Canon SX260 HS vs Panasonic S3
91 Imaging
35 Features
44 Overall
38


96 Imaging
37 Features
24 Overall
31
Canon SX260 HS vs Panasonic S3 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- ISO 100 - 3200
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- 25-500mm (F3.5-6.8) lens
- 231g - 106 x 61 x 33mm
- Launched June 2012
- Superseded the Canon SX240 HS
- Updated by Canon SX270 HS
(Full Review)
- 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 2.7" Fixed Display
- ISO 100 - 6400
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1280 x 720 video
- 28-112mm (F3.1-5.6) lens
- 117g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
- Introduced January 2011

Canon SX260 HS vs Panasonic S3 Overview
Lets look more closely at the Canon SX260 HS and Panasonic S3, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Canon and Panasonic. The resolution of the SX260 HS (12MP) and the S3 (14MP) is very well matched and they use the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

The SX260 HS was announced 18 months after the S3 making the cameras a generation away from one another. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).
Before diving in to a in depth comparison, below is a concise view of how the SX260 HS matches up vs the S3 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Canon SX260 HS vs Panasonic S3 Gallery
This is a sample of the gallery pics for Canon PowerShot SX260 HS & Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3. The whole galleries are provided at Canon SX260 HS Gallery & Panasonic S3 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Canon SX260 HS over the Panasonic S3
SX260 HS | S3 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Introduced | June 2012 | ![]() | January 2011 | More modern by 18 months |
Manually focus | ![]() | Dial precise focus | ||
Display dimension | 3" | ![]() | 2.7" | Larger display (+0.3") |
Display resolution | 461k | ![]() | 230k | Clearer display (+231k dot) |
Reasons to pick Panasonic S3 over the Canon SX260 HS
S3 | SX260 HS |
---|
Common features in the Canon SX260 HS and Panasonic S3
SX260 HS | S3 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed display |
Selfie screen | ![]() | No selfie screen | ||
Touch display | ![]() | No Touch display |
Canon SX260 HS vs Panasonic S3 Physical Comparison
In case you're looking to carry around your camera often, you're going to have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX260 HS features outside dimensions of 106mm x 61mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 231 grams (0.51 lbs) whilst the Panasonic S3 has dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).
Analyze the Canon SX260 HS and Panasonic S3 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you select at that time. Underneath is the front view measurement comparison of the SX260 HS versus the S3.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SX260 HS and S3 is 91 and 96 respectively.

Canon SX260 HS vs Panasonic S3 Sensor Comparison
Normally, it can be tough to picture the contrast between sensor sizes only by looking at technical specs. The pic below may give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX260 HS and S3.
As you can tell, both cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but different resolution. You can expect to see the Panasonic S3 to resolve more detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images somewhat more aggressively. The more modern SX260 HS should have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Canon SX260 HS vs Panasonic S3 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX260 HS vs Panasonic S3 Specifications
Canon PowerShot SX260 HS | Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand | Canon | Panasonic |
Model type | Canon PowerShot SX260 HS | Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 |
Class | Small Sensor Superzoom | Small Sensor Compact |
Launched | 2012-06-04 | 2011-01-05 |
Body design | Compact | Compact |
Sensor Information | ||
Powered by | Digic 5 | Venus Engine IV |
Sensor type | BSI-CMOS | CCD |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | 1/2.3" |
Sensor dimensions | 6.17 x 4.55mm | 6.08 x 4.56mm |
Sensor surface area | 28.1mm² | 27.7mm² |
Sensor resolution | 12MP | 14MP |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 |
Highest Possible resolution | 4000 x 3000 | 4320 x 3240 |
Maximum native ISO | 3200 | 6400 |
Min native ISO | 100 | 100 |
RAW files | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focusing | ||
Touch focus | ||
AF continuous | ||
AF single | ||
Tracking AF | ||
AF selectice | ||
AF center weighted | ||
Multi area AF | ||
Live view AF | ||
Face detection focusing | ||
Contract detection focusing | ||
Phase detection focusing | ||
Total focus points | 9 | 11 |
Lens | ||
Lens support | fixed lens | fixed lens |
Lens zoom range | 25-500mm (20.0x) | 28-112mm (4.0x) |
Largest aperture | f/3.5-6.8 | f/3.1-5.6 |
Macro focusing range | 5cm | 5cm |
Crop factor | 5.8 | 5.9 |
Screen | ||
Range of screen | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Screen sizing | 3 inches | 2.7 inches |
Resolution of screen | 461 thousand dot | 230 thousand dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch function | ||
Screen technology | PureColor II TFT LCD | TFT LCD |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | None | None |
Features | ||
Min shutter speed | 15 seconds | 8 seconds |
Max shutter speed | 1/3200 seconds | 1/1600 seconds |
Continuous shutter speed | 2.0 frames/s | 2.0 frames/s |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manually set exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | - |
Change WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Integrated flash | ||
Flash distance | 3.50 m | 3.30 m |
Flash settings | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction |
External flash | ||
AE bracketing | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Exposure | ||
Multisegment exposure | ||
Average exposure | ||
Spot exposure | ||
Partial exposure | ||
AF area exposure | ||
Center weighted exposure | ||
Video features | ||
Supported video resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 240 (240 fps) | 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) |
Maximum video resolution | 1920x1080 | 1280x720 |
Video format | H.264 | MPEG-4 |
Mic jack | ||
Headphone jack | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | None | None |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | BuiltIn | None |
Physical | ||
Environment seal | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 231 grams (0.51 pounds) | 117 grams (0.26 pounds) |
Dimensions | 106 x 61 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.3") | 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") |
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 | 230 photos | 250 photos |
Style of battery | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | NB-6L | - |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse recording | ||
Storage media | SD/SDHC/SDXC | SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal |
Storage slots | One | One |
Pricing at release | $349 | $110 |