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Canon SX260 HS vs Panasonic SZ1

Portability
91
Imaging
35
Features
44
Overall
38
Canon PowerShot SX260 HS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 front
Portability
95
Imaging
38
Features
34
Overall
36

Canon SX260 HS vs Panasonic SZ1 Key Specs

Canon SX260 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.5-6.8) lens
  • 231g - 106 x 61 x 33mm
  • Released June 2012
  • Replaced the Canon SX240 HS
  • Successor is Canon SX270 HS
Panasonic SZ1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 131g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Released January 2012
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Canon SX260 HS vs Panasonic SZ1 Overview

Its time to take a closer look at the Canon SX260 HS vs Panasonic SZ1, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Canon and Panasonic. There exists a huge gap between the image resolutions of the SX260 HS (12MP) and SZ1 (16MP) but both cameras boast the identical sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SX260 HS was released 5 months after the SZ1 which means that they are of a similar generation. Each of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before delving right into a complete comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the SX260 HS scores against the SZ1 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX260 HS over the Panasonic SZ1

 SX260 HS SZ1 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Screen resolution461k230kSharper screen (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ1 over the Canon SX260 HS

 SZ1 SX260 HS 

Common features in the Canon SX260 HS and Panasonic SZ1

 SX260 HS SZ1 
ReleasedJune 2012January 2012Similar generation
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Canon SX260 HS vs Panasonic SZ1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry around your camera regularly, you will need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX260 HS enjoys outside dimensions of 106mm x 61mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 231 grams (0.51 lbs) whilst the Panasonic SZ1 has dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") with a weight of 131 grams (0.29 lbs).

Look at the Canon SX260 HS vs Panasonic SZ1 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing during that time. The following is a front view proportions comparison of the SX260 HS against the SZ1.

Canon SX260 HS vs Panasonic SZ1 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SX260 HS and SZ1 is 91 and 95 respectively.

Canon SX260 HS vs Panasonic SZ1 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX260 HS vs Panasonic SZ1 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's difficult to see the gap between sensor sizes merely by reading technical specs. The image here may offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX260 HS and SZ1.

As you have seen, the two cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit not the same MP. You should count on the Panasonic SZ1 to offer you greater detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures a good deal more aggressively.

Canon SX260 HS vs Panasonic SZ1 sensor size comparison

Canon SX260 HS vs Panasonic SZ1 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX260 HS vs Panasonic SZ1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX260 HS Portrait photography features
Panasonic SZ1 Portrait photography features
37
has manual focus
features face detection autofocus
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
34
good resolution (16 megapixels)
provides face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX260 HS Street photography factors
Panasonic SZ1 Street photography factors
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (231 grams)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (131g)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX260 HS Sports photography features
Panasonic SZ1 Sports photography features
36
long zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
features tracking autofocus
low fps (2.0 frames per second)
low MP (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (230 per charge)
lacks phase detect autofocus
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SX260 HS
Travel photography with Panasonic SZ1
61
lighter than competitors in class (231 grams)
built-in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
very long zoom (500mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
terrible battery pack (230 shots)
low MP (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
70
lighter than competition (131 grams)
good resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
very long reach (250mm)
no Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX260 HS Landscape photography advice
Panasonic SZ1 Landscape photography advice
41
has manual focus
pretty wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
low MP (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
terrible battery pack (230 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
42
fairly wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX260 HS Vlogging features
Panasonic SZ1 Vlogging features
34
pretty wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors in class (231 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone socket
32
fairly wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focusing
lighter than competition (131g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
no microphone jack
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Canon SX260 HS vs Panasonic SZ1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX260 HS and Panasonic SZ1
 Canon PowerShot SX260 HSPanasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1
General Information
Brand Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot SX260 HS Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2012-06-04 2012-01-09
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 5 -
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 surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
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 23
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-500mm (20.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.5-6.8 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing distance 5cm 4cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 461 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech PureColor II TFT LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 secs 8 secs
Max shutter speed 1/3200 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 5.60 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
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 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 231 gr (0.51 pounds) 131 gr (0.29 pounds)
Physical 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 shots 250 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6L -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $349 $179