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Canon SX20 IS vs Panasonic ZS3

Portability
65
Imaging
35
Features
40
Overall
37
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Canon SX20 IS vs Panasonic ZS3 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
  • Introduced July 2010
  • Replaced the Canon SX10 IS
  • Updated by Canon SX30 IS
Panasonic ZS3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 229g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Announced May 2009
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ7
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Canon SX20 IS vs Panasonic ZS3 Overview

Below is a extensive comparison of the Canon SX20 IS versus Panasonic ZS3, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by competitors Canon and Panasonic. The image resolution of the SX20 IS (12MP) and the ZS3 (10MP) is relatively close and both cameras boast the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SX20 IS was launched 14 months later than the ZS3 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras have different body design with the Canon SX20 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic ZS3 being a Compact camera.

Before delving into a full comparison, here is a brief overview of how the SX20 IS scores vs the ZS3 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon SX20 IS over the Panasonic ZS3

 SX20 IS ZS3 
AnnouncedJuly 2010May 2009More recent by 14 months
Focus manually More exact focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS3 over the Canon SX20 IS

 ZS3 SX20 IS 
Screen dimensions3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX20 IS and Panasonic ZS3

 SX20 IS ZS3 
Touch screen No Touch screen

Canon SX20 IS vs Panasonic ZS3 Physical Comparison

When you are going to lug around your camera frequently, you should factor its weight and size. The Canon SX20 IS offers external dimensions of 128mm x 88mm x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") having a weight of 600 grams (1.32 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS3 has specifications of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).

Check the Canon SX20 IS versus Panasonic ZS3 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Below is a front view dimensions comparison of the SX20 IS and the ZS3.

Canon SX20 IS vs Panasonic ZS3 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the SX20 IS and ZS3 is 65 and 91 respectively.

Canon SX20 IS vs Panasonic ZS3 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Panasonic ZS3 Sensor Comparison

Often, its hard to imagine the difference in sensor measurements merely by looking through technical specs. The photograph underneath will give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX20 IS and ZS3.

As you have seen, both of those cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different MP. You should count on the Canon SX20 IS to result in extra detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The younger SX20 IS should have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Canon SX20 IS vs Panasonic ZS3 sensor size comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX20 IS vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX20 IS as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS3 as a Portrait photography camera
37
you can focus manually
flash sync speed is above average (1/500s)
MP count low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
19
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
low MP (10MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Street photography features
Panasonic ZS3 Street photography features
49
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Optical)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
more heavy than competition (600 grams)
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (229 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX20 IS as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS3 as a Sports photography camera
34
excellent zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
max fps very slow (1.0 fps)
MP count low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
24
has image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second low (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
low MP (10MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Travel photography factors
Panasonic ZS3 Travel photography factors
53
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
decently wide (28mm)
very long reach (560mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition (600g)
MP count low (12MP)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
63
lighter than others in class (229 grams)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
very long reach (300mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
low MP (10MP)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Landscape photography details
Panasonic ZS3 Landscape photography details
35
you can focus manually
decently wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.5 inches)
MP count low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
does not have Timelapse mode
35
decently wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
manual exposure not available
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon SX20 IS
Vlogging with Panasonic ZS3
50
decently wide (28mm)
selfie friendly display
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external microphone socket
more heavy than competition (600 grams)
30
decently wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (229 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external microphone socket
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Canon SX20 IS vs Panasonic ZS3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX20 IS and Panasonic ZS3
 Canon PowerShot SX20 ISPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
General Information
Company Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
Also called - Lumix DMC-TZ7
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2010-07-06 2009-05-14
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 9 11
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-560mm (20.0x) 25-300mm (12.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.7 f/3.3-4.9
Macro focusing distance 0cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.5 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/3200 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.80 m 5.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 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), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format H.264 AVCHD Lite
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 600 gr (1.32 pounds) 229 gr (0.50 pounds)
Physical dimensions 128 x 88 x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 ID 4 x AA -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD / SDHC / MMC / MMC Plus / HC MMC Plus SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $500 $200