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Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic ZS30

Portability
87
Imaging
33
Features
28
Overall
31
Canon PowerShot SX120 IS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 front
Portability
92
Imaging
42
Features
48
Overall
44

Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic ZS30 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 ZS30
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 198g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Introduced January 2013
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ40
  • Replaced the Panasonic ZS25
  • Replacement is Panasonic ZS35
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Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic ZS30 Overview

Here is a thorough overview of the Canon SX120 IS and Panasonic ZS30, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Canon and Panasonic. There exists a sizable gap among the sensor resolutions of the SX120 IS (10MP) and ZS30 (18MP) and the SX120 IS (1/2.5") and ZS30 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor measurements.

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The SX120 IS was launched 4 years before the ZS30 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving through a complete comparison, below is a concise summation of how the SX120 IS matches up versus the ZS30 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX120 IS over the Panasonic ZS30

 SX120 IS ZS30 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS30 over the Canon SX120 IS

 ZS30 SX120 IS 
IntroducedJanuary 2013August 2009Fresher by 41 months
Screen resolution920k230kCrisper screen (+690k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Canon SX120 IS and Panasonic ZS30

 SX120 IS ZS30 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic ZS30 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry your camera regularly, you are going to need to take into account its weight and volume. The Canon SX120 IS comes with physical measurements of 111mm x 71mm x 45mm (4.4" x 2.8" x 1.8") having a weight of 285 grams (0.63 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS30 has sizing of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs).

Look at the Canon SX120 IS and Panasonic ZS30 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you choose at the time. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the SX120 IS vs the ZS30.

Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic ZS30 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SX120 IS and ZS30 is 87 and 92 respectively.

Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic ZS30 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic ZS30 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's difficult to envision the gap in sensor sizing purely by checking out specs. The graphic below might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the SX120 IS and ZS30.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The SX120 IS because of its smaller sensor will make getting shallower DOF tougher and the Panasonic ZS30 will provide extra detail utilizing its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The older SX120 IS will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic ZS30 sensor size comparison

Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX120 IS as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS30 as a Portrait photography camera
33
focusing manually
high flash sync speed (1/500s)
external flash not possible
low MP (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.5")
does not have RAW format
33
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Street photography features
Panasonic ZS30 Street photography features
51
image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/2.5")
does not have RAW format
more heavy than others (285 grams)
66
image stabilization (Optical)
offers focus via touch
lighter than competition (198 grams)
fixed screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SX120 IS
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS30
26
image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
low MP (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.5")
does not have phase detect auto focus
46
amazing zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (18MP)
supports tracking autofocus
low max shutter speed (1/1,200 seconds)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (260 per charge)
does not have phase detect auto focus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Travel photography info
Panasonic ZS30 Travel photography info
51
has built in flash
very long reach (360mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
more heavy than others (285g)
low MP (10MP)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
wide angle not fantastic (36mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
69
lighter than competition (198g)
offers focus via touch
megapixel count decent (18MP)
built-in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
long zoom (480mm)
no Timelapse recording
terrible battery pack (260 shots)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic ZS30 Landscape photography highlights
36
focusing manually
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (36mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
low MP (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.5")
does not have RAW format
lack of Timelapse recording
44
pretty wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (18MP)
focusing manually not possible
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
terrible battery pack (260 CIPA)
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Vlogging highlights
Panasonic ZS30 Vlogging highlights
23
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (36mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
low res video (640 x 480 pixels)
lack of microphone socket
more heavy than others (285 grams)
35
pretty wide (24mm)
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (198 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
no external microphone socket
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Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic ZS30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX120 IS and Panasonic ZS30
 Canon PowerShot SX120 ISPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
General Information
Company Canon Panasonic
Model Canon PowerShot SX120 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-TZ40
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2009-08-19 2013-01-07
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.5" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 5.744 x 4.308mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 24.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 36-360mm (10.0x) 24-480mm (20.0x)
Max aperture f/2.8-4.3 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus distance 1cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 6.3 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 230k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 secs 15 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2500 secs 1/1200 secs
Continuous shutter rate 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
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.00 m 6.40 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/500 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps), 160 x 120 (15 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 data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 285 gr (0.63 lbs) 198 gr (0.44 lbs)
Dimensions 111 x 71 x 45mm (4.4" x 2.8" x 1.8") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
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 pictures
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery model 2 x AA -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch cost $249 $250