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Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic FX78

Portability
80
Imaging
39
Features
40
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
31
Overall
33

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic FX78 Key Specs

Canon SX500 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.4-5.8) lens
  • 341g - 104 x 70 x 80mm
  • Introduced August 2012
  • Later Model is Canon SX510 HS
Panasonic FX78
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.5-5.9) lens
  • 142g - 100 x 55 x 21mm
  • Introduced January 2011
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-FX77
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Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic FX78 Overview

Here, we are reviewing the Canon SX500 IS versus Panasonic FX78, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Canon and Panasonic. There exists a significant gap between the sensor resolutions of the SX500 IS (16MP) and FX78 (12MP) but both cameras posses the identical sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SX500 IS was introduced 20 months later than the FX78 making them a generation apart from one another. Both of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before diving into a full comparison, here is a simple summary of how the SX500 IS grades versus the FX78 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Panasonic FX78

 SX500 IS FX78 
IntroducedAugust 2012January 2011More recent by 20 months
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Display resolution461k230kClearer display (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FX78 over the Canon SX500 IS

 FX78 SX500 IS 
Display size3.5"3"Larger display (+0.5")
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Panasonic FX78

 SX500 IS FX78 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic FX78 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to lug around your camera, you are going to need to factor in its weight and volume. The Canon SX500 IS has exterior 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 FX78 has sizing of 100mm x 55mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") with a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs).

Take a look at the Canon SX500 IS versus Panasonic FX78 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have at that moment. Here is a front view measurements comparison of the SX500 IS compared to the FX78.

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic FX78 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SX500 IS and FX78 is 80 and 95 respectively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic FX78 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic FX78 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's tough to imagine the gap between sensor measurements merely by reading technical specs. The photograph here will offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the SX500 IS and FX78.

As you have seen, both of the cameras feature the identical sensor size but different MP. You should expect to see the Canon SX500 IS to offer more detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop images way more aggressively. The newer SX500 IS should have a benefit in sensor innovation.

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic FX78 sensor size comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic FX78 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic FX78 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Portrait photography details
Panasonic FX78 Portrait photography details
46
you can focus manually
flash sync is higher than normal (1/1,600 seconds)
MP count good (16MP)
features face detection focusing
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
21
no manual focus
no manual control
no external flash support
low resolution (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Street photography factors
Panasonic FX78 Street photography factors
51
image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
57
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Sports photography highlights
Panasonic FX78 Sports photography highlights
44
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
bad battery power (195 CIPA)
does not have phase detect AF
28
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with tracking autofocus
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,400s)
slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
no shutter priority
low resolution (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery life (200 shots)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Travel photography advice
Panasonic FX78 Travel photography advice
59
MP count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
great zoom (720mm)
missing Timelapse mode
bad battery power (195 CIPA)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.4)
56
has built in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
no Timelapse function
bad battery life (200 per charge)
low resolution (12MP)
does not contain selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f2.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic FX78 Landscape photography highlights
46
you can focus manually
relatively wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
bad battery power (195 CIPA)
missing Timelapse mode
36
relatively wide (24mm)
screen larger than average (3.5 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.5)
no manual control
low resolution (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
bad battery life (200 CIPA)
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Vlogging features
Panasonic FX78 Vlogging features
28
relatively wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focusing
slow max aperture (f3.4)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external microphone port
33
relatively wide (24mm)
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow max aperture (f2.5)
does not contain selfie friendly display
no external microphone port
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Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic FX78 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX500 IS and Panasonic FX78
 Canon PowerShot SX500 ISPanasonic Lumix DMC-FX78
General Information
Company Canon Panasonic
Model Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78
Other name - Lumix DMC-FX77
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2012-08-21 2011-01-25
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 4 Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CCD 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 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 1 11
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-720mm (30.0x) 24-120mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.4-5.8 f/2.5-5.9
Macro focus distance 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3.5 inch
Display resolution 461 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech TFT Color LCD TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/1400s
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.00 m 5.60 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/1600s -
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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 341 grams (0.75 lb) 142 grams (0.31 lb)
Physical dimensions 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") 100 x 55 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 195 shots 200 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model 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 1 1
Retail price $299 $210