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Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic LZ20

Portability
80
Imaging
40
Features
40
Overall
40
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20 front
Portability
71
Imaging
40
Features
34
Overall
37

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic LZ20 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
  • Introduced August 2012
  • Refreshed by Canon SX510 HS
Panasonic LZ20
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Bump 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
  • Renewed by Panasonic LZ30
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Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic LZ20 Overview

Lets look a bit more closely at the Canon SX500 IS and Panasonic LZ20, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by rivals Canon and Panasonic. The resolution of the SX500 IS (16MP) and the LZ20 (16MP) is relatively well matched and both cameras offer the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SX500 IS was launched 2 months after the LZ20 so they are of a similar generation. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Canon SX500 IS being a Compact camera and the Panasonic LZ20 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving into a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the SX500 IS matches up vs the LZ20 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Panasonic LZ20

 SX500 IS LZ20 
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Screen resolution461k460kClearer screen (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ20 over the Canon SX500 IS

 LZ20 SX500 IS 

Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Panasonic LZ20

 SX500 IS LZ20 
IntroducedAugust 2012July 2012Similar generation
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic LZ20 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry around your camera, you have to think about its weight and size. The Canon SX500 IS comes with physical dimensions of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") having a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs) while the Panasonic LZ20 has specifications of 120mm x 76mm x 80mm (4.7" x 3.0" x 3.1") accompanied by a weight of 499 grams (1.10 lbs).

Analyze the Canon SX500 IS and Panasonic LZ20 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are employing during that time. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the SX500 IS compared to the LZ20.

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic LZ20 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the SX500 IS and LZ20 is 80 and 71 respectively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic LZ20 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic LZ20 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's hard to envision the gap between sensor sizes simply by looking at a spec sheet. The picture here will give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the SX500 IS and LZ20.

As you can see, both of those cameras provide the same sensor dimensions and the exact same resolution so you should expect similar quality of photos though you may want to consider the production date of the products into consideration.

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic LZ20 sensor size comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic LZ20 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic LZ20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Portrait photography factors
Panasonic LZ20 Portrait photography factors
46
focusing manually
above average flash sync speed (1/1,600s)
MP count good (16MP)
offers face detect focus
no external flash support
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
37
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
includes face detection focusing
no manual focus
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SX500 IS
Street photography with Panasonic LZ20
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
45
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
heavier than competition (499 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic LZ20 as a Sports photography camera
45
excellent zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (195 per charge)
lacks phase detect auto focus
47
incredible zoom range (25-525mm 21.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
good battery power (380 per charge)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Travel photography details
Panasonic LZ20 Travel photography details
60
MP count good (16MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
not so great battery pack (195 per charge)
does not offer selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.4)
58
good battery power (380 shots)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
long reach (525mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
heavier than competition (499g)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SX500 IS
Landscape photography with Panasonic LZ20
46
focusing manually
quite wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
not so great battery pack (195 shots)
missing Time Lapse mode
45
pretty wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
good battery power (380 per charge)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Vlogging details
Panasonic LZ20 Vlogging details
28
quite wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focus
slow max aperture (f3.4)
does not offer selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing mic support
25
pretty wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focusing
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external mic jack
heavier than competition (499g)
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Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic LZ20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX500 IS and Panasonic LZ20
 Canon PowerShot SX500 ISPanasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2012-08-21 2012-07-18
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
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 area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 1600
Highest boosted ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 1 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-720mm (30.0x) 25-525mm (21.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.4-5.8 f/3.1-5.8
Macro focusing distance 1cm 2cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 461 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology TFT Color LCD TFT Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 seconds 15 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.00 m 6.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest 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) 1280 x 720p ( 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data 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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 341 grams (0.75 lbs) 499 grams (1.10 lbs)
Physical dimensions 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") 120 x 76 x 80mm (4.7" x 3.0" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 shots 380 shots
Form 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 feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $299 $250