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Canon SX20 IS vs Panasonic ZS70

Portability
65
Imaging
35
Features
40
Overall
37
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS70 front
Portability
87
Imaging
47
Features
70
Overall
56

Canon SX20 IS vs Panasonic ZS70 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
  • Superseded the Canon SX10 IS
  • Renewed by Canon SX30 IS
Panasonic ZS70
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200 (Boost to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 322g - 112 x 67 x 41mm
  • Released April 2017
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-TZ90
  • Succeeded the Panasonic ZS60
  • Replacement is Panasonic ZS80
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Canon SX20 IS vs Panasonic ZS70 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Canon SX20 IS and Panasonic ZS70, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by manufacturers Canon and Panasonic. There is a large difference among the image resolutions of the SX20 IS (12MP) and ZS70 (20MP) but they use the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SX20 IS was announced 7 years prior to the ZS70 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Canon SX20 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic ZS70 being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a complete comparison, below is a simple view of how the SX20 IS matches up versus the ZS70 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX20 IS over the Panasonic ZS70

 SX20 IS ZS70 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS70 over the Canon SX20 IS

 ZS70 SX20 IS 
ReleasedApril 2017July 2010More recent by 82 months
Display dimension3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1040k230kClearer display (+810k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Canon SX20 IS and Panasonic ZS70

 SX20 IS ZS70 
Manually focus Very precise focus
Selfie screen Both are selfie friendly

Canon SX20 IS vs Panasonic ZS70 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to lug around your camera often, you need to factor its weight and volume. The Canon SX20 IS provides external measurements of 128mm x 88mm x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") along with a weight of 600 grams (1.32 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS70 has sizing of 112mm x 67mm x 41mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.6") with a weight of 322 grams (0.71 lbs).

See the Canon SX20 IS and Panasonic ZS70 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you use at that time. Below is the front view size comparison of the SX20 IS vs the ZS70.

Canon SX20 IS vs Panasonic ZS70 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the SX20 IS and ZS70 is 65 and 87 respectively.

Canon SX20 IS vs Panasonic ZS70 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Panasonic ZS70 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be hard to visualise the gap in sensor measurements just by going through specs. The photograph underneath should give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the SX20 IS and ZS70.

All in all, each of the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but not the same MP. You can expect to see the Panasonic ZS70 to show more detail with its extra 8MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop images somewhat more aggressively. The older SX20 IS will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon SX20 IS vs Panasonic ZS70 sensor size comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Panasonic ZS70 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX20 IS vs Panasonic ZS70 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX20 IS as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS70 as a Portrait photography camera
37
you can focus manually
above average flash sync speed (1/500 seconds)
resolution not great (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
54
focusing manually
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
comes with face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Street photography factors
Panasonic ZS70 Street photography factors
49
screen articulates
image stabilization (Optical)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
heavier than average (600g)
76
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
has touch to focus
very small sensor (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SX20 IS
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS70
34
great zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
resolution not great (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
61
excellent zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
quiet mode (1/16,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
better than average battery (380 CIPA)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SX20 IS
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS70
53
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
relatively wide (28mm)
long zoom (560mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
heavier than average (600 grams)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
79
better than average battery (380 shots)
has touch to focus
good megapixels (20MP)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
relatively wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Landscape photography features
Panasonic ZS70 Landscape photography features
35
you can focus manually
relatively wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.5 inches)
resolution not great (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
62
focusing manually
relatively wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20MP)
saves RAW formats
better than average battery (380 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon SX20 IS
Vlogging with Panasonic ZS70
50
relatively wide (28mm)
screen is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external mic socket
heavier than average (600 grams)
74
relatively wide (24mm)
screen is selfie friendly
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focusing
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not have external mic socket
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Canon SX20 IS vs Panasonic ZS70 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX20 IS and Panasonic ZS70
 Canon PowerShot SX20 ISPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS70
General Information
Make Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS70
Alternate name - Lumix DMC-TZ90
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2010-07-06 2017-04-19
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 4 Venus Engine
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 5184 x 3888
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Highest boosted ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 9 49
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-560mm (20.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Max aperture f/2.8-5.7 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing range 0cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Tilting
Display diagonal 2.5 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dots 1,040k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,166k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.46x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/3200s 1/2000s
Maximum quiet shutter speed - 1/16000s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.80 m 5.60 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/500s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 3840 x 2160 (30p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic 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 None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 600 gr (1.32 pounds) 322 gr (0.71 pounds)
Dimensions 128 x 88 x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") 112 x 67 x 41mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.6")
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 life - 380 photographs
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery ID 4 x AA -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 3 shots / 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD / SDHC / MMC / MMC Plus / HC MMC Plus SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $500 $450