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Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic FX48

Portability
80
Imaging
39
Features
40
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
21
Overall
28

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic FX48 Key Specs

Canon SX500 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.4-5.8) lens
  • 341g - 104 x 70 x 80mm
  • Released August 2012
  • Later Model is Canon SX510 HS
Panasonic FX48
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200 (Boost to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 150g - 95 x 53 x 22mm
  • Announced January 2009
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-FX40
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Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic FX48 Overview

Let's look a little more in depth at the Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic FX48, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Canon and Panasonic. There exists a substantial gap among the image resolutions of the SX500 IS (16MP) and FX48 (12MP) but they use the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SX500 IS was released 3 years later than the FX48 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving straight into a thorough comparison, below is a quick view of how the SX500 IS scores versus the FX48 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Panasonic FX48

 SX500 IS FX48 
AnnouncedAugust 2012January 2009More recent by 44 months
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Display dimension3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution461k230kClearer display (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FX48 over the Canon SX500 IS

 FX48 SX500 IS 

Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Panasonic FX48

 SX500 IS FX48 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither contains Touch friendly display

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic FX48 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to lug around your camera, you are going to need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Canon SX500 IS has got external measurements of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") and a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FX48 has measurements of 95mm x 53mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.9") and a weight of 150 grams (0.33 lbs).

Analyze the Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic FX48 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are working with during that time. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the SX500 IS compared to the FX48.

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic FX48 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SX500 IS and FX48 is 80 and 95 respectively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic FX48 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic FX48 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very hard to visualise the gap in sensor measurements simply by looking through specs. The photograph below will offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the SX500 IS and FX48.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but not the same resolution. You can expect to see the Canon SX500 IS to provide you with more detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop images somewhat more aggressively. The younger SX500 IS will have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic FX48 sensor size comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic FX48 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic FX48 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic FX48 Portrait photography highlights
46
focusing manually
above average flash sync (1/1,600s)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
has face detect focus
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
27
offers face detection focusing
no manual focus
can't use external flash
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SX500 IS
Street photography with Panasonic FX48
51
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
56
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Sports photography information
Panasonic FX48 Sports photography information
44
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (195 per charge)
no phase detect auto focus
25
image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic FX48 as a Travel photography camera
59
megapixel count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (24mm)
very long reach (720mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
terrible battery life (195 per charge)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.4)
58
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FX48 as a Landscape photography camera
46
focusing manually
rather wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
terrible battery life (195 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse function
33
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.5 inches)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon SX500 IS
Vlogging with Panasonic FX48
28
rather wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focus
slow max aperture (f3.4)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have microphone jack
30
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (640 x 480 resolution)
lack of external mic jack
Photography Glossary

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic FX48 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX500 IS and Panasonic FX48
 Canon PowerShot SX500 ISPanasonic Lumix DMC-FX48
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48
Alternative name - Lumix DMC-FX40
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2012-08-21 2009-01-27
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD 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 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Maximum enhanced ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 1 11
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-720mm (30.0x) 25-125mm (5.0x)
Max aperture f/3.4-5.8 f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 2.5 inches
Resolution of screen 461k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/3000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.00 m 6.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/1600 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video format H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 341g (0.75 lb) 150g (0.33 lb)
Dimensions 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") 95 x 53 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.9")
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 195 pictures -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery ID NB-6L -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $299 $325