S2 (14MP) and the SX120 IS (1/2.5") and S2 (1/2.3") possess different sensor measurements.

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The SX120 IS was revealed 3 years earlier than the S2 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going in to a in depth comparison, below is a simple overview of how the SX120 IS grades against the S2 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX120 IS over the Panasonic S2

 SX120 IS S2 
Focus manually Very exact focus
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Panasonic S2 over the Canon SX120 IS

 S2 SX120 IS 
AnnouncedJanuary 2012August 2009More recent by 29 months

Common features in the Canon SX120 IS and Panasonic S2

 SX120 IS S2 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic S2 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to lug around your camera, you should factor its weight and proportions. The Canon SX120 IS provides 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 S2 has measurements of 98mm x 57mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") with a weight of 112 grams (0.25 lbs).

Check out the Canon SX120 IS versus Panasonic S2 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you choose at the time. Underneath is the front view scale comparison of the SX120 IS against the S2.

Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic S2 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the SX120 IS and S2 is 87 and 96 respectively.

Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic S2 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic S2 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its difficult to visualize the gap in sensor measurements just by going through specs. The graphic underneath will help give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the SX120 IS and S2.

All in all, both cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The SX120 IS having a smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field more difficult and the Panasonic S2 will show more detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop images far more aggressively. The older SX120 IS will be behind in sensor technology.

Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic S2 sensor size comparison

Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic S2 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic S2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic S2 Portrait photography highlights
33
you can focus manually
high flash sync (1/500 seconds)
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.5")
has no RAW files
34
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
provides face detection focusing
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Street photography advice
Panasonic S2 Street photography advice
51
image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.5")
has no RAW files
more heavy than others (285 grams)
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (112g)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Sports photography highlights
Panasonic S2 Sports photography highlights
26
image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.5")
has no phase detect autofocus
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
great battery pack (280 per charge)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Travel photography factors
Panasonic S2 Travel photography factors
51
flash built-in
great zoom (360mm)
no Timelapse mode
more heavy than others (285g)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (36mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
71
great battery pack (280 CIPA)
lighter than competition (112 grams)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse function
does not contain selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Landscape photography information
Panasonic S2 Landscape photography information
36
you can focus manually
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (36mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.5")
has no RAW files
no Timelapse mode
41
reasonably wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
great battery pack (280 shots)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.7")
manual mode not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Vlogging highlights
Panasonic S2 Vlogging highlights
23
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not good (36mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (640 x 480 resolution)
no external microphone port
more heavy than others (285 grams)
33
reasonably wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focusing
lighter than competition (112 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external microphone port
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Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic S2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX120 IS and Panasonic S2
 Canon PowerShot SX120 ISPanasonic Lumix DMC-S2
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Panasonic
Model Canon PowerShot SX120 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2009-08-19 2012-01-09
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 3:2 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 36-360mm (10.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-4.3 f/3.1-6.5
Macro focus range 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 6.3 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 seconds 8 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2500 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.00 m 3.30 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
Hot shoe
Auto exposure 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), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone 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 None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 285 grams (0.63 lb) 112 grams (0.25 lb)
Dimensions 111 x 71 x 45mm (4.4" x 2.8" x 1.8") 98 x 57 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8")
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 - 280 photographs
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 recording
Storage media SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release $249 $109