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Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic ZS50

Portability
87
Imaging
33
Features
28
Overall
31
Canon PowerShot SX120 IS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 front
Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
57
Overall
45

Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic ZS50 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
  • Introduced August 2009
Panasonic ZS50
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 243g - 111 x 65 x 34mm
  • Introduced January 2015
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ70
  • Superseded the Panasonic ZS45
  • Later Model is Panasonic ZS60
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Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic ZS50 Overview

Following is a extended analysis of the Canon SX120 IS and Panasonic ZS50, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Canon and Panasonic. The image resolution of the SX120 IS (10MP) and the ZS50 (12MP) is pretty close but the SX120 IS (1/2.5") and ZS50 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor measurements.

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The SX120 IS was announced 6 years earlier than the ZS50 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going straight into a complete comparison, below is a short summary of how the SX120 IS matches up vs the ZS50 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX120 IS over the Panasonic ZS50

 SX120 IS ZS50 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS50 over the Canon SX120 IS

 ZS50 SX120 IS 
IntroducedJanuary 2015August 2009More modern by 65 months
Screen resolution1040k230kClearer screen (+810k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX120 IS and Panasonic ZS50

 SX120 IS ZS50 
Focus manually More precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic ZS50 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX120 IS has got 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 ZS50 has dimensions of 111mm x 65mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") and a weight of 243 grams (0.54 lbs).

Examine the Canon SX120 IS and Panasonic ZS50 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have attached during that time. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the SX120 IS versus the ZS50.

Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic ZS50 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SX120 IS and ZS50 is 87 and 90 respectively.

Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic ZS50 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic ZS50 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be hard to see the difference in sensor sizes only by researching a spec sheet. The pic here may provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the SX120 IS and ZS50.

Clearly, the 2 cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The SX120 IS having a smaller sensor will make achieving shallow DOF harder and the Panasonic ZS50 will provide you with extra detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots a little more aggressively. The more aged SX120 IS will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic ZS50 sensor size comparison

Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic ZS50 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic ZS50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Portrait photography features
Panasonic ZS50 Portrait photography features
33
manual focus
great flash sync speed (1/500 seconds)
no external flash support
low megapixels (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.5")
does not have RAW files
42
focusing manually
comes with face detect focusing
supports RAW files
no external flash support
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Street photography features
Panasonic ZS50 Street photography features
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.5")
does not have RAW files
more heavy than competition (285g)
68
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
lighter than average (243g)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SX120 IS
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS50
26
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.5")
does not have phase detect auto focus
43
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with tracking focus
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX120 IS as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS50 as a Travel photography camera
51
has built in flash
very long reach (360mm)
no Timelapse recording
more heavy than competition (285 grams)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (36mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
66
lighter than average (243 grams)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (24mm)
great zoom (720mm)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Landscape photography factors
Panasonic ZS50 Landscape photography factors
36
manual focus
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (36mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
low megapixels (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.5")
does not have RAW files
no Timelapse recording
51
focusing manually
reasonably wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX120 IS as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS50 as a Vlogging camera
23
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not the best (36mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (640 x 480 pixels)
no external microphone port
more heavy than competition (285 grams)
34
reasonably wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average (243g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
no mic port
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Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic ZS50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX120 IS and Panasonic ZS50
 Canon PowerShot SX120 ISPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50
General Information
Brand Name Canon Panasonic
Model Canon PowerShot SX120 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-TZ70
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2009-08-19 2015-01-06
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.5" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 5.744 x 4.308mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 24.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
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) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-4.3 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus distance 1cm 3cm
Crop factor 6.3 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 1,040 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,166 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.46x
Features
Min shutter speed 15 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2500 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.00 m 6.40 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/500 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps), 160 x 120 (15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 gr (0.63 lbs) 243 gr (0.54 lbs)
Dimensions 111 x 71 x 45mm (4.4" x 2.8" x 1.8") 111 x 65 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 44
DXO Color Depth score not tested 20.0
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.2
DXO Low light score not tested 138
Other
Battery life - 300 photographs
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery model 2 x AA -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release $249 $350