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Canon SX20 IS vs Panasonic LZ30

Portability
65
Imaging
35
Features
40
Overall
37
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30 front
Portability
66
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36

Canon SX20 IS vs Panasonic LZ30 Key Specs

Canon SX20 IS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-560mm (F2.8-5.7) lens
  • 600g - 128 x 88 x 87mm
  • Announced July 2010
  • Replaced the Canon SX10 IS
  • New Model is Canon SX30 IS
Panasonic LZ30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-875mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
  • 552g - 124 x 84 x 92mm
  • Launched January 2013
  • Succeeded the Panasonic LZ20
  • New Model is Panasonic LZ40
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Canon SX20 IS vs Panasonic LZ30 Overview

Here is a detailed overview of the Canon SX20 IS vs Panasonic LZ30, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by brands Canon and Panasonic. There exists a considerable gap among the sensor resolutions of the SX20 IS (12MP) and LZ30 (16MP) but they come with the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SX20 IS was launched 3 years prior to the LZ30 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (SLR-like (bridge)).

Before delving in to a in depth comparison, below is a quick summation of how the SX20 IS matches up versus the LZ30 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX20 IS over the Panasonic LZ30

 SX20 IS LZ30 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ30 over the Canon SX20 IS

 LZ30 SX20 IS 
LaunchedJanuary 2013July 2010Fresher by 30 months
Screen dimension3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX20 IS and Panasonic LZ30

 SX20 IS LZ30 
Touch screen No Touch screen

Canon SX20 IS vs Panasonic LZ30 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry your camera frequently, you'll need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX20 IS features external dimensions of 128mm x 88mm x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") and a weight of 600 grams (1.32 lbs) while the Panasonic LZ30 has dimensions of 124mm x 84mm x 92mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 3.6") having a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs).

Contrast the Canon SX20 IS vs Panasonic LZ30 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you use at that time. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the SX20 IS compared to the LZ30.

Canon SX20 IS vs Panasonic LZ30 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SX20 IS and LZ30 is 65 and 66 respectively.

Canon SX20 IS vs Panasonic LZ30 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Panasonic LZ30 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be tough to visualize the contrast in sensor sizing merely by looking through technical specs. The graphic underneath may give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the SX20 IS and LZ30.

As you can tell, both of these cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit different MP. You can expect the Panasonic LZ30 to provide you with greater detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The older SX20 IS will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon SX20 IS vs Panasonic LZ30 sensor size comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Panasonic LZ30 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX20 IS vs Panasonic LZ30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Portrait photography details
Panasonic LZ30 Portrait photography details
37
manual focus
above average flash sync speed (1/500s)
low resolution (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
31
MP count good (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
no external flash support
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Street photography features
Panasonic LZ30 Street photography features
49
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Optical)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
more heavy than competition (600g)
43
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
heavier than others in class (552 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX20 IS as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic LZ30 as a Sports photography camera
34
excellent zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
max fps very slow (1.0 frames/s)
low resolution (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
47
great zoom range (25-875mm 35.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
supports tracking focus
better than average battery life (380 per charge)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Travel photography advice
Panasonic LZ30 Travel photography advice
53
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
fairly wide (28mm)
great reach (560mm)
missing Timelapse function
more heavy than competition (600 grams)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
56
better than average battery life (380 shots)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
great reach (875mm)
missing Time Lapse function
heavier than others in class (552g)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Landscape photography features
Panasonic LZ30 Landscape photography features
35
manual focus
fairly wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.5 inches)
low resolution (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
missing Timelapse function
44
relatively wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
better than average battery life (380 per charge)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX20 IS as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic LZ30 as a Vlogging camera
50
fairly wide (28mm)
selfie friendly display
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external microphone port
more heavy than competition (600 grams)
22
relatively wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing mic jack
heavier than others in class (552 grams)
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Canon SX20 IS vs Panasonic LZ30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX20 IS and Panasonic LZ30
 Canon PowerShot SX20 ISPanasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30
General Information
Brand Name Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2010-07-06 2013-01-07
Body design SLR-like (bridge) SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 -
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 9 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-560mm (20.0x) 25-875mm (35.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.7 f/3.0-5.9
Macro focusing distance 0cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 2.5" 3"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 secs 15 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/3200 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.80 m 4.40 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/500 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 600 grams (1.32 pounds) 552 grams (1.22 pounds)
Dimensions 128 x 88 x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") 124 x 84 x 92mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 3.6")
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 - 380 pictures
Type of battery - AA
Battery ID 4 x AA 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 0r 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD / SDHC / MMC / MMC Plus / HC MMC Plus SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $500 $230