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Canon SX230 HS vs Panasonic FH3

Portability
91
Imaging
35
Features
43
Overall
38
Canon PowerShot SX230 HS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3 front
Portability
94
Imaging
36
Features
21
Overall
30

Canon SX230 HS vs Panasonic FH3 Key Specs

Canon SX230 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-392mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 223g - 106 x 62 x 33mm
  • Revealed July 2011
  • Earlier Model is Canon SX210 IS
  • Newer Model is Canon SX240 HS
Panasonic FH3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F2.8-6.9) lens
  • 165g - 98 x 55 x 24mm
  • Launched January 2010
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-FS11
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Canon SX230 HS vs Panasonic FH3 Overview

Here is a complete comparison of the Canon SX230 HS and Panasonic FH3, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Canon and Panasonic. The resolution of the SX230 HS (12MP) and the FH3 (14MP) is pretty comparable and both cameras have the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SX230 HS was released 19 months later than the FH3 which makes them a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before we go straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a short summation of how the SX230 HS grades against the FH3 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX230 HS over the Panasonic FH3

 SX230 HS FH3 
LaunchedJuly 2011January 2010Fresher by 19 months
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution461k230kSharper screen (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH3 over the Canon SX230 HS

 FH3 SX230 HS 

Common features in the Canon SX230 HS and Panasonic FH3

 SX230 HS FH3 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Canon SX230 HS vs Panasonic FH3 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry your camera frequently, you'll need to think about its weight and size. The Canon SX230 HS has physical measurements of 106mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 223 grams (0.49 lbs) and the Panasonic FH3 has specifications of 98mm x 55mm x 24mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 165 grams (0.36 lbs).

Compare the Canon SX230 HS and Panasonic FH3 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are working with at that moment. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the SX230 HS and the FH3.

Canon SX230 HS vs Panasonic FH3 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SX230 HS and FH3 is 91 and 94 respectively.

Canon SX230 HS vs Panasonic FH3 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX230 HS vs Panasonic FH3 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its hard to visualize the contrast in sensor sizing purely by going through specifications. The visual below should offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the SX230 HS and FH3.

To sum up, both cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different MP. You can expect the Panasonic FH3 to produce extra detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop photographs more aggressively. The newer SX230 HS should have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon SX230 HS vs Panasonic FH3 sensor size comparison

Canon SX230 HS vs Panasonic FH3 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX230 HS vs Panasonic FH3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX230 HS as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic FH3 as a Portrait photography camera
34
has manual focus
includes face detection focus
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
28
megapixel count good (14MP)
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX230 HS Street photography highlights
Panasonic FH3 Street photography highlights
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (223g)
no articulating screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
56
image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX230 HS Sports photography info
Panasonic FH3 Sports photography info
36
great zoom range (28-392mm 14.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (210 CIPA)
no phase detect auto focus
34
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
slow frames per second (6.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX230 HS Travel photography factors
Panasonic FH3 Travel photography factors
61
lighter than competition in class (223g)
flash built-in
pretty wide (28mm)
great reach (392mm)
does not have Timelapse function
terrible battery life (210 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.1)
64
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse recording
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX230 HS Landscape photography information
Panasonic FH3 Landscape photography information
41
has manual focus
pretty wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
terrible battery life (210 shots)
does not have Timelapse function
37
decently wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
lack of manual exposure
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon SX230 HS
Vlogging with Panasonic FH3
34
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (223g)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
does not have external microphone jack
29
decently wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing microphone support
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Canon SX230 HS vs Panasonic FH3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX230 HS and Panasonic FH3
 Canon PowerShot SX230 HSPanasonic Lumix DMC-FH3
General Information
Make Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot SX230 HS Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3
Also called as - Lumix DMC-FS11
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2011-07-19 2010-01-06
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip DIGIC 4 with iSAPS technology -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-392mm (14.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Max aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/2.8-6.9
Macro focusing distance 5cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 461 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech PureColor II TG TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/3200s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 6.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (24fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 240 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 223g (0.49 pounds) 165g (0.36 pounds)
Physical dimensions 106 x 62 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.3") 98 x 55 x 24mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
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 210 photos -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID NB-5L -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Cost at launch $399 $160