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Canon SX170 IS vs Panasonic ZS15

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
41
Overall
40
Canon PowerShot SX170 IS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
37
Overall
36

Canon SX170 IS vs Panasonic ZS15 Key Specs

Canon SX170 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-448mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 251g - 108 x 71 x 44mm
  • Launched August 2013
  • Superseded the Canon SX160 IS
Panasonic ZS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 208g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Revealed June 2012
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ25
  • Replacement is Panasonic ZS20
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Canon SX170 IS vs Panasonic ZS15 Overview

Lets look closer at the Canon SX170 IS versus Panasonic ZS15, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by manufacturers Canon and Panasonic. There exists a sizeable gap between the resolutions of the SX170 IS (16MP) and ZS15 (12MP) but they come with the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SX170 IS was unveiled 14 months later than the ZS15 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go in to a full comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the SX170 IS grades vs the ZS15 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX170 IS over the Panasonic ZS15

 SX170 IS ZS15 
RevealedAugust 2013June 2012Fresher by 14 months
Manually focus Very precise focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS15 over the Canon SX170 IS

 ZS15 SX170 IS 
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX170 IS and Panasonic ZS15

 SX170 IS ZS15 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Canon SX170 IS vs Panasonic ZS15 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to consider its weight and volume. The Canon SX170 IS has outer measurements of 108mm x 71mm x 44mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 251 grams (0.55 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS15 has sizing of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") with a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs).

Check out the Canon SX170 IS versus Panasonic ZS15 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have at that time. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the SX170 IS compared to the ZS15.

Canon SX170 IS vs Panasonic ZS15 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SX170 IS and ZS15 is 88 and 92 respectively.

Canon SX170 IS vs Panasonic ZS15 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX170 IS vs Panasonic ZS15 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its hard to visualise the gap between sensor sizing merely by reading technical specs. The visual below should offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the SX170 IS and ZS15.

As you can tell, both cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same resolution. You should expect to see the Canon SX170 IS to offer more detail having an extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop images far more aggressively. The fresher SX170 IS is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon SX170 IS vs Panasonic ZS15 sensor size comparison

Canon SX170 IS vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX170 IS vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic ZS15 Portrait photography highlights
44
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
features face detect focus
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
21
focusing manually not possible
can't use external flash
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Street photography features
Panasonic ZS15 Street photography features
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (251g)
no moving screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (208 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Sports photography details
Panasonic ZS15 Sports photography details
48
long zoom range (28-448mm 16.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
features tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
36
excellent zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (260 shots)
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Travel photography info
Panasonic ZS15 Travel photography info
68
lighter than competitors (251g)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
great zoom (448mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
does not contain selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.5)
61
lighter than average (208g)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (24mm)
long reach (384mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
not so great battery pack (260 CIPA)
low MP (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Landscape photography details
Panasonic ZS15 Landscape photography details
49
has manual focus
reasonably wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
lack of Time Lapse mode
37
reasonably wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
not so great battery pack (260 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon SX170 IS
Vlogging with Panasonic ZS15
31
reasonably wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focus
lighter than competitors (251g)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of mic jack
33
reasonably wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average (208g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone port
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Canon SX170 IS vs Panasonic ZS15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX170 IS and Panasonic ZS15
 Canon PowerShot SX170 ISPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
General Information
Make Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot SX170 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
Also called - Lumix DMC-TZ25
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2013-08-22 2012-06-29
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points - 23
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-448mm (16.0x) 24-384mm (16.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.5-5.9 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing range 1cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 seconds 15 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/3200 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.00 m 6.40 m
Flash options Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Flash Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 251 gr (0.55 lb) 208 gr (0.46 lb)
Dimensions 108 x 71 x 44mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.7") 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
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 life 300 images 260 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6LH -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $0 $279