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Canon SX280 HS vs Panasonic LZ20

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
43
Overall
38
Canon PowerShot SX280 HS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20 front
Portability
71
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37

Canon SX280 HS vs Panasonic LZ20 Key Specs

Canon SX280 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.5-6.8) lens
  • 233g - 106 x 63 x 33mm
  • Revealed March 2013
  • Replaced the Canon SX270 HS
Panasonic LZ20
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Increase to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-525mm (F3.1-5.8) lens
  • 499g - 120 x 76 x 80mm
  • Introduced July 2012
  • Updated by Panasonic LZ30
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Canon SX280 HS vs Panasonic LZ20 Overview

Here is a detailed review of the Canon SX280 HS versus Panasonic LZ20, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by rivals Canon and Panasonic. There is a large difference among the resolutions of the SX280 HS (12MP) and LZ20 (16MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SX280 HS was unveiled 9 months later than the LZ20 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Canon SX280 HS being a Compact camera and the Panasonic LZ20 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before we go through a in depth comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the SX280 HS grades vs the LZ20 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX280 HS over the Panasonic LZ20

 SX280 HS LZ20 
IntroducedMarch 2013July 2012Fresher by 9 months
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Display resolution461k460kSharper display (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ20 over the Canon SX280 HS

 LZ20 SX280 HS 

Common features in the Canon SX280 HS and Panasonic LZ20

 SX280 HS LZ20 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Canon SX280 HS vs Panasonic LZ20 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry your camera frequently, you'll need to consider its weight and measurements. The Canon SX280 HS has exterior dimensions of 106mm x 63mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 233 grams (0.51 lbs) while the Panasonic LZ20 has proportions of 120mm x 76mm x 80mm (4.7" x 3.0" x 3.1") along with a weight of 499 grams (1.10 lbs).

Check the Canon SX280 HS versus Panasonic LZ20 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Below is the front view measurements comparison of the SX280 HS compared to the LZ20.

Canon SX280 HS vs Panasonic LZ20 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the SX280 HS and LZ20 is 91 and 71 respectively.

Canon SX280 HS vs Panasonic LZ20 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX280 HS vs Panasonic LZ20 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's difficult to picture the contrast in sensor sizing purely by seeing specs. The visual below should give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the SX280 HS and LZ20.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but different megapixels. You can anticipate the Panasonic LZ20 to produce more detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop photos a little more aggressively. The newer SX280 HS provides an edge in sensor tech.

Canon SX280 HS vs Panasonic LZ20 sensor size comparison

Canon SX280 HS vs Panasonic LZ20 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX280 HS vs Panasonic LZ20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic LZ20 Portrait photography highlights
34
focusing manually
provides face detect focusing
cannot use external flash
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
36
MP count good (16MP)
has face detection focus
lack of manual focus
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX280 HS as a Street photography camera
Panasonic LZ20 as a Street photography camera
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (233g)
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
45
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
more heavy than competition (499g)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX280 HS as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic LZ20 as a Sports photography camera
36
long zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (210 CIPA)
no phase detect AF
47
long zoom range (25-525mm 21.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
has tracking autofocus
better than average battery power (380 per charge)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Travel photography details
Panasonic LZ20 Travel photography details
61
lighter than competition (233 grams)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
long reach (500mm)
no Time Lapse function
bad battery pack (210 per charge)
low MP (12MP)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.5)
58
better than average battery power (380 shots)
MP count good (16MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
very long zoom (525mm)
does not have Timelapse function
more heavy than competition (499g)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Canon SX280 HS as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic LZ20 as a Landscape photography camera
41
focusing manually
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
low MP (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
bad battery pack (210 shots)
no Time Lapse function
45
quite wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
better than average battery power (380 shots)
lack of manual focus
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon SX280 HS
Vlogging with Panasonic LZ20
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (233g)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
no mic support
25
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focus
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external microphone port
more heavy than competition (499 grams)
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Canon SX280 HS vs Panasonic LZ20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX280 HS and Panasonic LZ20
 Canon PowerShot SX280 HSPanasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20
General Information
Company Canon Panasonic
Model Canon PowerShot SX280 HS Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2013-03-21 2012-07-18
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 6 -
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 aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 1600
Max boosted ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-500mm (20.0x) 25-525mm (21.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.5-6.8 f/3.1-5.8
Macro focus distance 5cm 2cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 461 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech - TFT Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 secs 15 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/3200 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.50 m 6.80 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 240 (240 fps) 1280 x 720p ( 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 233g (0.51 lb) 499g (1.10 lb)
Dimensions 106 x 63 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3") 120 x 76 x 80mm (4.7" x 3.0" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 210 pictures 380 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-6L -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $325 $250