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Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic SZ7

Portability
80
Imaging
40
Features
40
Overall
40
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7 front
Portability
95
Imaging
38
Features
41
Overall
39

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic SZ7 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
  • Replacement is Canon SX510 HS
Panasonic SZ7
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 133g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Released January 2012
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Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic SZ7 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Canon SX500 IS versus Panasonic SZ7, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Canon and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the SX500 IS (16MP) and the SZ7 (14MP) is relatively well matched and both cameras have the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SX500 IS was released 8 months after the SZ7 so they are of a similar age. Both cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going into a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick view of how the SX500 IS grades against the SZ7 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Panasonic SZ7

 SX500 IS SZ7 
ReleasedAugust 2012January 2012More modern by 8 months
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Screen resolution461k460kSharper screen (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ7 over the Canon SX500 IS

 SZ7 SX500 IS 

Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Panasonic SZ7

 SX500 IS SZ7 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic SZ7 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry around your camera often, you have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX500 IS provides outer dimensions of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") with a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs) and the Panasonic SZ7 has dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") with a weight of 133 grams (0.29 lbs).

See the Canon SX500 IS versus Panasonic SZ7 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are employing at that time. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the SX500 IS and the SZ7.

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic SZ7 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the SX500 IS and SZ7 is 80 and 95 respectively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic SZ7 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic SZ7 Sensor Comparison

Often, its hard to visualise the gap between sensor sizes purely by looking at technical specs. The pic here might offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the SX500 IS and SZ7.

As you can tell, both of those cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same resolution. You can count on the Canon SX500 IS to give extra detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The fresher SX500 IS will have a benefit in sensor innovation.

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic SZ7 sensor size comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic SZ7 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic SZ7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic SZ7 as a Portrait photography camera
46
focusing manually
above average flash sync (1/1,600s)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
features face detection focus
external flash not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
34
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
includes face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
no manual control
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Street photography details
Panasonic SZ7 Street photography details
51
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (133g)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic SZ7 as a Sports photography camera
45
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (195 CIPA)
lacks phase detect auto focus
44
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14MP)
includes tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Travel photography information
Panasonic SZ7 Travel photography information
60
decent MP (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
lack of Timelapse function
not so great battery life (195 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
70
lighter than average (133g)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
great reach (250mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Landscape photography info
Panasonic SZ7 Landscape photography info
46
focusing manually
reasonably wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
not so great battery life (195 shots)
lack of Timelapse function
42
quite wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Vlogging info
Panasonic SZ7 Vlogging info
28
reasonably wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focus
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
screen is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external microphone socket
35
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average (133 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have external mic port
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Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic SZ7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX500 IS and Panasonic SZ7
 Canon PowerShot SX500 ISPanasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2012-08-21 2012-01-09
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
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 16MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 1 23
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-720mm (30.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.4-5.8 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing range 1cm 4cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 461k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology TFT Color LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 secs 8 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.00 m 5.60 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/1600 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 341 grams (0.75 lbs) 133 grams (0.29 lbs)
Physical dimensions 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") 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 195 shots 220 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 recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $299 $199