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Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic ZR3

Portability
80
Imaging
39
Features
40
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 front
Portability
94
Imaging
36
Features
26
Overall
32

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic ZR3 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 ZR3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-200mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 159g - 98 x 55 x 26mm
  • Announced January 2010
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-ZX3
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Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic ZR3 Overview

Below is a extended assessment of the Canon SX500 IS versus Panasonic ZR3, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Canon and Panasonic. The image resolution of the SX500 IS (16MP) and the ZR3 (14MP) is very similar and they come with the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SX500 IS was manufactured 2 years later than the ZR3 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving straight into a thorough comparison, below is a quick overview of how the SX500 IS grades vs the ZR3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Panasonic ZR3

 SX500 IS ZR3 
AnnouncedAugust 2012January 2010More recent by 32 months
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution461k230kSharper display (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR3 over the Canon SX500 IS

 ZR3 SX500 IS 

Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Panasonic ZR3

 SX500 IS ZR3 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic ZR3 Physical Comparison

If you are going to lug around your camera often, you need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Canon SX500 IS has got physical measurements of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") having a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZR3 has proportions of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") and a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs).

Take a look at the Canon SX500 IS versus Panasonic ZR3 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you select during that time. Here is the front view size comparison of the SX500 IS against the ZR3.

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic ZR3 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the SX500 IS and ZR3 is 80 and 94 respectively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic ZR3 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic ZR3 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very hard to envision the gap between sensor measurements just by reading specs. The graphic underneath may provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the SX500 IS and ZR3.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same megapixels. You should expect to see the Canon SX500 IS to offer more detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop pics far more aggressively. The younger SX500 IS will have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic ZR3 sensor size comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic ZR3 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic ZR3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Portrait photography info
Panasonic ZR3 Portrait photography info
46
you can focus manually
flash sync speed is above average (1/1,600s)
MP count good (16MP)
features face detection autofocus
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
28
good MP (14MP)
manual focus not available
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Street photography highlights
Panasonic ZR3 Street photography highlights
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SX500 IS
Sports photography with Panasonic ZR3
44
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery life (195 shots)
no phase detect autofocus
36
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,300 seconds)
low frames per second (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SX500 IS
Travel photography with Panasonic ZR3
59
MP count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
very long reach (720mm)
missing Timelapse function
low battery life (195 shots)
does not have a selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
64
good MP (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
lack of Timelapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Landscape photography features
Panasonic ZR3 Landscape photography features
46
you can focus manually
relatively wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
low battery life (195 per charge)
missing Timelapse function
37
fairly wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
lack of manual mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZR3 as a Vlogging camera
28
relatively wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection autofocus
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
does not have a selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external microphone support
29
fairly wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external microphone jack
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Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic ZR3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX500 IS and Panasonic ZR3
 Canon PowerShot SX500 ISPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3
General Information
Brand Canon Panasonic
Model Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3
Also called as - Lumix DMC-ZX3
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2012-08-21 2010-01-26
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 4 Venus Engine HD II
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 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 1 11
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-720mm (30.0x) 25-200mm (8.0x)
Max aperture f/3.4-5.8 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus range 1cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 461 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600s 1/1300s
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.00 m 5.30 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/1600s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format H.264 AVCHD Lite
Microphone 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 341 gr (0.75 lb) 159 gr (0.35 lb)
Dimensions 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") 98 x 55 x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0")
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 195 shots -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model 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 One One
Retail price $299 $280